While the Iowa winter has been extraordinarily frigid, politics on both a national and local level are heating up. The 2010-midterm elections in November will likely be a referendum on President Obama’s policies, but because it is not a presidential election year, all of the races will take place close to home and many will be decided by local issues. Through this new column, I hope to offer insightful and thoughtful analysis and commentary on what is shaping up to be a contentious election year.

On a national level, Republicans are hoping to take back Congress. While this may seem nearly impossible since the Democrats are over 70 votes ahead, Republicans are hopeful because of the recent election in Massachusetts. In that race, conservative candidate Scott Brown won the seat once comfortably held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. While Democrats will argue that he won because voters were eager for some kind of change (similar to Obama’s presidential election in 2008), it’s hard to find this believable. Massachusetts, a state with nearly no Republicans, elected a man who ran simply on voting against health care in the Senate. Coincidence? It is even more ironic considering Ted Kennedy’s lifelong goal was to pass a national public health care system. Apparently, not even liberal Massachusetts wants that. With that in mind, Republicans are even more confident in taking back Congress, and rightly so.

Republican and Democratic Party leaders are trying to take back or hold Congress. This year, however, elections will be decided locally rather than nationally. There are three key races that will be exciting to watch in Iowa. First, Iowa’s gubernatorial race this year is sure to be eventful. The two Republican frontrunners are attempting to capitalize on the growing unpopularity of Democratic Gov. Chet Culver. Culver has mishandled Iowa’s budget and many see him as a weak leader. It is not fair to blame Culver for everything under the sun, as Republicans will have you believe. It was, after all, a national recession that caused an economic downturn in Iowa. However, Culver certainly could have handled the situation much better. He was forced to cut several government jobs and reduce or cut funding in some programs. It is fair to say that Culver has been dealt a tough hand, but he has not led the state as well as his predecessors have in similar situations.

Surprisingly, Terry Branstad, the longest-serving Iowa governor, is returning to politics and attempting to take back his old job. In a November poll in “The Des Moines Register,” Branstad was leading Culver by double-digits. Even the more conservative Bob Vander Plaats was ahead of Culver. Vander Plaats, a Sioux City businessman, is popular among the social right wing of the Republican Party. It will be interesting to see who Republicans choose to take on Culver and if Culver can salvage enough popularity to retain his job.

Another race that will be exciting to follow this year will be between Iowa’s senior Republican Sen. Charles Grassley and Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin. Conlin is a gubernatorial candidate and a successful trial lawyer. She certainly will be fighting an uphill battle, because Grassley is widely popular statewide. While the race will likely not be close, it will be interesting to see if Grassley’s popularity will suffer because of his involvement (or lack thereof) in health care reform last summer. After all, if Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts can turn Republican, perhaps incumbents all across the country are in danger.

And that is why Rep. Leonard Boswell must also be concerned. Boswell, who represents Iowa’s third Congressional District, which includes of Des Moines, has had several close elections in recent years. This year should be no different. Democrats fear that they may lose Boswell’s seat. State Sen. Brad Zaun is the front running competitor, and it will surely be a nail-biting race.

With all of these exciting races taking place in our backyard, it is a great opportunity for Drake students to take part in the political process. The issues that will be decided on in the next few years will be critical for all of us—from health care to the war on terrorism, and from the economy to the environment. All these issues are ones that will greatly affect our lives after college.

So sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride because 2010 is going to be an exciting year in politics.

Walsh is a first-year news/internet journalism and politics double major and can be contacted atsean.walsh@drake.edu.