Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl

[email protected]

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.

Sand, Lahn call for increasing mental healthcare access, Medicaid oversight in debate
Iowa

Sand, Lahn call for increasing mental healthcare access, Medicaid oversight in debate

9:56pm ET
Robin Opsahl
Both Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn said Tuesday in their final gubernatorial candidate debate that more work was needed to address mental healthcare and the impact of Medicaid privatization on healthcare providers, but the candidates offered different solutions...
Josh Turek ad on transgender issues draws bipartisan criticism
Iowa

Josh Turek ad on transgender issues draws bipartisan criticism

Oct 26, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, is facing criticism from both LGBTQ+ advocates and Republicans for a recent ad in which he said he opposed allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports, and supported blocking Medicaid funding...
Candidates for Iowa governor discuss their top priorities: cancer, cost of living
Iowa

Candidates for Iowa governor discuss their top priorities: cancer, cost of living

Oct 23, 2026
Robin Opsahl
In the race for Iowa governor, Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn agree addressing high cancer rates and making life more affordable for Iowans are their top priorities if elected Nov. 3, 2026 — but the candidates shared different...
Trump calls for Omar to resign, defends Ramaswamy campaign ad at Iowa rally
Iowa

Trump calls for Omar to resign, defends Ramaswamy campaign ad at Iowa rally

Oct 22, 2026
Robin Opsahl
SIOUX CITY — While President Donald Trump came to Sioux City Thursday to rally with Iowa Republicans facing contentious elections in November, he spent a portion of his speech defending Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and criticizing Minnesota U.S...
Iowa governor race sees record fundraising
Iowa

Iowa governor race sees record fundraising

Oct 22, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa’s competitive congressional and statewide races have brought in record high campaign fundraising hauls for the state ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 election. Iowa’s race for governor between Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn has shattered the state’s...
Miller-Meeks, Bohannan spar on Iran war, rising costs in 1st District debate
Iowa

Miller-Meeks, Bohannan spar on Iran war, rising costs in 1st District debate

Oct 20, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan emphasized their willingness to break from party lines during the 1st Congressional District debate Tuesday — while also trading barbs on issues like rising costs and immigration. The two candidates met for a...
Rob Sand withdraws from Wednesday debate after brother-in-law’s death
Iowa

Rob Sand withdraws from Wednesday debate after brother-in-law’s death

Oct 19, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for governor, has withdrawn from a debate scheduled for Wednesday with Republican candidate Zach Lahn following the death of his brother-in-law. Sand and Lahn were scheduled to meet for a debate on “Iowa Press” on...
Governor’s husband, Kevin Reynolds, diagnosed with cancer recurrence
Iowa

Governor’s husband, Kevin Reynolds, diagnosed with cancer recurrence

Oct 19, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ husband, Kevin Reynolds, is recovering from a surgery to remove a brain tumor after being diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer, the governor’s office announced Monday. The governor’s husband, 68, was first diagnosed with lung cancer...
Turek campaigns with former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin in final stretch before election
Iowa

Turek campaigns with former US Sen. Tom Harkin in final stretch before election

Oct 18, 2026
Robin Opsahl
OTTUMWA — Democrat Josh Turek said Sunday he believed President Donald Trump “accurately identified the problem” Iowans face as they struggle with issues like rising costs — but he argued Trump and Republicans’ failure to lower prices since taking power...
No Kings in Des Moines: Smaller crowd but focused on mobilizing voters
Iowa

No Kings in Des Moines: Smaller crowd but focused on mobilizing voters

Oct 17, 2026
Robin Opsahl Joanna Schroeder
It was quiet in Windsor Heights’ Colby Park Saturday afternoon as volunteers from many organizations were out canvassing neighborhoods encouraging people to vote early as part of the No Kings Day of Action. It was a contrast with previous years’...
State revenues projected to increase as Iowa’s billion-dollar budget deficit remains
Iowa

State revenues projected to increase as Iowa’s billion-dollar budget deficit remains

Oct 16, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa is expected to spend over $1 billion more than it raises in revenues in the current fiscal year, the Revenue Estimating Conference found Friday — but Iowa Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen said this prediction remains in line...
Trump to hold two Iowa campaign events ahead of Election Day
Iowa

Trump to hold two Iowa campaign events ahead of Election Day

Oct 15, 2026
Robin Opsahl
President Donald Trump will make two trips to Iowa ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement Thursday the president plans to be in Iowa Thursday, Oct. 22, and Sunday...