Laura Belin

@laurarbelin.bsky.social

8900 Followers 1734 Following

Reporter covering Iowa politics (and sometimes wildflowers) for the progressive website Bleeding Heartland. https://www.bleedingheartland.com Co-host of "KHOI's Capitol Week" on KHOI Radio in Ames and podcast platforms. https://laurabelin.substack.com

Fundraising email from Ashley Hinson on August 1, 2026: Laura, I’ve been trying to contact you for days. Can you please let me know that you got this message? It’s important, and I need to know you’ve seen it entirely. READ HERE >>> Thank you and God Bless, Ashley Hinson
Photo by Laura Belin of Joe, a three-time Trump voter wearing a Rob Sand for governor t-shirt he made for himself. He came to Sand's town hall meeting in Carlisle, Iowa (Warren County) on July 28, 2026
Album cover for New Model Army's 1990 album "Impurity"
Photo posted by Callista Gingrich on July 24, taken at the White House. From left: Newt Gingrich, Callista, Brooke Rollins, Mike Johnson, and Zach Lahn (the GOP nominee for governor in Iowa)
Photo by Laura Belin of Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) starting to bloom in her yard on July 1, 2026
Crowd at Iowa Democratic Party's Liberty and Justice celebration on July 12, 2026 (photo by Laura Belin)
Fans of Pete Buttigieg at an Iowa Democratic Party event on July 12, 2026 (photo by Laura Belin)
Photo of October 2024 Des Moines Register ad by the Modern Ag Alliance (a lobby group funded by Big Ag entities), which thanked many Iowa legislators including Derek Wulf for advocating for a bill that would give pesticide and herbicide manufacturers immunity
June 12, 2026 news release from Rob Sand's campaign Statement on Zach Lahn's Running Mate DES MOINES, IA – This morning, career political operative and Kansas carpetbagger Zach Lahn announced his running mate, Iowa state Representative Derek Wulf. “If you wanted further proof that a Lahn administration would mean more of the same failed status quo and one-party rule that’s left too many Iowans behind, look no further than his selection of Derek Wulf as his running mate” said Deputy Campaign Manager Emma O’Brien. “Wulf is a partisan insider who voted to gut the Auditor's Office, opening the door to waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars, helped pass an unaccountable school voucher program that is draining resources from public schools, and even led efforts to weaken oversight of Iowa's water quality. Iowans are ready for change after a decade of one-party rule that has left them behind, and know that they will only get more of the same from a Lahn-Wulf administration.”
Screenshot of Donald Trump post on Truth Social: Highly Respected American First Congressman, Randy Feenstra, is running for Governor of Iowa, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024, getting the highest Vote in the History of Iowa. Randy is MAGA all the way! A Fourth Generation Iowan, successful Businessman, former Treasurer of Sioux County, State Senator, and now, as a distinguished U.S. Congressman, Randy has delivered strong results for the Hawkeye State. As your next Governor, Randy will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Empower Ethanol, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our incredible Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Randy Feenstra has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Iowa — RANDY WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Rob Sand Announces Record-Breaking $9.6 Million Raised for Gubernatorial Campaign in 2026 In 2026, Rob Sand received more than 49,300 donations from over 26,800 individual contributors in all 99 Iowa counties. DES MOINES, IA – Today, candidate for governor Rob Sand announced his campaign raised more than $9.6 million in 2026, surpassing the total raised in all of 2025 and more than tripling the previous record for the most money raised during the same period in the state’s gubernatorial campaign history. With nearly $18.3 million cash on hand, the campaign is prepared to enter the general election with historic grassroots momentum unlike anything seen in Iowa’s governor races. This historic $9.6 million fundraising haul was powered by donations from Democrats, Republicans, and independents across all 99 Iowa counties. Nearly 95 percent of contributions were $100 or less, and more than two-thirds of all donations came from Iowans. “Iowans across the state and the political spectrum are fired up to elect a leader who puts people over politics and builds an Iowa that’s not redder or bluer, but better and truer. That leader is Rob Sand,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Emma O’Brien. “Team Sand has been shattering records at every turn, and this latest report is no different. This historic haul is further proof that Iowans are done with the broken status quo that has left working families behind after a decade of one-party rule. As we head into the general election, Team Sand is keeping its foot on the gas — showing up in every community, talking to all Iowans, and building a growing grassroots, cross-party movement that is ready for a new direction.”
Screenshot of May 18 fundraising appeal from Ashley Hinson
Screenshot of fundraising email from Ashley Hinson's campaign on May 16: Laura, are you ok? Laura, I’ve been trying to contact you for days. Can you please let me know that you got this message? It’s important, and I need to know you’ve seen it entirely. READ HERE >>> Thank you and God Bless, Ashley Hinson