Author

Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl is an Iowa Capital Dispatch reporter covering the state Legislature and politics. Robin has experience covering government, elections and more at media organizations including Roll Call, the Sacramento Bee and the Wausau Daily Herald, in addition to working on multimedia projects, newsletters and visualizations. They were a political reporter for the Des Moines Register covering the Iowa caucuses leading up to the 2020 presidential election, assisting with the Register's Iowa Poll, and reporting on Iowa's 4th District elections.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waves to a person who asked for his signature on their DeSantis sign following his speech May 30, 2023 at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks Disney, book bans at Iowa campaign kickoff
By: - May 30, 2023

CLIVE, Iowa — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received an energetic welcome at his first Iowa event as a 2024 candidate Tuesday, with crowds cheering as he spoke about bringing his fight against “woke” ideology to the White House. More than 500 people filled the Eternity Church auditorium Tuesday, with people standing along the edges of […]

Former President Donald Trump arrives for an event at the Adler Theatre on March 13, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa

Trump criticizes DeSantis, calls for national ‘school choice’ at first 2023 Iowa event
By: - March 14, 2023

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump, in his first Iowa stop as an official presidential candidate, took aim at a potential rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump said if DeSantis joins the 2024 presidential race, his track record on ethanol and Social Security could cost him the Iowa caucuses. “I don’t think you’re gonna […]

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, a GOP candidate for president, talks about U.S. foreign policy with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst at a Bastion Institute forum March 10, 2023

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley: Hold China accountable for COVID-19
By: - March 11, 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa – Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley told Iowans Friday that China needs to be held accountable by the international community for the spread of COVID-19. “I think we need to go and look at the damages, the financial damages that happened, the life loss that happened, and every country in the world […]

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters on March 10, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.

DeSantis, in Iowa, says GOP stance in culture wars will help win elections
By: - March 11, 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Iowa Republicans Friday that standing strong in the culture wars around issues like education, criminal justice and health care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will help their party win elections. DeSantis, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, spoke to more than 600 Iowans at […]

Former Vice President Mike Pence stopped to shake hands with passersby at the Iowa State Fair.

Former VP Mike Pence talks about FBI, Jan. 6 panel at Iowa State Fair
By: - August 20, 2022

DES MOINES, Iowa — There weren’t many Iowans on the concourse as former Vice President Mike Pence made his way around the Iowa State Fair Friday. Most visitors were staying indoors during an afternoon downpour that hit Des Moines, but Pence and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley braved the weather. They stopped at favorite fair locations […]

State attorneys general talk future tech cases in national conference
By: - August 10, 2022

One of the largest growing legal frontiers emphasized in discussions was the digital economy, as state and federal legislators work to create rules for both the businesses conducting commerce online, and the companies which own those online spaces.

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