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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 Jun. 24, 2022 4:25 pm
Iowa’s Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a bipartisan gun bill that cleared Congress on a mostly party-line vote and is headed to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Health Care and Medicine Jun. 24, 2022 11:39 pm
GOP lawmakers celebrate reversal as abortion rights supporters decry ruling
Government & Politics Jun. 23, 2022 4:18 pm
Proposal to create AMBER Alert-style system fails first test, but likely will return for another vote in U.S. House.
Government & Politics Jun. 23, 2022 2:59 pm
Iowa Democrats argued Thursday the state offers a path to victory for longshot candidates and opportunities for meaningful conversations with rural Americans as they made their pitch to hold onto their place at the front of the party’s presidential nominating calendar.
Government & Politics Jun. 22, 2022 7:28 pm
A Republican National Committee field office in Cedar Rapids was vandalized over the weekend.
Government & Politics Jun. 22, 2022 9:37 pm
Cedar Rapids Charter Review Commission says Iowa’s second-largest city, with a trend of Republican mayors serving a Democratic-leaning city, should consider piloting a new way for selecting city leaders -- once Iowa law allows.
Government & Politics Jun. 21, 2022 3:25 pm
Iowa Democrats will present proposed changes to its caucuses in an effort to streamline the process and hold onto its place at the front of the party’s presidential nominating calendar.
Government & Politics Jun. 23, 2022 5:08 pm
The Cedar Rapids Democrat is likely to become Iowa’s first Arab American state lawmaker. He is running unopposed in the November election in House District 78. At age 26, he also would be one of the state’s youngest lawmakers.
Government & Politics Jun. 17, 2022 5:28 pm
The U.S. House on Thursday passed several pieces of legislation aimed at addressing high fuel and food costs and supply chain issues, including expanding the availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends
Government & Politics Jun. 17, 2022 5:30 pm
As federal lawmakers hash out details of bipartisan gun laws in the wake of recent mass shootings, a new coalition of gun safety advocates warn a pro-gun amendment to the Iowa Constitution will prohibit reasonable safety measures that Iowans support.
Government & Politics Jun. 15, 2022 5:46 pm
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law Senate File 522, which sets criminal charges — ranging from misdemeanors to felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison, based on the severity of the crime.
Government & Politics Jun. 14, 2022 2:29 pm
From pushing to provide taxpayer funding to pay for students to attend private schools, to a flat tax and abortion restrictions, DeJear argues Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has prioritized extreme policies over Iowans while real issues like rural revitalization and access to quality, affordable health care have been shortchanged.
Government & Politics Feb. 10, 2022 9:27 pm
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on Wednesday refrained from directly weighing in on whether the Republican National Committee was right to censure two House Republicans for participating in House Democrats’ investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Federal Government Feb. 3, 2022 7:27 am
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Wednesday said he is urging a fair confirmation process to vet President Joe Biden's eventual nominee to succeed retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
Government & Politics Jan. 19, 2022 2:15 pm
Abby Finkenauer pledged to serve just two terms if elected to the U.S. Senate in November and is calling for congressional term limits in Washington, D.C.