Iowa suffers from the second-highest rate of new cancer cases in the U.S. and it’s one of the few states where the number of cancer cases are rising. Across the state, the cancer crisis has become a major campaign topic ahead of the midterm elections.
Candidates from both parties have made tackling the environmental causes of cancer—and blaming “Big Ag”— a key part of their platforms. It’s an attack that would have been unheard of from Republicans in the Corn Belt hub.
The state has a series of blockbuster races this year including the governor’s contest between Zach Lahn (R) and Rob Sand (D), the Senate race between Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and state Rep. Josh Turek (D) as well as several competitive House seats.
Lahn, in an unusual move for a Republican, is embracing not only the cancer issue, but also vowing to clean the water and regulate chemicals if he’s elected.
These issues aren't falling neatly along party lines and some Democrats are making the case that they're best-suited to tackle the problem.
"This cancer issue is resonating with people and almost everyone has a story here of a family member or someone else that has met an early demise,” Democratic agriculture secretary candidate Chris Jones, who is emphasizing water quality in his campaign, told The Hill earlier this year.
Read more from me and The Hill's Nathaniel Weixel when the story runs Monday at TheHill.com.
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