Campaign for the Common Good

06/13/2026

This is a lot to digest. Some serious meat and potatoes. I am not sure that "affordability" adequately encapsulates everything going on here.

As Democrats wrestle over the direction of their party, a new crop of progressive candidates sees college graduates among its biggest supporters.

06/09/2026

In this filing with the Iowa Utilities Commission, the American Carbon Alliance says the quiet part out loud (again): “Carbon capture infrastructure” has never been about carbon sequestration to address climate change. Instead, it represents “one of the most significant opportunities available today to strengthen ethanol's competitiveness.”

That is exactly what the owners of the now-abandoned Navigator Co2 Heartland Greenway project admitted at the very first carbon pipeline meeting I attended as a state legislator in Manchester, Iowa. At the same time, Navigator’s spokesperson acknowledged that their project would have “no meaningful impact” on atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is what the federal subsidies are supposed to promote. Iowans are simply not persuaded that a pipeline for only private gain deserves to be defined as a “public convenience and necessity” that brings with it the powers of eminent domain.

Relevant post: https://chuckisenhart.substack.com/p/pipeline-pursuits?r=pxxbw

Relevant post: https://chuckisenhart.substack.com/p/pipelines-burying-the-public-interest?r=pxxbw

06/08/2026

Rob Sand for Iowa picked a winner for a running mate: Dave Muhlbauer of Manilla, a cattle farmer and Crawford County supervisor. I met Dave when I worked alongside his father, Dan, in the Iowa House of Representatives. Dave's grandfather, Louis John Muhlbauer, also served in the Iowa House. I have worked directly with Dave on local government issues. A real problem-solver who is not afraid to reach out to others, Ds, Rs or Indifferents. Salt of the earth. Public servants. The whole family. Looking forward to hosting Dave in Dubuque.

Democrat Rob Sand named Crawford County Supervisor and farmer Dave Muhlbauer as his 2026 running mate for lieutenant governor in Iowa's governor race.

06/06/2026

Dubuque Visibility Brigade tells it like it is.

06/05/2026

The two Iowa House Republicans who lost their primaries on Tuesday were people you could talk to and Democrats sometimes could work with. Maybe that explains why they were targeted?

Two Republicans and one Democrat currently serving in the Iowa House lost their primary election bids to challengers in the Tuesday primary.

06/04/2026

We all live downstream.

After shuttering two wells for recurring nitrate contamination, the riverside community of Princeton may face yet another costly fix.

06/04/2026

So glad that Bob Leonard took the opportunity to recognize Luke Elzinga for his work on behalf of hungry people In Iowa and pick his brain as he departs for a new life in Alaska. Our loss.

Live with Robert Leonard and Luke Elzinga

06/01/2026

Are there more Iowans "all in" on clean water than "all in" the water at the Backbone State Park beach on Memorial Day? Check out this post for an update on the Driftless Water Defenders.

Defending Iowa’s water

05/20/2026

Luke Elzinga of is one of the best policy advocates I had the pleasure to work with during my time in the Legislature. i was sad for us though not surprised, but happy for Luke about his new opportunity "in another state." I can tell you from direct experience that hungry school kids in Iowa would not be getting the food they need during the summer if it were not for Luke's yeoman's work to champion the Summer EBT program.

Read on for Luke's reflections on 12 years of gratitude. Advocacy Manager Luke Elzinga will be wrapping up his time at DMARC this June.

We are incredibly grateful for everything Luke has done to support and build up this community in a number of capacities at DMARC. Best of luck to you and your family as you start your new journey in a new state.

Read on for Luke's reflection's on 12 years of gratitude.
https://dmarcunited.org/2026/05/paying-it-forward/

05/17/2026

Take two on Iowa food and farm policy, sparked by films I saw at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival.

Iowa farm policy a B movie?