10/25/2026
GUEST COLUMN | RICK MOYLE
Judge Republicans by actions, not slogans
It was brought to my attention recently that the Linn County Republicans have a billboard up. “Secure Borders, Protect Union Jobs, Vote Republican.”
When I first received the photo of the billboard, I was admittedly mad. They were trying to convince union members that they care about us and our jobs. But after thinking about it, my anger turned to laughter due to the billboard being so blatantly full of crap.
The Linn County Republicans are now claiming to support union jobs? After all these years of harmful policies supported by the Republican Party, that really takes the cake.
The president they support moved immediately after taking office to strip collective bargaining rights from more than a million federal workers. Republican platforms across the country have also called for eliminating all public-sector unions. Here in Iowa, since 2017, Republican leadership has stripped public-sector workers of collective bargaining rights, weakened child labor protections, preemptively lowered the minimum wage through state preemption, slashed unemployment benefits and significantly reduced workers’ compensation protections for Iowans injured on the job.
And now they want union members to believe they are the party that protects union jobs?
This campaign tactic sends a clear message: They believe working people will forget what has happened to them. They believe they can continue supporting policies that hurt working families while relying on wealthy corporate donors to help finance their campaigns.
I also find it rich that they are using a “Secure Borders” slogan. In my years as a labor leader in Iowa, I cannot recall a single instance in which Republican leadership reached out to ask what working people think about border security, the minimum wage, workplace safety, unemployment benefits, collective bargaining rights, child labor, wage theft or the many other issues that affect Iowa workers.
On the other side, in my experience, every Democrat running for office in Iowa has reached out to organized labor to ask how they can support not just us but all working people.
That is my firsthand experience.
I have had zero conversations with Ashley Hinson, Zach Lahn, Joe Mitchell, Brenna Bird, Mariannette Miller-Meeks or Zach Nunn about the needs and concerns of working people. They have never asked.
The proof is in the pudding, folks. When I look at the policies these Republican leaders and candidates have supported, I see a past that raises serious questions about their commitment to all working people. I understand that politicians and political parties will say a lot to win elections. But this billboard, in my view, is an attempt to win votes on the backs of working people by presenting a message that conflicts with the policies their party pushed and passed. It asks all working people to ignore the record and trust a slogan instead.
Working families deserve better than election promises. They deserve elected officials who listen to them, respect their right to organize, protect their workplace rights, and support policies that allow them to earn a fair living and provide for their families.
I also want to recognize that not every Republican fits the same mold. State Sen. Charlie McClintock has demonstrated authentic support for workers, and organized labor endorsed him.
That is exactly how it should work: We evaluate candidates based on their actions and their support for working people, not simply their party affiliation or slogans.
Unions are nonpartisan. We will support any candidate who stands up for workers, whether Democrat or Republican. Our endorsements are based on a candidate’s record, positions and willingness to stand with working families.
I can only hope Iowa voters look past the slogans and examine the record. Ask who has fought to protect collective bargaining, who has supported workplace protections, who has stood up for fair wages and who has taken the time to listen to working people.
In the meantime, I will not hold my breath waiting for Republican candidates to ask organized labor to vet them for endorsement or to ask what Iowa’s working families need and want.
Working people deserve more than a billboard.
Rick Moyle is executive director Hawkeye Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO and president of the Iowa State Council of Machinists.
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