Iowa Races, Massachusetts Debate Draw Election Focus

Several Iowa legislative races are taking shape ahead of November, including the open House District 33 contest between Republican Lynn Hammel, who named property taxes as her top concern, and Democrat Ivette Muhammad, who did not respond to a candidate survey. In House District 31, Republican Kevin DuBay emphasized constitutional and parental rights and school choice, while Democratic incumbent Mary Madison highlighted water quality, public education, agriculture and mental-health access; in District 47, Republican incumbent Carter Nordman focused on affordability, while Democrat Chris New criticized the state budget deficit. In Iowa’s 1st Congressional District debate, Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks defended tariffs as a way to boost U.S. manufacturing, while Democrat Christina Bohannan said they raise costs; they also clashed over the economy, health care and foreign policy, including Iran and Ukraine, and both said they trusted Iowa’s election system and would accept the results. In Massachusetts, incumbent Congressman Richard Neal and independent challenger Nadia Milleron were scheduled to debate ahead of the election; Milleron received about 37% of the vote against Neal in 2024.