Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Wed. Sep. 09, 2026

Better off at home.

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

The Republican National Committee is hosting its first ever midterm national convention in Dallas today and tomorrow.

President Trump will be featured both days as well as several cabinet members and candidates in key races this November.

Some have tried to make something out of the fact that at this point

No Iowan appears on the roster of folks scheduled to get time at the podium, speaking to those in attendance in Dallas as well as speaking to the national TV audience.

Now, that doesn't mean they weren't asked necessarily.

I don't have any information on that.

But if I am a Republican candidate on the November ballot, especially if I am a sitting member of the U.S.

House, I'm thinking my time is better spent here at home campaigning.

Let's think of it from a strictly logistical standpoint.

You'd lose at least a full day with traveling to and from Dallas and hanging out at the event, all to get perhaps five to ten minutes of FaceTime at the podium.

And chances are that might be covered up on cable television by talking heads spouting their opinions over the top of your speech.

You're probably better off hitting five or six counties in a 12-hour period.

Shaking hands, talking with actual voters, being seen as a hard worker on the ground with real people.

As opposed to hanging out with the so-called cool kids at an event your constituents can't really relate to.

Now again, some are trying to make something out of the fact that a number of well-known GOP office holders are skipping the event or closer to home that no one from Iowa

We'll be speaking.

But the whole point of the midterm convention is to rally the faithful.

And if you as a candidate think you can do that better by working a crowd or ten at home, why would you go to Texas?

Besides, it was 101 yesterday on the thermometer in Dallas with high temperatures forecast near 100 each day of the convention.

No need to travel to feel weather like that.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Wednesday, September 9 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540, KXEL.