Author

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.
Mike Pence announces run for president
By: Robin Opsahl - June 7, 2023
AKENY, Iowa — Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his candidacy for president to a crowd at Des Moines Area Community College, focusing on the differences between him and former President Donald Trump, who is also running again in 2024. While Pence praised the conservative successes he and Trump achieved in office, he said he […]
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks Disney, book bans at Iowa campaign kickoff
By: Robin Opsahl - 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 […]
Trump criticizes DeSantis, calls for national ‘school choice’ at first 2023 Iowa event
By: Robin Opsahl - 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 […]
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley: Hold China accountable for COVID-19
By: Robin Opsahl - 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 […]
DeSantis, in Iowa, says GOP stance in culture wars will help win elections
By: Robin Opsahl - 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 VP Mike Pence talks about FBI, Jan. 6 panel at Iowa State Fair
By: Robin Opsahl - 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: Robin Opsahl - 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.