Famed Iowa Pollster Ann Selzer Announces Retirement Weeks After Her Staggering Miss in 2024 Election 2024-11-17

Famed Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer announced she is retiring from elections polling after 25 years of predicting results in the politically important Midwestern state. Selzer's final poll for the Des Moines Register before the 2024 election was about 16 percentage points off the mark, showing Vice President Kamala Harris leading former president Donald Trump by 3 percentage points in Iowa when Trump ended up winning the state by 13 points. Selzer acknowledged the irony of leaving shortly after being so off the mark, but said her decision to end her polling work had been in the works for over a year. The Des Moines Register said it will 'evolve' the Iowa Poll to 'accurately capture public sentiment and the pulse of Iowans on state and national issues'.

Sports

O'Grady's Career Game Leads Iowa to Victory Over Drake 2024-11-17

The matchup between Addison O'Grady and Anna Miller figured to impact the outcome of the Iowa-Drake women's basketball game on Sunday. O'Grady, a senior from Colorado, made sure it favored the Hawkeyes, scoring a career-high 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in an 86-73 victory. Miller, who averaged 21 points per game for Drake, was held to just 6 points. Iowa coach Jan Jensen praised O'Grady's performance, saying she 'was tremendous tonight.' The Hawkeyes couldn't shake Drake until the fourth quarter, when they pulled away for the win. Iowa held a 46-10 advantage on points in the paint and shot 52.3% from the floor.

Local Interest

Meet the Des Moines Register Staff: Iowa Columnist Courtney Crowder 2024-11-17

Courtney Crowder, an Iowa columnist and senior writer for the Des Moines Register, shares her background and passion for journalism. Crowder grew up in Glenview, Illinois, and now lives in West Des Moines. She graduated from New York University and has worked at the Register for almost a decade. Crowder enjoys the responsibility of being invited into people's lives to hear their stories, and her work has covered a wide range of topics, from immigrant families reopening a local diner to the first Division 1 women's wrestling program at the University of Iowa. In her free time, Crowder is an avid Peloton rider and enjoys suspenseful books and TV shows.