The Des Moines Register’s final poll shows Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris leading Republican Donald Trump by a narrow margin ahead of the election in Iowa, a state typically presumed to support Trump. Kamala had the backing of 47% of respondents, as opposed to Trump’s 44%. The poll, conducted by respected pollster J. Ann Selzer, is known as the “gold standard” for its accurate track record in predicting state-wide election results. However, Progressive advocates have urged that supporters should not place complete faith in a single poll, pushing for continued campaigning actions. The poll also reported that among women aged 65 and older there was a significant shift towards Harris, with 63% supporting her over Trump’s 28%, and independent-identifying women also favouring her, 57% to 29%.
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A federal judge has ruled that Iowa can continue to challenge the validity of hundreds of suspected non-citizen voters, despite opposition from recently naturalized citizens. The decision was made in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Judge Stephen Locher argued that the state’s efforts didn’t remove individuals from the voting register, but instead required the use of provisional ballots. The decision follows a similar ruling in Virginia that allowed a purge of its voter registration rolls, despite the impact on some US citizens. Critics argue the recent focus on potential non-citizens voting in elections is largely politically motivated.
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A surprising turnaround in Iowa sees Democrat Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump 47% to 44% in a recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, despite Iowa’s swing to the right in recent elections. The shift towards Harris is primarily driven by older and politically independent women. Trump however continues to lead with his core base, which includes men, evangelicals, rural residents, and non-college graduates. The poll was conducted from October 28-31 among 808 likely voters, including those who have already voted and those planning to. This development comes as a surprise given the state’s recent electoral history favoring Trump.
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John Q. Hosedrinker