Three-time Trump voter Iowa voter Shanen Ebersole
CNN reporter John King says angry Republicans and emerging blue suburbs in Iowa may be gearing up to give Republicans a hard midterm in one of the reddest states in the nation.
Just 82 days away from the midterms Democrats appear hopeful that Iowa's third congressional district will add to the belt notches giving them back the House.
President Donald Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024 and carried every single county but one, but now new occupants of the Hawkeye State, coupled with growing Republican anger, appears to be giving Dems a rare opportunity.
Loyal Republican and three-time Trump voter Kris Mudd said his Republican friends are having a difficult time siding with the Republican Party as the pain of the Trump economy hangs over the state.
“Housing is expensive. The interest rates are expensive and gas is expensive. People are upset. They're frustrated with the way things have gone on. You know, I can't tell you that I'm 100% excited about everything that's happened. But I believe that there's some pain that we have to go through to get this thing fixed,” Mudd told King.
Meanwhile, new homes in West Des Moines and other fast growing metropolitan areas in the Midwest are proving to be a critical piece of Iowa’s midterm math, with King saying a reading in a public bookstore not hiding the evolving politics.
Linzey Murray, for example, was born in China, adopted by a family in Kansas City, went to college in Iowa, and returned three years ago to open the bookstore and start a family. She sees the chance for a big blue year, said King.
“We're just going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing, and we just have no more [care] … to give,” said Murray.
Iowa voter Shanen Ebersole, like other three-tie Trump voters are also proving to be “more of a wild card” this year as Trump’s nagging economy and his unpopular war in Iran drags on.
“First and foremost, we need to take care of our Americans. And that is one frustrating point of the Iran war is because I voted to take care of us first,” said Ebersole, adding that she is also unhappy with the Republican Party putting the party ahead of rural Iowa.
“I am really still leaning [for change.] I believe that change is always a good thing,” she added.
“So right there in the end tells you everything you need to know about the season of opportunity for Democrats, even in Iowa,” said King. “That's a three-time Trump voter thinking about voting Democrat for governor, thinking about voting Democrat for congress. … And if the Democrats have opportunity in Iowa, think about states that are less red, less Trumpy. So, it's a great season of opportunity for Democrats.”
After all, added King, Obama won the state twice.