Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

Turek, a former Paralympic athlete, is one of five Democrats seeking the party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election.

Also, Iowa judge fines Pennsylvania insurer $481,500 for misleading seniors.

In today’s roundup of campaign news, former Iowa U.S. Rep. Rod Blum weighs a congressional comeback, and another Republican announces he’s entering the primary for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.

Also, state legislator Dave Jacoby endorses Zach Wahls in Democratic U.S. Senate race

Also in the notebook, a union group endorses Democratic Iowa attorney general candidate Nate Willems

Also in today’s Capitol Notebook, the Iowa Department of Education announced $8 million in a new round of grant funding to recognize and reward teacher excellence.

Also in today’s Capitol Notebook, Iowa AG Brenna Bird joins a bipartisan coalition urging artificial intelligence firms to protect children from harmful chatbots.

Former Pine Lake State Park manager Don Primus, of Steamboat Rock, unsuccessfully ran for Hardin County supervisor in 2020.

Also in the notebook, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office is supporting legal coalitions addressing Instagram users’ privacy and safety, and a ‘designer Xanax’

More than 2,000 fairgoers participated in the nonscientific straw poll conducted by the Iowa Secretary of State’s office

Also in the notebook, Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in July

Also, Fairfield becomes Iowa’s newest Main Street Community

Also, Reynolds announces grant funding to expand child care access

Missouri Republican U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt will join national conservative commentator and Republican political strategist Scott Jennings as a featured guest at Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s fifth annual “BBQ Bash” campaign fundraiser Aug. 23 in Cedar Rapids. Meanwhile, U.S. Senate candidate Nathan Sage will visit 99 counties in 99 days.

Also in the notebook, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird objects to a settlement in a lawsuit against the retail brokerage Charles Schwab