Pat Rynard founded Iowa Starting Line in 2015. He still keeps a close eye on Iowa politics, his dog’s name is Frank, and football season is his favorite time of year.
Pat Rynard
Latest from Pat Rynard
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Ep47: Flipping The Statehouse With Flip It Iowa
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard sits down with Flip It Iowa co-founders Jim Lewers and Temple Hiatt to discuss their grassroots organization that’s connecting swing district legislative Democratic candidates with blue city donors. Plus, an update on our fundraisers.
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Rising Progressive Star Rep. Ro Khanna Stumps In Iowa For Democrats
Congressman Ro Khanna stumped for local Democrats in Iowa this weekend while pitching his unique brand of progressive vision mixed with Silicon Valley innovation. It’s his second trip out to the state after visiting for a Pete D’Alessandro congressional event back in May during the primary. Khanna drew a large crowd of over 100 people to…
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Gov. Steve Bullock Meets Iowa Cousin, Raises Funds For Democrats
Montana Governor Steve Bullock joked that he wouldn’t talk about his Iowa ties at his meet-and-greet in Coralville this weekend, but those local connections showed up all the same. Barbara Smith, Bullock’s second cousin that lives in Iowa City, heard through the family grapevine that the governor would be in town and came out to…
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The Wing Ding Dinner Is Gonna Be Lit
Best get your tickets now for the annual Iowa Democratic Wing Ding Dinner on August 10 because it’s going to be a wild night. With the unexpected news that Story Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti will attend – and that he’s thinking of running for president – the speaker line-up got quite interesting. Expect an extra…
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Even Grassley Thinks GOP’s Attacks On Hubbell Are Dumb
The Republican Party’s efforts to define Fred Hubbell early on have not had much success in the past month and a half. Now even Senator Chuck Grassley is critical of his party’s line of attack. “I always stick to policy when I’m campaigning, and I would advise other people to stick to policy,” Grassley told…
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Trump Forgets Rod Blum’s Name In Problematic Iowa Trip
If you missed any of President Donald Trump’s visit to Iowa today, don’t worry. You’ll likely see video clips of the roundtable he held just outside Dubuque for months to come in Democratic campaign commercials. Trump brought several of his cabinet secretaries and his daughter Ivanka with him to a visit at Northeast Iowa Community…
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EMILY’s Lists Endorses Slate Of Iowa Statehouse Candidates
EMILY’s List is out with a new round of endorsements of Iowa candidate in important Statehouse races as they focus more attention in on the state. They’re throwing their support behind five senate candidates and eight house candidates: Vicky Brenner (SD-13) Claire Celsi (SD-21) Amber Gustafson (SD-19) Patti Robinson (SD-49) Jackie Smith (SD-07) Karin Derry…
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Ep45: The Public/Private School Funding Debate
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard sits down with two Des Moines-area school board members to discuss the recent debate around public funds going to private schools, Urbandale School Board member Judy Downs and Des Moines School Board member Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley. They also discuss Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican legislators’ funding for schools and how…
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Iowans In Kim Reynolds’ Attack Ad Are GOP Officials
Governor Kim Reynolds has the first fully negative TV ad out in the Iowa governor’s race. In it, local Iowans from Newton, Spencer and Ottumwa criticize Fred Hubbell for the closures of Younkers department stores in their towns about 30 years ago. However, a little bit of digging from Starting Line found something interesting about…
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Chaz Allen Drops Out Of Reelection Bid
The path to winning back the Iowa Senate – now or in the next election cycle – got more complicated today for Democrats with Senator Chaz Allen’s announcement that he will not seek reelection this year. Allen withdrew his nomination for Senate District 15 in order to take a new job opportunity out of state.…
