2022 Iowa Governor Voters Guide

Legal. “I pledge to…ensure [Iowans] always have access to the healthcare and reproductive care that they need and deserve.”  The Roe v. Wade “ruling is a massive step backwards…it is not the end of the fight.”

Ban. Signed on to a brief calling for overturning Roe v. Wade. Called the decision one of the Supreme Court’s “greatest moments.” “As governor, I won’t rest until every unborn Iowan is protected and respected.”

Yes. “With the very pressing threat of climate change affecting our world, Iowa must move forward as a leader,” including renewable energy jobs.

Mixed. In 2018, said of climate change: “While I think it’s a factor, I think it’s overstated.” Said Iowa is doing its part with wind, ethanol, biodiesel, cellulosic fuels. Her carbon sequestration task force was criticized for excluding environmental organizations.

No. Says public funds should rebuild public schools. Private school vouchers would serve too few students. “Vouchers will not get people to move back to the state, not bring robotics training to students. Not keep teachers in their jobs or in the state.”

Yes. Introduced a 2022 proposal to provide 10,000 families scholarships to pay private-school expenses. Also signed a bill allowing groups trying to set up new charter schools to bypass local school boards.

“The problems with our education system have nothing to do with Critical Race Theory.” which is used “as a factor to stoke fear in our parents.”

Signed a law that banned teaching that the U.S. or Iowa is systemically racist or sexist. “I am proud to…promote learning, not discriminatory indoctrination.” “Critical race theory is about labels and stereotypes, not education.”

Yes. “It is time to fully fund our education system at every level, including universal Pre-K and child care, affordable colleges and trade programs.” Proposed doubling Iowa’s 2.5% K-12 funding increase to 5%.

Yes. Supported a 2.5% increase to the state education budget to “ensure that Iowa has the strong public education system necessary to support the success of our students and our state.”

Mostly tighten. Supports an “environmental justice plan that centers on protecting our rural communities, communities of color, our children and the sick.” “Our landowners need to be in the same room as the farmers, so does Big Ag, so do our educators and our activists and our environmentalists.”

Loosen. Opposed an EPA rule that had expanded the number of waterways under jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Opposed an SEC rule compelling companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions. Blocked Iowa from joining a 21-state lawsuit to maintain federal restrictions on coal-fired plants.

More restrictive. Supports 21 as the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles. Would reinstate a permit for purchasing guns and license for carrying a concealed weapon. “Keep your guns and keep people safe. Those things are possible.”

Less restrictive. Signed a 2021 law allowing purchase and carry of guns without a permit or background check. Signed a law limiting the types of lawsuits that can be filed against gun and ammunition manufacturers.  Announced new spending to make schools more secure; says stricter gun laws are not the answer.

Unclear. “Access to quality affordable healthcare and mental health services is imperative,” but “is out of reach for too many, including our rural communities.” Opposed the ban on COVID mask mandates for schools; supports local control as to whether or not to impose mask and vaccine mandates.

Mixed. Has proposed new appropriations for mental health programs, telehealth, substance abuse programs, and improved access to a self-administered hormonal contraceptive. Iowa has expanded Medicaid under the ACA through the terms of Reynolds and Terry Branstad. Opposed COVID vaccine mandates for health-care workers, & banned mask mandates for schools and businesses.

Says Iowa has to do more to create a more welcoming state for immigrants. No position found on DACA.

Blamed a COVID-19 surge on immigrants crossing the Mexican border. Says “we have seen illegal immigration just soar” because of Biden policies. Sent 29 state troopers to help with border enforcement at Texas’s request. In 2017 supported rescinding DACA, but also suggested support for a pathway to citizenship.

Likely easier. Walked the picket line at a UAW John Deere strike, praising the “movement to prioritize workers rights w/ reasonable requests: dignity of work, fair wages, & retirement benefits that allow workers to provide for their families.”

Harder. Supported a 2019 Iowa Supreme Court decision upholding a 2017 law that took away bargaining rights for many Iowa public employees. Supports Iowa’s 1947 Right to Work law, which allows employees in a unionized workplace to not pay union dues.

Expand. Iowa should make all residents feel welcome “whether urban or rural, or what their background is, including people of color and LGBTQ people.” “The problem is that we don’t have an inclusive government that sees them for who they are. And that’s critical.”

Limit. Signed a 2022 bill prohibiting transgender females from participating in girls high school sports. “Forcing females to compete against males is the opposite of inclusivity and it’s absolutely unfair.” Signed a 2019 bill banning publicly funded insurance from covering transgender surgery.

Legal. If marijuana is legalized and taxed, “imagine what resources we can put into education…a paid parental leave program…so when people have babies they don’t fear losing their jobs.”

Ban. “A lot of people start just innocently with recreational marijuana, and it leads to addiction and other problems…I’m just not in favor of recreational marijuana–at all.”

Yes. “I want to increase this minimum wage… But it’s not enough to increase the minimum wage. We know we need sustainable wages.” Hasn’t specified a target number for the increase.

Unclear. Says that wages should be “market driven;” the state shouldn’t intervene. In 2017 said she would consider supporting an increase if it wouldn’t hurt job growth.

No position found.

Supported bipartisan reforms banning chokeholds and strengthening anti-bias and de-escalation training. Proposed tougher penalties for harassing and assaulting police officers. Would withhold state funding to localities that reduce police budgets.

More. Criticized Iowa’s new flat tax as benefiting “the super-rich.” “I support a fair tax plan that uplifts working families.”

Less. Signed bills reducing the corporate tax rate from 12% to 5.5% and introducing a 3.9% flat tax that replaced a progressive income tax and lowered Iowa’s top income tax rate.

No. Has not “seen the evidence that substantiates why (Iowa’s new voting) restrictions are in place.” “When it comes down to our most fundamental right to vote, everybody who’s eligible to vote in our state should get a fair shake at it.”

Mixed. Signed a bill cutting the state’s early voting period and closing polls an hour earlier on Election Day. Signed an order restoring the right to vote of non-homicide ex-felons.