Iowa Down Ballot Podcast Covers Primary Races for Iowa Senate

Editor Kathie Obradovich discusses upcoming primary elections with host Dave Price

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:19pm

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In the latest episode of the Iowa Down Ballot podcast, host Dave Price sits down with veteran political journalists Kathie Obradovich of the Iowa Capital Dispatch and Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland to discuss the upcoming primary races for the Iowa Senate. The conversation covers the key candidates and issues shaping these down-ballot contests.

Why it matters

The Iowa Senate races will play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in the state legislature, with potential implications for policy decisions on a range of issues. As an experienced political reporter, Obradovich provides valuable insights into the dynamics and potential outcomes of these primary campaigns.

The details

The Iowa Down Ballot podcast is a regular program that examines state and local political issues in Iowa. In this episode, host Dave Price leads a discussion with Obradovich and Belin on the emerging primary races for the Iowa Senate, including the key candidates and the policy platforms they are running on.

  • The podcast episode was recorded on March 21, 2026.
  • The Iowa primary elections are scheduled for June 2026.

The players

Kathie Obradovich

A veteran political journalist who has covered Iowa government and politics for over 30 years, most recently as political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register.

Laura Belin

A political reporter who covers Iowa politics for the Bleeding Heartland blog.

Dave Price

The host of the Iowa Down Ballot podcast, which examines state and local political issues in Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“The primary ballot is taking shape for top-of-ticket races, including U.S. Senate and Iowa governor.”

— Kathie Obradovich, Political Columnist and Opinion Editor

What’s next

The Iowa primary elections are scheduled for June 2026, and the winners of the Senate primaries will advance to the general election in November 2026.

The takeaway

The upcoming Iowa Senate primaries will be closely watched as they could shape the balance of power in the state legislature. As experienced political reporters, Obradovich and Belin provide valuable insights into the key issues and dynamics shaping these down-ballot contests.