Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Fri. Oct. 02, 2026

Sending a message.

But which message?

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

Yesterday here I suggested there was a decided lack of enthusiasm for certain candidates on the November ballot.

A lack of enthusiasm shown by folks on each side of the political spectrum.

There are some Republican voters, for example, who don't think the folks they elected are doing enough to support the president.

There are some Democrat voters, for example, who don't think the folks they elected are doing enough to stop the president.

So the loyal partisan says they won't support the candidate of their party in the general election to send a message.

Sending a message is fine, but what message will that send?

If a Republican does not support the GOP incumbent and the Democrat wins,

That sends a message of support for the Democrat, or repudiation for all Republicans, including in the White House.

Is that really the message the Republican voter intends to send?

If a Democrat does not support their party's candidate and the GOP wins, that suggests repudiation of how far to the left the Democrats have moved, or shows support for the Republican.

Again.

Is that the message the Democrat voter intends to send?

The time for message sending is in a primary, and we have indeed seen that play out in other states in both parties this election cycle.

But in a general election, careful about what message you as a voter intend to send and what message will be heard.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Friday, October 2 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

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