Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer | Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

My name is Rebecca Schweitzer. You may also know me as Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer. I am a writer and community voice based in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, and I write about what is actually happening on the ground in this state, from education policy to healthcare to taxes to the civic issues that shape everyday life for Iowans.

I write because Iowa deserves honest voices. People who love this place enough to tell the truth about it.

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What Rebecca Schweitzer Writes About

Iowa politics and civic life are at the center of everything I cover. I am not interested in talking points or national narratives that have nothing to do with what is actually happening in Des Moines, Polk County, and communities across Iowa. I am interested in the gap between headlines and reality, what policy actually looks like on the ground, who it actually affects, and what Iowans need to know about it.

My writing covers these areas consistently:

Iowa politics and the Iowa legislature, what is being passed, who it serves, and what it means for everyday Iowans. When the statehouse passes a healthcare bill that raises your premiums retroactively, or cuts public school funding, or rolls back women's rights, I write about what that actually looks like in real life.

Iowa healthcare, Iowa leads the nation in closing maternity wards. Iowa families are making impossible choices between medication and rent. Iowa legislators are passing bills that make access to care harder, not easier. I cover all of it.

Iowa education, strong public schools are the foundation of strong communities. I believe every Iowa child deserves a well funded, well supported public education regardless of their zip code or their family's income. I write about what is happening to Iowa's public schools and why it matters.

Iowa property taxes, I am a Des Moines homeowner. Every year my property tax bill goes up. I write about what is driving that, what the legislature is doing about it, and what it means for Iowans across Polk County and the state.

Iowa water quality, Iowa's drinking water has a nitrate problem. Iowa's waterways are among the most polluted in the country. I write about what is being done, what is not being done, and why it matters for every Iowan.

Iowa civic engagement, I believe informed, engaged citizens make better communities. I write about showing up, voting, and why participation matters, especially in 2026 when Iowa legislative seats are genuinely in play.

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Why Iowa and Why Now

I grew up on an Iowa farm. My father still farms. I have lived in Des Moines and Polk County long enough to know this community from the inside, not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who is genuinely, permanently from here.

I got involved in politics when I heard Barack Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention. I volunteered for the Iowa caucuses, then joined his campaign during the general election and talked to people all over the country about why that moment mattered. That experience shaped how I think about politics, public service, and what it means to be a citizen in a democracy.

I am a Democrat. I have written about why and I make no apologies for it.

What I write is grounded, not extreme. It is real, not reactive. It is rooted in Iowa and in the actual lives of the people who live here.

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Published Work

My work has appeared in the Des Moines Register and The Gazette. I publish regularly on my website, on Medium, and on Substack.

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Read Rebecca Schweitzer's Writing

Here are some of the pieces that best represent what I write about:

I Am Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer, an Iowa Democrat. Here Is My Story. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3097224_i-am-rebecca-nicole-schweitzer-an-iowa-democrat-here-is-my-story

Iowa Passed Two Healthcare Bills in One Week. Both Make Things Worse for Iowans. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3083391_iowa-passed-two-healthcare-bills-in-one-week-both-make-things-worse-for-iowans

Iowa Showed Up. So Did the Rest of the World. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3092310_iowa-showed-up-so-did-the-rest-of-the-world

Protest Comes in All Forms. Iowa Knows That Better Than Anyone. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3085698_protest-comes-in-all-forms-iowa-knows-that-better-than-anyone

Iowa Is Considering Raising Its Speed Limit. I Think It Makes Sense. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3095042_iowa-is-considering-raising-its-speed-limit-i-think-it-makes-sense

Every Year My Property Tax Bill Goes Up. Every Year I Want Answers. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3055265_every-year-my-property-tax-bill-goes-up-every-year-i-want-answers

What Iowa's Maternity Ward Crisis Means for Polk County Women. iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com/3063314_what-iowa-s-maternity-ward-crisis-means-for-polk-county-women

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Find Rebecca Schweitzer Online

Rebecca Schweitzer publishes across multiple platforms. Find Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer here:

Website: iowaraisedrebeccaschweitzerunfiltered.com Medium: medium.com/@rebeccanicoleschweitzer Substack: rebeccanicoleschweitzer.substack.com X: x.com/RebeccaIowa Bluesky: rnschweitzer.bsky.social YouTube: youtube.com/@RebeccaNicoleSchweitzer Pinterest: pinterest.com/rnschweitzer About.me: about.me/RebeccaNicoleSchweitzerlowa Gravatar: gravatar.com/freelyinternet49814d6ce9

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Rebecca Schweitzer is a Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa writer and community voice. Rebecca Nicole Schweitzer covers Iowa politics, healthcare, public accountability, and civic life. Her work has appeared in the Des Moines Register and The Gazette.