Mike Davis: Iowans Can't Buy Software Attorney General

A University of Iowa College of Law graduate argues that Berna Byrd's cold-blooded murder convictions make her a candidate for Iowa attorney general.

What issues are at the top of Iowa voters' lists?

"Special Report" host Brett Baier visits Iowa to see what's on the minds of voters as the midterm elections approach.

As an Iowa native, a graduate of the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa College of Law, and a two-time staffer for the senior United States Senator and Senate Judiciary Chairman, Chuck Grassley, I know this for certain: Brenna Byrd is the Iowa Attorney General who should be re-elected. His Democratic challenger, Nate Willems, will be a disaster for Iowa, and the choice for voters in November could not be clearer.

Since January 2023, Byrd has served as the Attorney General of Iowa. His credentials are impressive: University of Chicago Law School, years as a prosecutor, county attorney in Fremont and Guthrie counties, and president of the Iowa County Bar Association—the highest honor a prosecutor can earn in the state. Today, Byrd, as Iowa's attorney general, simply doesn't hold that position. He uses it as a force for justice.

In contrast, Willems has never shown the same seriousness. His legislative record and public demeanor suggest that the candidate is soft on crime, anti-constitutional, and willing to smear America's heroes for political concessions. He has no business within a hundred miles of the Iowa Attorney General's office.

Consider the results. In 2021, Ryan Cooper, a husband and father in Traer, was shot to death in his home. The case remained cold for two years until the cold case unit recently took over. Within months, Carina Cooper and her lover, Houston Dunker, faced arrest. A jury convicted Karina, and she now lives without parole. Barbara Lenz, a 31-year-old mother in Woodbine, disappeared in 1989 after her abusive partner Robert Davis claimed he had abandoned her. No Body No Confession Almost four decades later, the Byrd Unit charged Davis. The jury found him guilty and the judge sentenced him to 50 years in prison. He will never hurt another woman.

This is what a real attorney general looks like.

Trump's push for national concealed carry protects good guys with guns

Willems' record goes in a different direction. As a lawmaker, he opposed requiring electronic monitoring for convicted sex offenders — including those who victimize children. This position disqualifies him in appearance. It might fly in San Francisco, but it has no place in Iowa.

His contempt for the Constitution is equally evident. While Byrd defends the Second Amendment, Willems opposes making Iowa a concealed-carry state — a standard the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Willems also seeks to dilute Iowans' voting power by opposing voter ID laws in a state with two swing House districts and recent races decided by fewer than 12 votes. And while Byrd has filed court cases in support of federal immigration enforcement, Willems has publicly attacked them. The policies would transform Willems' Iowa victory from a legal ally of the president into a state like California or Illinois -- states that block federal enforcement at every turn. Willems does not represent Iowa. He represents the resistance.

What My Son's Ultrasound Taught Me About Miscarriage — And Massachusetts Ignores

Willems is also an extremist on abortion. She voted against the ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Opposing the limit after 20 weeks means defending abortion more than halfway through pregnancy — when the baby is just weeks away from surviving outside the womb. This is not moderation. This is a radical position.

Top conservative group unveils full-fledged press in key battleground state to unveil 'shocking' DEM platform.

The contrast among Iowa voters could not be starker. Birds hunts and prosecutes the killers decades after the crimes. Willems wants convicted sex offenders — including child predators — back on the street without electronic monitoring. Bird defends the Second Amendment. Willems voted for it. The bird is standing next to President Trump. Willems aligns with George Soros. The bird honors the men who died in Normandy. Willems compares them to terrorists. The bird stands by the constitution and the rule of law. Willems has repeatedly placed ideology above both.

Iowa voters know exactly what they have in Brenna Bird. And they know exactly what they're getting in Nate Willems: a radical who's soft on crime.

Michael R. Davis is the founder and president of the Third Matter Project.

Get roundups of top reviews and original content throughout the week.