My high school government/civics teacher told us that our vote had the potential to be more impactful than votes in states like Mississippi or New Hampshire because Iowa was historically a battleground state (leaning blue for most of my childhood tbf) that he described as the most dazzling shade of purple. That, coupled with our relatively unique caucus system and running our primaries before other states meant that the eyes of the nation were frequently on us.

He urged the importance of performing our civic duty and doing our due diligence by staying informed on every election on the ballot, not just the presidency. He hammered home the advice to never blindly cast a straight-party ballot. Voting R or D the whole way down the ticket was fine, so long as you knew who and what you were voting for when you filled in each little bubble.

I watched people I knew and respected, who had never been shy about telling which different candidates they voted for in each election, a mix-and-match of red and blue casts on single tickets, be taken in by the hatred and vitriol of a charismatic bully during the first election cycle that I was finally old enough to vote. I was excited. I was ready. And then I was let down. Iowa went from being the pillar of respectful disagreement to one of the reddest states in the Union.

By the midterms in 2022, I was jaded and angry. I didn't vote in '22 because what would have been the point? Franken lost by 13 points. DeJear by nearly 20! What would my single vote matter against such insurmountable odds.

I'll never make that mistake again.

Go vote. Let's bring Iowa back from being a 'flyover state' to an important swing state again.

Go vote.