Media market

Iowa's Nov. 3 general election features marquee contests for governor and U.S. Senate, alongside numerous state, county and judicial races and a constitutional amendment. Early voting begins Oct. 14, when county auditors start mailing requested absentee ballots. Oct. 19 is the deadline for voter pre-registration and absentee ballot requests, while Nov. 2 is the last day for in-person absentee voting. Polls on Election Day are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and absentee ballots must be received by county auditors by 8 p.m. that day to count.

To register, voters must be Iowa residents, U.S. citizens and at least 18 by Election Day; those deemed mentally incompetent by a court or convicted felons without restored rights are ineligible. Registration can be completed online, by mail, or in person on Election Day with proof of identity and residence. Accepted IDs include an Iowa driver's license, passport or non-operator ID. Voters without ID can still cast a ballot if another registered voter attests to their identity, or file a provisional ballot pending later verification.

Michigan House Democrats are launching a roughly $700,000 broadcast television ad campaign in the Grand Rapids media market aimed at unseating Republican House Speaker Matt Hall in the 42nd House District. It is the first time the Michigan House Democratic Fund, the caucus's campaign arm, has spent in this race, citing internal polling suggesting Hall's Kalamazoo County seat has become competitive despite his roughly 15-point win there in 2024.

House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri criticized Hall's leadership of the 58-52 Republican-majority chamber, saying voters are frustrated with gridlock. Hall faces Democrat Nick Rowe, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Western Michigan University aviation faculty member, in the general election.

Democrats are also targeting other close districts—Battle Creek's 44th, Jackson's 46th, and Marquette's 109th—as part of a broader push to flip the state House majority, while defending their own vulnerable 31st District seat. A similar effort to oust House GOP leadership failed in 2012.