Covering Iowa Politics

Rod Boshart
Rod Boshart has been The Gazette’s Des Moines bureau manager since 1989 covering state government, the Legislature and political campaigns – both statewide and presidential elections. Boshart also worked for United Press International for eight years in the Des Moines and the Quad-City bureaus covering general assignment news, political campaigns and University of Iowa athletics. After graduating from the University of Iowa with degrees in journalism, history and political science, Rod worked for four years as a co-partner in a family farm operation with his father and brother in southeast Iowa. He is married and has four children.

Blog Posts

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Braley, Lange backers turn out for Braley event

First District congressional race supporters turned out on Mays Island Wednesday

  Supporters of both candidates in the First District congressional race turned out on Mays Island Wednesday afternoon for an event organized by Rep. Bruce Braley’s campaign. About two dozen Braley supporters and about half that many backers of  Republican challenger Ben Lange jockeyed for position in the afternoon heat, trying to hold their candidate’s [...]

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Iowa's Christian Ballard answers questions at an Insight Bowl press conference at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona on Sunday, December 26, 2010. (Cliff Jette/Sourcemedia Group News)

Minnesota Vikings take Christian Ballard (with Ballard quote transcript)

Iowa defensive lineman Christian Ballard was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round (106 overall) on Saturday at the NFL draft. Ballard, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 298 pounds, started his last 39 games at Iowa and played in 49 games. He  issues considered one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the draft [...]

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Bowl rep: Iowa’s loss costs them with Capital One

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s 20-17 loss to Ohio State likely cost them a chance to play in the Capital One Bowl this year, David Korducki, a selection committee member for Florida Citrus Sports, said the Hawkeyes need to beat Minnesota next week and have a loss by either Michigan State, Ohio State or Wisconsin just [...]

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Michigan's Zack Novak gives up a basket to Eric May of Iowa during second-half action in the Big Ten Men's basketball tournament at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana, Thursday, March 11, 2010. Michigan won 59-52. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

McCaffery’s up-tempo style on display Sunday

IOWA CITY — Iowa fans get to see Fran McCaffery’s up-tempo style of play up close on Sunday in the team’s exhibition against Illinois-Springfield. But don’t expect 150 points or perfection, either. “It’s going to be fast-paced,” Iowa sophomore forward Eric May said. “Hopefully there will be some alley-oops. But it’s not going to be [...]

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Vander Plaats nixes independent bid, wants justices ousted 46

DES MOINES – Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats today ruled out an independent bid for governor in the Nov. 2 general election and instead said he will spearhead an effort to unseat three Iowa Supreme Court justices who were part of an April 2009 ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in Iowa. Vander [...]

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Culver proposes 4 percent boost in K-12 funding for fiscal 2012 23

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver promised Wednesday to push for a major new investment in education if re-elected in November that would include a 4 percent boost in base state aid for Iowa’s K-12 public schools in fiscal 2012. The first-term Democrat also pledged support for moving Iowa toward universal preschool, raising graduation rates [...]

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New blog covers Iowa politics, local government 1

Government and political coverage from Source Media Group is now available at www.EasternIowaGovernment.com. In addition to news about Iowa state government and politics, www.EasternIowaGovernment.com is your source for news about local government in Cedar Rapids and Linn County as well as Iowa City and Johnson County. You can participate in the blog by commenting on [...]

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Paulsen calls on Culver administration to quit killing Iowa jobs 23

Iowa House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen is called on Gov. Chet Culver to rein in Richard Leopold, his appointed director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and order him not to block an oil refinery that could creates jobs for Iowans. Paulsen, who represents northern and western Linn County, said Leopold’s objections could scuttle [...]

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Iowa Lottery games could be delivered to Smartphones 26

CEDAR RAPIDS – The 25-year-old Iowa Lottery is an “offline business in an online world,” but Director Terry Rich is out to change that. Later this month, the Lottery will take bids on a new computer system that will allow players to check their tickets at automated kiosks in retail stores as July 1, 2011, [...]

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Iowa ranks second for per-capita public debt 30

DES MOINES – Former Gov. Terry Branstad’s campaign Tuesday accused Gov. Chet Culver of using a “sleight of hand” to deceive Iowa voters by touting a low ranking for public debt that pre-dated Culver’s I-JOBS borrowing. Culver’s office issued a news release Tuesday trumpeting the fact that Iowa placed second lowest nationally in per-capita state [...]

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