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.

Iowa likely voters closely split on income tax constitutional amendment, poll finds
Iowa

Iowa likely voters closely split on income tax constitutional amendment, poll finds

5:46pm ET
Robin Opsahl
Likely Iowa voters do not have a clear preference on a proposed constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds of state lawmakers to approve income tax increases, according to a new Suffolk University poll. The Suffolk University Political Research Center poll, released Wednesday...
Turek highlights cancer advocacy, pledges support if elected to U.S. Senate
Iowa

Turek highlights cancer advocacy, pledges support if elected to U.S. Senate

Aug 26, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa Rep. Josh Turek said Wednesday his work across the aisle to support pediatric cancer research and funding in the state Legislature shows he would be the best candidate to advocate for these priorities in the U.S. Senate. Turek, the...
New poll shows tight races for Iowa governor, U.S. Senate in 2026
Iowa

New poll shows tight races for Iowa governor, U.S. Senate in 2026

Aug 26, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Though Iowa has seen major Republican victories in the last several election cycles, a poll from Suffolk University Political Research Center published Wednesday found the races for U.S. Senate and governor are shaping up to be highly competitive. In the...
Absentee ballot requests begin in Iowa for Nov. 3 election
Iowa

Absentee ballot requests begin in Iowa for Nov. 3 election

Aug 25, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowans were able to begin requesting absentee ballots for the 2026 general election on Tuesday, even as the Trump administration continues to fight in court for changes in the process of voting by mail. Tuesday was officially 70 days before...
Zach Lahn calls for state regulation of data centers, surveillance cameras
Iowa

Zach Lahn calls for state regulation of data centers, surveillance cameras

Aug 24, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Zach Lahn, the GOP nominee for Iowa governor in 2026, said Monday many of the major concerns about new technologies like data center power use and Flock cameras are issues that need to be regulated at a state level. Lahn...
Conservative group launches ad campaign highlighting Rep. Miller-Meeks, Nunn work on tax cuts
Iowa

Conservative group launches ad campaign highlighting Rep. Miller-Meeks, Nunn work on tax cuts

Aug 20, 2026
Robin Opsahl
A conservative organization is spending more than $1 million in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd District supporting U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ and Zach Nunn’s reelection campaigns, highlighting their work to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which included tax cut...
Two Iowa 2nd Congressional District candidates announce accepting debates
Iowa

Two Iowa 2nd Congressional District candidates announce accepting debates

Aug 19, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Democrat Lindsay James and Republican Joe Mitchell said they plan to hold debates in their race for the Iowa 2nd Congressional District seat — though dates have yet to be announced. James, who currently represents Dubuque in the Iowa House...
Ashley Hinson speaks in support of $1.5 trillion defense funding package
Iowa

Ashley Hinson speaks in support of resources for troops amid $1.5 trillion DOD package discussion

Aug 17, 2026
Robin Opsahl
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said Monday she supports providing the U.S. Department of Defense funding that allows the nation to have a strong military presence during their war with Iran. Earlier Monday, Hinson, who running for U.S. Senate in 2026...
Secretary of State Paul Pate says 2026 ‘potential noncitizen’ list unlikely
Iowa

Secretary of State Paul Pate says 2026 ‘potential noncitizen’ list unlikely

Aug 17, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Monday his office is unlikely to issue guidance in the upcoming election for county auditors to challenge the ballots of people identified as as potential noncitizens, a situation that happened in 2024. Two...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn at Iowa State Fair
Iowa

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins Rep. Zach Nunn at Iowa State Fair

Aug 17, 2026
Robin Opsahl
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Iowa State Fairgoers Monday he honored the Iowa soldiers killed in Kuwait, while saying the U.S.-Iran conflict was necessary to keep Americans safe. The defense secretary also spoke on the anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and...
4th District GOP candidate Chris McGowan says US must be ‘prudent’ entering wars
Iowa

4th District GOP candidate Chris McGowan says US must be ‘prudent’ entering wars

Aug 17, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Chris McGowan, the Republican running for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, said Monday he believes the federal government needs to be “extremely prudent” in deciding when to enter wars — though he declined to comment specifically on if the decision for...
Secretary of state candidate Ryan Peterman calls for election changes
Iowa

Secretary of state candidate Ryan Peterman calls for election changes

Aug 15, 2026
Robin Opsahl
Democratic secretary of state candidate Ryan Peterman said Saturday he believes recent changes to Iowa election law dealing with early voting and voter identification do not make Iowa elections more secure — but do make elections less accessible. Peterman, who...