By Rebecca Schweitzer | Des Moines, Iowa
Updated April 2026: This article has been updated with additional context and related analysis on public accountability and political balance in Iowa.
Rebecca Schweitzer is a Des Moines, Iowa writer who covers politics, education, and civic life. She grew up in small town Iowa during a time when the state was purple, balanced, and grounded in shared priorities. That Iowa felt steady. It felt fair. And it felt like it belonged to everyone who lived here.
As a Des Moines based writer, Rebecca Schweitzer covers Iowa politics and civic life because she believes the state she grew up in is worth fighting for.
Iowa was not dominated by one party. Voters elected leaders from both sides. The Statehouse was split at different points. Debate was normal. Compromise was expected. Accountability mattered.
Public schools were strong. Iowa consistently ranked near the top nationally in education outcomes. Communities valued teachers. Education was not treated as a political wedge issue. It was understood as the foundation of opportunity.
I grew up in a small rural town. Graduating from high school was the norm. Expectations were high. There was a belief that if you worked hard, you would have options. That belief shaped how I see Iowa today.
In 2009, Iowa became the second state in the country to legalize same sex marriage. That decision reflected something important about who we were as a state. It showed that fairness and equal protection under the law could guide policy. Even for those who disagreed, the process demonstrated that Iowa could lead thoughtfully and independently.
That was the Iowa I knew.
Today, things look different.
Public schools are under strain while state funding increasingly supports private school voucher programs. According to the Des Moines Register, districts across the state are cutting programs and managing tight budgets as voucher costs continue to climb. Teachers are leaving the profession. Rural communities are consolidating schools just to survive.
Laws restricting women's autonomy and limiting personal medical decisions have reshaped health care access across Iowa. The Iowa Hospital Association has documented the closure of maternity wards in rural communities, leaving families traveling long distances for basic care.
We are also seeing legislation that directly impacts how people identify themselves. Regardless of political framing, those policies affect how welcome people feel in their own communities. And that matters if we want Iowa to attract and keep the next generation of workers and families.
That is not the Iowa I was raised to believe in.
What Balance Looks Like, According to Rebecca Schweitzer
Restoring balance will not happen automatically. It requires attention. It requires participation. It requires voters who look beyond party labels and study records, priorities, and values.
Healthy government requires balance. When one party controls the executive branch and both legislative chambers for an extended period, meaningful debate narrows. Checks and balances weaken. Policy can move quickly without broad consensus. That is true regardless of which party is in control.
Purple Iowa was not about everyone thinking the same way. It was about shared responsibility and thoughtful disagreement. It was about ensuring that no single ideology went unchecked.
Iowa has produced leaders on both sides who understood that. The question is whether voters will demand that standard again.
I believe Iowa is strongest when it values fairness, strong public schools, personal liberty, and accountable leadership. That is not a partisan position. That is what I watched work here for decades.
We still have time.
Time to attend town halls. Time to ask candidates direct questions. Time to review voting records. Time to vote intentionally.
The Iowa I grew up in believed balance was strength, not weakness. I still believe that.
Why This Conversation Still Matters in Iowa Today
Questions about political balance, accountability, and civic trust have only become more relevant since this article was first published. Those themes continue to shape many of the issues I write about, from education funding to government oversight and the future of Iowa communities.
Related reading from Rebecca Schweitzer:
Why Des Moines Iowa Will Always Feel Like Home
Iowa's School Funding Crisis and What It Means for Students
Iowa's Unemployment Numbers and What They Are Not Telling You
About Rebecca Schweitzer and Her Work in Iowa
Rebecca Schweitzer is a Des Moines, Iowa writer covering politics, education, and public accountability. Her work analyzes state policy, elections, and issues impacting Iowa families across Des Moines, Polk County, and communities throughout Iowa. Her work has appeared in the Des Moines Register and The Gazette.
Read more at iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com and follow along on on Medium, Substack, X, Bluesky, About.me, MuckRack and Gravatar.
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