Iowa Starting Line was founded in 2015 by Pat Rynard, a former Democratic campaign staffer and political activist. Rynard established the website with the goal of providing in-depth coverage of Iowa politics, particularly focusing on the state's crucial role in the presidential nomination process. The idea for Iowa Starting Line came from Rynard's experience in Iowa politics and his belief that there was a need for more comprehensive reporting on the state's political landscape. Today, Iowa Starting Line continues to be owned and operated by Rynard, who serves as the managing editor and primary content creator. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa Starting Line primarily covers Iowa politics and policy issues. The website provides extensive reporting on state and local elections, legislative developments, and policy debates across various sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare. While the main focus is on Iowa politics, the site also offers coverage of national political events and campaigns as they relate to Iowa, particularly during presidential election cycles when the state's caucuses play a significant role. Iowa Starting Line features a mix of news articles, analysis pieces, and on-the-ground reporting from political events across the state, catering to readers who are interested in the intricacies of Iowa's political scene and its impact on national politics. One interesting fact: A unique aspect of Iowa Starting Line is its innovative use of social media to enhance political reporting. The website has gained recognition for its creative use of TikTok to cover Iowa politics, becoming one of the first political news outlets to effectively utilize the platform for serious political journalism. This approach has allowed Iowa Starting Line to reach younger audiences and explain complex political issues in accessible, engaging ways. The success of this strategy has led to national attention and has inspired other political news outlets to explore similar methods of engaging with audiences on emerging social media platforms.