by Amanda Rink, Editor
Zach Wahls, a sixth-generation Iowan and State Senator, stopped in Belmond on Monday, July 14, as part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate, meeting with community members and staff at the Belmond Specialty Clinic.
Wahls spoke about healthcare, education, water quality and pollutants, and lobbying. He touched on Citizens United, a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that reversed century-old campaign funding restrictions, enabling corporations and other groups to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.
Wahls took questions from a small group made up of Democrats and Republicans gathered at the clinic, and emphasized his belief that Iowa families deserve more than what they’re getting from Washington.
Wahls first entered the national spotlight in 2011, when, as a 19-year-old University of Iowa student, he defended marriage equality before the state legislature, sharing his story as the son of two mothers. That moment of courage set the tone for a public career marked by standing up for what he believes is right, even when it’s not easy.
Now a father himself and a candidate for the U.S. In the Senate, Wahls positions himself as a problem-solver who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. In the Iowa Senate, he led efforts to ban insider trading by politicians, introduce term limits, and cut red tape that burdens working families.
Raised with “family farm values” and deeply connected to Iowa’s small-town roots, Wahls said the economic squeeze on everyday Iowans, from groceries to childcare, is a top priority in his campaign. He’s advocating for investments in trade schools, community colleges, and public universities as part of a broader plan to expand opportunity.
Living in Coralville with his wife, Chloe, their young son, Elijah, and their dog, Zelda, Wahls brings both personal and professional experience to his campaign. He previously served as Vice President of Community Investment at GreenState Credit Union and holds degrees from the University of Iowa and Princeton University.
As he challenges incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, Wahls is betting that voters are ready for a fresh voice, one grounded in Iowa values but unafraid to take bold stands.
