The Bohannan & O'Donnell campaigns took on Van Buren County today, talking to folks about a fairer more prosperous Iowa. Christina herself launched us after giving Oscar the cat some pets. On the road I spotted this pig family near Milton! Great discussions with many people.

I learned much as I followed Christina Bohannan on a water quality tour. First: JFAN leader Diane Risenberg on improving the Clean Water Act. Next to the Mt. Pleasant Waterworks to discuss treatment. Then VBC conservation head R. Daugherty on watershed plans ensured Lake Sugema's great water.

Our annual outing for Paint the Fair at Van Buren County is fun - a chance to see work by talented painters and to talk with friends. John Bybee and Margie Goehring judged the entries. Kurt & Gloria Mielke helped serve. Paula with top photog Penny Jones and the piece we bought of the Hotel Manning.

I enjoyed riding with Fairfield Police Officer Terry Smith today, learning about his trek from Georgia to Iowa, community policing in a small city, and his sport shooting ambitions. I'm always eager to talk with law enforcement about how we can work together for a safer Iowa. odonnellforhouse87.com

We had a great time last night making new friends and seeing old ones at the Jefferson County Democrats pie auction fundraiser. I was lucky enough to be on the program with Christina Bohannan, Chris Jones and pie maven Beth Howard. Paula produced two pies and we won a strawberry-rhubarb. Yum!

We joined the great Linda Whitten and a select group of Van Buren County Democrats for the Douds Field Day parade on a glorious morning. Small group, but more than the other team - which didn't show! Kudos to Recorder Lisa Crane for joining the queue. Join us! odonnellforhouse87.com

Visited folks in northern Fairfield today and came across someone who built their own dome - but copper-colored instead of MIU's golden ones.

A beautiful night after a stormy day, perfect for visiting folks near Lake Sugema, one of the state's prettiest and cleanest bodies of water.

Out talking to folks in northern Van Buren County last night and came across the classic Mt. Moriah Church, still well cared for, and its pretty cemetery. Someday I'd like to get inside!

We were delighted to welcome Rep. Sean Bagniewski on Sunday as we begin talking with voters in Fairfield. Sean helped spread our message of supporting rural schools and hospitals, keeping seniors safe and securing clean water for all Iowans. Thank you for your help!

At the Birmingham Homecoming parade on Saturday with a great group of supporters, including Van Buren County grande dame Twyla Peacock and Birmingham's own Rising Sun. Great community spirit in this small town!

Thanks to all who voted for us in yesterday's election, especially the folks who changed parties to vote for us, such as the Farmington woman who said our talk at her door resonated. Iowans agree: We want strong rural hospitals and schools, safe care centers and clean water. odonnellforhouse87.com/

In Farmington today talking with some wonderful people, some of them struggling to get by. Meanwhile, the community turned out for a roast pork fundraiser for the baseball program. ( I had a sandwich and ice cream - with strawberries, of course.) The old gas station is frozen in time.

The annual #memorialday🇺🇸 program at Bentonsport Presbyterian Church is always beautiful and thoughtful. Mindy Kralicek organizes all, including the incredible flowers. Paula welcomed participants as president of the Bentonsport Improvement Assn, and the American Legion provided the 21-gun salute.

Another big day and another record for Van Buren County Schools boys track, winning the 1A distance medley and setting a meet record! Lots of hard work through the year pays off. www.southeastiowaunion.com/sports/high-...

Van Buren County wins first state relay title in school history

DES MOINES — It started with a lap around the track hours before Drake Stadium was full of spectators.

southeastiowaunion.com

Memorial Day weekend in Van Buren County: Lions Club pancakes in Keosauqua, then the yearly Van Buren County Conservation hike to honor longtime chair Bob Steingraeber. His wife, Kris, started us with a remembrance, then we marched through woods and past beautiful fields of rye. Wonderful.

Paula and I were at the Van Buren County courthouse this morning to cast our ballots. Get in now, lock in your vote, and don't risk missing out on June 2! #earlyvoting

Jefferson County and Fairfield are getting ahead of this trend to dump undesirable facilities like data centers and detention camps in rural Iowa. I was at a productive meeting last night to block them. Thanks to Taylor Ross for raising the alarm and gathering info. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/02/o...

Opinion | Rural America Is Getting Blindsided by Something New

nytimes.com

This piece captures Iowa's public-private education conflict. The bottom line: public schools could become a ghetto of the poorest students who often need the most help. Meanwhile, Catholic schools raised tuition because educating kids is expensive. #publicschoolsmatter www.tspr.org/npr-news/202...?

School choice is booming in Iowa. Are students better off?

With school choice programs ascendant not just in Iowa but across the U.S., Cedar Rapids offers a preview of who wins and who loses when education meets the free market.

tspr.org

On Saturday I enjoyed talking with about 20 Henry County women leaders at the wonderful Mt Pleasant home of Mike and Anita Hampton. So many great thoughts and questions! I hope these influential people will advocate for our movement to create a lasting and caring community. odonnellforhouse87.com

Enjoyed from-scratch pizza & conversation at Fairfield's Wanderer's Haul game store tonight, with Jesya, Ben and Ginger, plus Tobias & Saia, who had to leave. What will it take to keep them in Iowa? A state with clean water and air, a strong tech community, & a welcoming attitude toward all.

Working people built Iowa and keep it running. I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Iowa Federation of Labor. We all do better when workers have a strong voice.

I learned today that my friend Gwen Pedrick has died. I knew Gwen was special when she walked in a parade with us and periodically stopped to hug friends and former students and colleague. She was our first campaign chair and gave her utmost effort. We're crushed and sad for Jim and their family.

You can count on the yearly Keosauqua Lions soup dinner and auction for three things: delicious food, ample auction choices and a big crowd. It always raises a lot of money for worthy causes, such as eye exams for kids. I'm proud to be married to a Lion!

With thunderstorms and snow coming, we feared that attendance would be light for the weekly Henry County First Amendment rally today. So we donned our rain gear and grabbed some signs. A hardy band came out! Such a great tradition of speaking out for justice and freedom!

I toured the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department and then rode with Deputy Spencer Rider this morning. The department provides outstanding service, even though they're a bit short on staff. I enjoyed getting to know Spencer and learning about #lawenforcement in VBC.

This is what nomination petitions holding more than 400 signatures looks like. Proud to have filed papers today with my beautiful and smart wife! Let's go! secure.actblue.com/donate/tom-o...

Playing trivia for the Van Buren County Schools post-prom fundraiser with the dream team of Weston, Kirchner and three Whitlatches. Team KWOW rides again!