WHERE I STAND

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I believe in telling you exactly where I stand and showing you what I have done about it. These are the issues I hear about from families, farmers, and business owners across District 3, and these are the fights I am leading in Des Moines.

This is the issue I hear about more than any other, and it is the fight I am most proud to lead. For the past four years, carbon capture pipeline companies have tried to use eminent domain to seize Iowa farmland for private, for-profit projects. The Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would run over 1,000 miles through Iowa, and the Iowa Utilities Commission granted them eminent domain authority over the objections of landowners across the state.

I have fought this every step of the way. Here is my record:

First to demand a vote. In April 2025, I was the first Republican senator to take the floor and publicly call on Senate leadership to bring the eminent domain bill up for debate and a vote. I told my colleagues to look our Majority Whip in the eye and say, 'I don't care what bill. Let's get something to the floor. Let's vote on it and let's protect the rights of property owners in our state.'

Signed the 12-senator pledge. I was one of twelve Republican senators who signed a letter refusing to vote on any budget bills until the Senate took up House File 639, the pipeline eminent domain reform bill. We put property rights ahead of political convenience.

Voted YES on HF 639. When the bill finally came to the floor, I voted yes. It passed the Senate 27-22. The bill would have put real limits on the use of eminent domain for private carbon pipelines and added protections for landowners.

Stood firm after the veto. Governor Reynolds vetoed HF 639. I respect the governor, but I disagreed with that decision and said so publicly. I will keep fighting for eminent domain reform until Iowa landowners are protected.

The question is simple: should a private corporation be allowed to take your land for its own profit? The answer is no. The Fifth Amendment is clear. Eminent domain is for public use, not private gain. I will not stop fighting until Iowa law reflects that principle.

Hardworking Iowans should be able to keep more of their paychecks, and seniors who have paid off their homes should truly own them, not rent them from the government for a lifetime.

In 2026, Senate Republicans released a major property tax overhaul on the first day of the legislative session. I am proud to support this effort. Our plan, Senate Study Bill 3001, is the most comprehensive property tax reform proposal Iowa has seen in decades. Here is what it does:

50% homestead discount. A permanent 50% reduction in taxable value for your family home. This is real, lasting relief for every homeowner in the district.

2% cap on increases. When your property valuation goes up more than 2% due to inflation, the rates automatically come down. No more surprise tax bills because the assessor raised your valuation.

Freeze for seniors. Homeowners 60 and older would see their property taxes frozen. If you have spent a lifetime building your home, you should not be taxed out of it.

Built for rural Iowa. This plan recognizes that Spencer is not Des Moines and O'Brien County is not Scott County. It is designed to work for small towns and rural communities, not just the metro areas.

I have been fighting for property tax reform every session since I took office. As a member of Senate leadership, I am in the room where these decisions get made, and I will not stop until we deliver meaningful, lasting relief for District 3 families.

Education is not a talking point for me. It is my life's work. I spent over 30 years in Iowa schools as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. I have seen firsthand what our schools need, and as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am in a position to deliver.

Here is what I am fighting for:

More funding. Since 2017, Republicans have appropriated over $1.23 billion in new dollars for K-12 education. This year, the Senate is proposing an increase of nearly $100 million, bringing total state spending on K-12 education to $4.35 billion. Our rural schools deserve their fair share, and I am making sure they get it.

Better results. In the last year, 528 Iowa schools improved in one or more performance categories. Absenteeism dropped from 21.6% to 15.8%. Reading proficiency among third graders increased by 11% in a single year. And over 15,000 high school seniors engaged in work-based learning. These results matter.

Local control. Education decisions should be made by parents, teachers, and local school boards, not by bureaucrats in Des Moines or Washington. I will always fight to protect local control over our schools.

Supporting rural districts. Rural school districts face unique challenges: declining enrollment, teacher recruitment, and aging facilities. As someone who spent his career leading rural districts, I understand these challenges personally and I am working to address them from the Education Committee chair.

The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental constitutional right, and I will never vote to restrict it. Iowa voters enshrined the right to keep and bear arms in our state constitution, and I was proud to support that effort.

In the Iowa Senate, I have consistently voted to protect and expand the rights of law-abiding gun owners. I oppose any attempt by the federal government or state legislature to impose new restrictions on firearms ownership, and I will continue to stand with the men and women of District 3 who exercise their Second Amendment rights responsibly every day.

I am pro-life without exception. I believe that every human life has value from the moment of conception. In the Iowa Senate, I have supported legislation to protect the unborn and will continue to do so. This is a deeply personal conviction rooted in my faith and my belief in the sanctity of life.

Agriculture is the economic backbone of District 3 and the state of Iowa. Our farmers feed the world, and they deserve a state government that has their back. I am committed to:

Protecting farmland. The fight against eminent domain abuse is inseparable from the fight for Iowa agriculture. When a corporation can take a farmer's land for a private pipeline, it threatens the foundation of our agricultural economy.

Reducing regulation. Iowa farmers are already some of the best stewards of the land in the world. They do not need more government regulation telling them how to do their jobs. I will fight to reduce the regulatory burden on Iowa agriculture.

Supporting ethanol and biofuels. Iowa is the nation's leader in ethanol production, and our biofuels industry is critical to both our farm economy and our energy independence. I support policies that expand market access for Iowa biofuels and protect the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Keeping foreign interests out. Iowa farmland should be owned by Iowans, not foreign governments or corporations. I support strong restrictions on foreign ownership of Iowa agricultural land.

Rural Iowa deserves the same level of public safety as any community in the state. I support our law enforcement officers, and I am fighting to keep our communities safe:

Combating drugs. Fentanyl and methamphetamine are devastating rural communities across Iowa. I support stronger penalties for drug trafficking, more resources for law enforcement, and expanded access to treatment and recovery programs.

Backing law enforcement. Our sheriffs and police officers put their lives on the line every day. I will always support funding for local law enforcement and oppose any effort to defund or diminish the men and women who keep us safe.

Relieving the burden on county jails. I drafted and floor-managed the passage of SF 643/HF 643, which requires the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse counties when their county jail has to hold a sexually violent offender who has committed a public offense. The bill also covers cases where offenders are sent to the Cherokee Mental Health Institute for acute psychiatric services. Our counties should not have to bear the cost of housing dangerous individuals without state support. This bill passed the Senate, was signed by the governor, and is now law. It is the kind of practical, common-sense legislation that makes a real difference for local governments and the safety of our communities.

Rural healthcare. Rural hospitals and clinics are hanging on by a thread. I support expanding telehealth access, creating incentive programs to recruit healthcare providers to rural areas, and ensuring that our communities have access to the care they need.