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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

Tom Barton
I am The Gazette’s deputy Des Moines bureau chief covering Iowa politics, including the Iowa Legislature and campaigns. I was born and raised in Davenport and have previously worked for papers covering local and state government and politics in Iowa and South Carolina, including Dubuque and the Quad-Cities. I’m an Iowa State graduate and a die-hard Cyclone fan. When not reporting, you can likely find me on the golf course, burning something in the kitchen and nerding out about Star Wars with Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy.
Latest Articles by Tom Barton
Government & Politics Apr. 25, 2023 5:02 pm36d ago
Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has made restrictions on transgender youth a priority this year, on Monday used Twitter to promote a pack of koozies that label herself and three other female Republican governors as “real women of politics,” in an apparent parody of Bud Light cans that feature transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
State Government Apr. 24, 2023 5:29 pm37d ago
Iowa students and gun safety advocates rallied at the Iowa Capitol to protest a bill that would allow gun owners to have a firearm in their vehicle on school and college grounds.
Government & Politics Apr. 23, 2023 6:14 pm38d ago
A change in the federal student aid formula could mean lower levels of financial aid for children whose parents run family farms or small businesses. Currently, a family with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 and a farm worth $1 million would be expected to contribute $7,626 annually for college. Under the new formula, that same family would be expected to contribute $41,056.
State Government Apr. 24, 2023 4:36 pm37d ago
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article included an incorrect civil penalty figure. The Iowa Utilities Board issued separate …
State Government Apr. 21, 2023 6:15 pm40d ago
Payment for nearly 70 sexual assault survivors’ emergency contraception is on hold as Iowa’s Republican Attorney General reviews use of funds.
Government & Politics Apr. 21, 2023 5:09 pm40d ago
“Ignoring the biological differences between men and women, and allowing biological boys to compete against girls is unfair, ” says U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa.
State Government Apr. 20, 2023 6:20 pm41d ago
Iowa House Republican lawmakers passed legislation Thursday that would define and in some cases
State Government Apr. 19, 2023 5:52 pm42d ago
Iowa Republican state lawmakers in the House and Senate must now come together to close the gap on dueling proposals to lower Iowans’ property tax bills.
State Government Apr. 18, 2023 5:12 pm43d ago
Legislation that would allow dairy farms in Iowa to sell raw milk to consumers is headed to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.
Government & Politics Apr. 18, 2023 8:32 am44d ago
A handful of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ picks to lead state agencies and serve on state boards and commissions were confirmed to their roles with little to no bipartisan support under a new Republican super majority in the Iowa Senate.
Government & Politics Apr. 17, 2023 9:05 am45d ago
Views: It expands rights and freedom. It makes ‘zero sense’
Campaigns & Elections Apr. 13, 2023 8:54 am49d ago
The possible presidential candidate continued to push a message of “American exceptionalism” and hope and unity in a divisive Republican Party that the’s touted in previous visits to the early nominating state as part of his “Faith in America” listening tour.
Government & Politics Apr. 11, 2023 5:17 pm50d ago
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ picks to lead Iowa's state education agency and serve on the board that governs its three state universities met some push back Tuesday by Iowa Senate Democrats.
State Government Apr. 11, 2023 7:34 pm50d ago
Legislation that would require Iowa caucus participants to vote in-person — which would effectively kill Iowa Democrats’ plan for mail-in caucusing in 2024 — was introduced this week in the Iowa House by Republican state lawmaker Bobby Kaufmann, the son of Republican Party of Iowa state chairman Jeff Kaufmann.
Government & Politics Apr. 11, 2023 2:10 pm50d ago
Victim advocates are urging Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to continue allowing the state’s victim compensation funds to cover contraception and abortion care for rape victims, noting a majority of those served by the fund are juvenile victims of sexual abuse.