Republicans should definitely vote for two primary candidates, Adam Steen, who is running for governor, and Mandee Shivers, who is running for Iowa Senate District 11.
Adam Steen is the best candidate for governor by far. The guy is brilliant. If you haven’t heard him speak in person, as I have, than look online for any debate or interview he has participated in. Adam’s experience as the head of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, as well as his experience in business, make him extremely knowledgeable about Iowa government, the problems facing our state, and possible solutions.
There isn’t much he doesn’t know and, if he doesn’t know it, he will find out.
Adam Steen has made two appearances before the Warren County Republicans that I attended. At one, I asked him what he would do to eliminate China-domiciled stocks from the holdings of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS).
This was an issue that has concerned me since I found out that, as of 2020, IPERS held $943 million of investments in China and Hong Kong-domiciled companies, which was “2.63% of the IPERS Trust Fund.”
In December of 2025, I found that it had been reduced. Nonetheless, IPERS informed me that “As of 11/30/2025, IPERS estimates that roughly 1.2% of the $46 billion IPERS Trust Fund is invested in companies domiciled in China and Hong Kong.”
During the first meeting, Adam Steen replied that he thought the issue was being handled, but he would find out. I assumed that was the last response I would receive.
At his next appearance, I had the chance to talk to him. To my surprise, he recalled me and my concern. He had checked and found out that the amount of China-domiciled stocks in IPERS had been reduced by half, which corresponded with the information IPERS had given me. He said that, due to accounting reasons, they could not dump all the stocks at once.
I was just a face in the crowd, but Adam Steen came through and found out what was going on with IPERS China stocks.
Adam Steen has dealt with Rob Sand before in Adam’s role as head of DAS. Steen said the Democrats do not want to see Adam Steen on the debate stage with Rob Sand. I believe him. Steen will rip the mask off.
Mandee Shivers is a true red conservative. She is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-parents rights, pro-Education Savings Accounts (a.k.a student vouchers), pro-property tax reform and pro-limited government. She has been to the legislature and has spent countless hours lobbying for her issues.
One issue is sex trafficking. At a continuing legal education course on sex trafficking, I learned that sex traffickers are not only evil, but are experts at manipulating people. Their victims are almost totally under their control and will commit crimes at their direction. Other states have laws which allow these victims to have their criminal records cleared or sealed, with proper exceptions, so they can re-enter society and obtain jobs and education. Iowa does not. Mandee will work with other legislators to change that.
Preserving our Second Amendment rights is a key issue. As noted in Michael Ware’s (member of the Iowa Firearms Coalition Board of Directors) post on the IFC website, “Shivers has already established a presence at the Capitol, where she has partnered with lawmakers to draft and champion legislation focused on defending children, strengthening families, and upholding constitutional rights.” See the Iowa Firearms Coalition interview with Mandy Shivers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xEcRK6LxYs&t=1s
Please vote for Adam Steen for governor and Mandee Shivers for Iowa Senate District 11 in the Republican Primary. Election Day is this Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
- Donald W. Bohlken
Indianola