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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Ep40: How Iowa Campaigns Really Work & 2020 Preview
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with longtime Iowa political operative Joe O’Hern about what 2020 candidates need to do at this early stage, how the battle for the state legislature is shaping up and what life is like for a campaign staffer.
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Registered Democrat Numbers Surge In Iowa After Primary
There’s a lot more registered Democrats in Iowa following last month’s high-profile, competitive primaries for governor and three congressional districts. Updated voter registration numbers from the Secretary of State’s office today shows 24,189 new registered Democrats over last month’s pre-primary numbers. They’re up 28,352 voters if you compare to the May numbers, before early voting…
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Jason Kander’s Army Of Voting Rights Interns Come To Iowa
Jason Kander may have a new personal electoral goal for himself now that he’s announced his candidacy for the Kansas City mayor’s race, but his voting rights crusade will march on in Iowa and other states. “Nothing has changed about our program here in Iowa,” Let America Vote’s Iowa state director Zack Davis told Starting…
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Ep39: Post-Primary Talk & Gov. Jay Inslee Interview
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with former Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky about Iowa campaigns post-primary and where Kim Reynolds will struggle in the race. And we interview Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, about Fred Hubbell and what an administration and policies in a blue state look like.
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Jeff Merkley Mulls 2020 Run As “The Exact Opposite Of Trump”
Will voters be eager to support “the exact opposite of Trump,” as Jeff Merkley describes himself, for president in 2020? That’s the sentiment the senator from Oregon hopes he finds among Iowans as he makes some early trips out to the lead-off caucus state and seriously considers launching his own presidential candidacy next year. Merkley…
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John Delaney Adds Experienced Iowa Operative To Caucus Campaign
Congressman John Delaney, the only declared Democratic presidential candidate for 2020, is staffing up his Iowa operation with a new hire that has some solid in-state experience. Monica Biddix will serve as Delaney’s new communications director for the lead-off caucus state, building out Delaney’s current presence here a year and a half out from the…
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Prediction: You’re Going To Love Rita Hart
Fred Hubbell could not have made a better pick for his running mate. That’s just my opinion, of course, but I think it will become yours as well once you get to know Rita Hart. I first met Rita when I was the field director for the Senate Democrats in 2012. That was her first…
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How The Rita Hart Pick Impacts The Senate Map
With Rita Hart joining Fred Hubbell on Democrats’ statewide ticket, Hart’s Senate District 49 now becomes an open seat for the party. And while this used to be a district with a decent Democratic lean thanks to the city of Clinton’s working-class base, Donald Trump carried it 51% to 42% in 2016. Hart was still…
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Hubbell Picks Rita Hart, Democrats’ Best Messenger For The Rural Vote
For his running mate pick, Fred Hubbell has looked east to rural Wheatland, Iowa, population 764. State Senator Rita Hart will be officially introduced as Democrats’ Lt. Governor nominee at the state party convention today. The Hubbell campaign announced the choice first thing this morning. Hart’s selection puts one of the party’s most credible rural…
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A Clue To Fred Hubbell’s Lt. Governor Short List?
Fred Hubbell is slated to officially announce his pick for his Lt. Governor running mate at Iowa Democrats’ state convention this Saturday. It’s the last piece of business for the statewide Democratic ticket, and speculation about who Hubbell may choose is running rampant in various political circles. And there may be one clue sitting online…
