Conner Hendricks
State Capitol Reporter
Conner Hendricks joined the KCRG-TV9 News team as Iowa State Capitol Reporter in June of 2023. He works out of our Des Moines newsroom and covers the capitol for six Gray Television stations covering Iowa including KCRG, KWQC, KTIV, WOWT, KTTC, and KYOU.
He grew up just outside of Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2023 with a bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in International Affairs.
Before coming to Iowa, Conner worked at InvestigateTV, Gray Television's national investigative unit as an Associate Producer. He also interned at 13 WMAZ and worked as an Associate Producer at WGXA – both in Macon, Georgia.
When he's not reporting, you can find Conner cheering on his beloved Georgia Bulldogs (GO DAWGS!), spinning old country records, or out exploring all that Iowa has to offer.
You can reach out to Conner by email at [email protected]. You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter, both at @ConnerReports.
Thousands more Iowans have registered as Republicans in recent years compared to Democrats or Independents, but something may be changing over the past month.
The number of Iowans who are registered with a political party has changed since the last presidential election. The number of active registered Democrats and Independents is down. Active Republican registrations are down too, but the party now has a clear lead.
Election forecasters predict that former President Donald Trump will win Iowa’s six electoral votes. Despite that, some Iowa Democrats want Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz to do a rally here.
Iowa House Democrats are set to pick up an additional seat after no Republican filed to run in House District 81 in Scott County.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds held a press conference on Thursday to announce the launch of a new website designed to help parents find childcare openings.
Wednesday, Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz will take the stage at the Democratic National Convention. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart is a former teacher, and points out that Walz is a former teacher too. She thinks he’s able to connect with people differently.
More security fences have been set up around the Democratic National Convention due to some pro-Palestine protestors breaking through a fence as the DNC kicked off Monday. Tuesday night, a protest is planned outside of the Israeli Consulate in Chicago.
Monday, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago. Conventions are usually a time to fire up behind the scenes political operatives and volunteers before they go out in the field to get their candidates elected, but this convention could be different amid President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from the ticket.
Friday, the Iowa State Fair held the husband calling, hog calling, and mom calling competition. While most parents have to call their kids, the Mom Calling Competition lets kids take their turn calling mom.
We spent the past few days at the Iowa State Fair catching up with voters to see what’s on their mind.
Most candidates for congress run on what they’d do at the federal level. That’s not what Congresswoman Ashley Hinson’s Democratic challenger talked about Tuesday.
Monday, a challenger in Iowa’s competitive third congressional district took the stage at the state fair. One issue Democrat Lanon Baccam is running on is protecting social security.
Sunday at the Iowa State Fair, one Iowa Libertarian congressional candidate took his turn at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox - and says he’s ready to fight. That’s because some Republicans say he didn’t follow the rules to get on the November ballot and they want his name removed.
Every soldier has a different reason for serving.
Friday the long-running Des Moines Register Political Soapbox speeches started at the Iowa State Fair. Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn is the first to take the stage this year and he’s the only Republican speaking.
The legitimacy of a Libertarian candidate in one of the hottest Congressional races in the country is being challenged in Iowa.
Tuesday a 20 foot tall inflatable IUD made another stop in Iowa. After stopping in Cedar Rapids Monday, it was in Des Monies Tuesday.
Two congressional races in Iowa could be among the most competitive in the country. In particular, Central Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District is being targeted by both conservative and progressive fundraising groups. Here’s how Incumbent Republican Congressman Zach Nunn and Democratic Challenger Lanon Baccam are going after each other on abortion.
Gates open at the Iowa State Fair next Thursday. While it’s best know for it’s food and fun rides, it’s also known for the politics. The politics at the fair this year isn’t going to be anything like last year’s before the caucuses.
With the start of the school year just around the corner, Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow says the department helping to coordinate supplies the districts needs.
Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he’s met the requirements to be on the ballot in Iowa.
Since the last election, Iowa lawmakers have passed sweeping changes to education. Democrats are trying to use these changes to try and win back seats in the legislature.
With Iowa’s abortion law now in effect, it could become an issue that drives voter turnout in November
As Vice President Kamala Harris continues to strengthen her position as the Democratic presidential nominee, Iowa Democrats are scheduled to hear from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, one of several politicians floated as likely candidates to become her running mate.
Most of these soldiers aren’t in uniform full-time. 80 percent of Iowa’s soldiers in the national guard serve part-time.
Right now about 3,000 members of the Iowa National Guard are undergoing their annual summer training in Minnesota. The Army has taken the difficulty of this year’s training up a notch.
Attention on presidential candidates can bring additional voters to the polls, and that can impact other races on the ballot.
Two different candidates, two different reactions to the President’s decision. Both say it’s time the party comes together and unifies.
The law does have exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormality, and to save the life of the mother. Dr. Francesca Turner, an OB/GYN in Central Iowa and Co-Founder of Iowans for Health Liberty says the exception to save the life of the mother isn’t medical terminology.
Iowa’s new abortion law could take effect as soon as Friday. The law was on hold for nearly a year until the Iowa Supreme Court ruled last month to let it take effect.
A group of landowners, lawmakers, and local governments say the Iowa Utilities Commission made the wrong call when it gave the green light for a carbon capture pipeline.
People in the Des Moines metro are still cleaning up after a tornado hit the area yesterday evening. The National Weather Service says first a derecho hit the area, followed by an EF-1 tornado.
The race for the White House is now officially underway for Republicans.
Friday around 1,000 evangelical conservatives celebrated policy wins at the state level.
The countdown is on until the gates open for the Iowa State Fair. It runs August 8th to the 18th. Organizers have been making upgrades for when guests walk through the gates in August.
As food banks struggle to stay afloat without support from the Summer EBT program, they’re already working on ways to avoid the issue next year.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will soon start the process of reviewing an application for a casino license for a facility in Cedar Rapids.
An Iowa candidate for congress is alleging the incumbent congressman will do things to hurt the Social Security system, but he’s not offering any of his own solutions.
Tuesday Governor Kim Reynolds recognized nearly 400 Iowans and 65 organizations for their community service.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds addressed the ongoing flooding in the northwestern portion of the state.
Libertarians will be on the ballot statewide for the first time since 2018.
While the presidential election is taking up most of the headlines in 2024, Democrats are urging voters not to forget state legislative races.
An advocate for survivors of violent crime says changes Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office is working through will make life safer.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday adds another issue for voters to consider as they weigh the issue of reproduction, contraception and abortion.
Tuesday, the State of Iowa asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to lift an injunction blocking two portions of SF 496.
Monday immigration activists and the Department of Justice asked a federal judge to block Iowa’s new immigration law from taking effect next month.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office is working through a backlog of reimbursements to sexual assault survivors caused when she paused payments during an overall review.
Turnout for Tuesday’s primaries was especially low, with only 8.3% of registered voters showing up to the polls. Turnout is usually in the 20% range for a primary election, and hasn’t been this low so far in the 21st century.
Former President Donald Trump's felony conviction is firing up Iowa Republicans.
Early voting is underway ahead of next Tuesday’s primary election. This election gives voters the chance to decide what candidates will make it on the ballot in November.
