Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl

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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.

Democratic governor candidate Rob Sand warns that Iowa faces ‘fiscal time bomb’
Iowa

Democratic governor candidate Rob Sand warns that Iowa faces ‘fiscal time bomb’

12:12pm ET
Robin Opsahl
With the primaries over, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said Thursday his general election approach will remain focused on bipartisanship and finding “reasonable” solutions for Iowans as he faces off against businessman Zach Lahn in November. Sand spoke at the...
Three Iowa House incumbents lose primary elections
Iowa

Three Iowa House incumbents lose primary elections

Jun 03, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Three incumbents in the Iowa House lost in the June 2 primary election against challengers from within their party. Several lawmakers currently serving in the state Legislature from both parties faced challengers in the Tuesday primary, but most were able...
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs final bills from 2026 legislative session
Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs final bills from 2026 legislative session

Jun 03, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Republicans were able to enact many of their top goals this year as Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the final bills from the 2026 legislative session into law. The slate of bills signed into law Tuesday were the final measures to...
Rep. Randy Feenstra concedes to Zach Lahn in 2026 Iowa GOP gubernatorial primary
Iowa

Rep. Randy Feenstra concedes to Zach Lahn in 2026 Iowa GOP gubernatorial primary

Jun 02, 2026
Robin Opsahl Brooklyn Draisey
Zach Lahn, a businessman and farmer, won the Republican nomination for Iowa governor Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra and the three other GOP hopefuls conceding the race. Lahn squeaked past Feenstra with less than a percentage point in unofficial...
Rep. Josh Turek wins U.S. Senate primary race against Sen. Zach Wahls, AP projects
Iowa

Rep. Josh Turek wins U.S. Senate primary race against Sen. Zach Wahls

Jun 02, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa Rep. Josh Turek has won the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat in his race against state Sen. Zach Wahls, The Associated Press projected Tuesday. Turek had 62.6% of the vote to 37.4% for Wahls in unofficial results...
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson wins GOP nomination for U.S. Senate seat, AP projects
Iowa

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson wins GOP nomination for U.S. Senate seat

Jun 02, 2026
Robin Opsahl
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has defeated former state lawmaker Jim Carlin in the race to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in the Tuesday primary election, the Associated Press has projected. Hinson had 74.2% of the vote to 25.9%...
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs warrant resolution clinic ban, ‘repeat offenders’ bill into law
Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs warrant resolution clinic ban, ‘repeat offenders’ bill into law

Jun 02, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the suite of criminal justice measures she signed into law Tuesday would help keep Iowa communities safer, and could prevent future crimes in instances like the death of Ashley Marie Hall. Hall was killed in...
Gov. Reynolds signs agriculture and water-quality bills into law
Iowa

Gov. Reynolds signs agriculture and water-quality bills into law

Jun 01, 2026
Robin Opsahl Kadin Luhmann
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed several bills related to agriculture and the environment into law Monday, including measures related to water quality, ethanol and the Iowa Farm Act. One of those bills, House File 2771, the state’s agriculture and natural resources...
Carlin criticizes Hinson’s vote for same-sex marriage law in U.S. Senate primary
Iowa

Carlin criticizes Hinson’s vote for same-sex marriage law in U.S. Senate primary

May 29, 2026
Robin Opsahl
While U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s 2026 Senate campaign has been backed by Republicans including President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who currently holds the seat, she still must overcome a challenge from the...
President Donald Trump endorses U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra for Iowa governor
Iowa

President Donald Trump endorses U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra for Iowa governor

May 29, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Four days ahead of the June 2 primary, President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra to become the Republican nominee for Iowa governor. Trump put his support behind Feenstra in a Friday post on TruthSocial, where he said the...
Two Republicans aim to become candidate to flip state auditor seat to GOP control
Iowa

Two Republicans aim to become candidate to flip state auditor seat to GOP control

May 29, 2026
Robin Opsahl
As of the 2022 election cycle, only one statewide elected office is currently held by a Democrat in Iowa – the state auditor’s office. But two Republicans are aiming to flip this seat in 2026, competing in the June 2...
Three Democrats compete in Iowa 4th Congressional District primary
Iowa

Three Democrats compete in Iowa 4th Congressional District primary

May 28, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Though Iowa’s 4th Congressional District is considered a longtime Republican stronghold, three Democrats are competing in the June 2 primary to become the candidate competing for the open seat in the 2026 election. The district, which covers much of northwest...