Iowa House District 64 Candidate Brian Bruening says ‘we need to undo the damage Republicans have done to educational and employment access for people of color’

Democrat Brian Bruening, who is running for Iowa House District 64 in northeast Iowa, responded to Black Iowa News’ 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. Here are his unedited responses.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans face challenges involving household income, homeownership, access to capital and business development. What specific policies would you support to expand economic opportunity, increase homeownership and help Black-owned businesses grow and succeed in Iowa?

Bruening: Iowa has had the worst economy in the US over the last few years, and Republicans, holding most levers of government power, own that fact. They have fallen back on their twin solutions of tax cuts and privatization, leading to 2 years of $1.5 billion budget deficits. Case in point, they privatized Medicaid which has led to worse outcomes for a higher cost. School vouchers are another instance of them punching a huge hole in the state budget to funnel taxpayer money to private schools. When government doesn’t work, everything else becomes more expensive, creating a difficult business environment and raising the cost of living, which puts home affordability out of reach. 

The state has programs intended to encourage businesses and create affordable housing. Black people are seldom awarded these grants and loans. It would be useful to investigate why: are they not applying, are they being overlooked, or something else.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans experience disparities in maternal health, chronic disease and access to affordable, quality health care. What specific actions would you take to address these disparities, improve health outcomes and ensure Black Iowans have access to the care they need?

Bruening: My district in far Northeast Iowa is one of the state’s many maternal healthcare deserts. Iowa has the lowest number of OB-GYNs per capita, and more Iowa hospitals no longer offer birth services. This lack is especially felt by Black mothers who suffer from worse healthcare outcomes in general, and worse birth outcomes in particular. Beyond investing in serving Black communities’ health needs, we must encourage and empower more Black students to become doctors. Black doctors serving Black patients is one of the most effective ways of improving the overall health of Black communities. 

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Educational achievement, school funding, access to higher education and the teaching of Black history remain important issues. What policies would you support to improve educational outcomes for Black students, ensure equitable opportunities and prepare young Black Iowans for successful careers and futures in Iowa?

Bruening: The Iowa Legislature has followed the national right-wing agenda of demonizing DEI and cutting related initiatives. Legal challenges exist when improving Black students’ access to better education that accounts for different socio-economic factors, especially with a decidedly hostile US Supreme Court. But that doesn’t change the fact that we need to undo the damage Republicans have done to educational and employment access for people of color. 

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Issues surrounding discrimination, voting rights, policing and criminal justice continue to affect Black communities. What specific actions would you take to protect civil rights, address racial disparities in the justice system and ensure Black Iowans are treated fairly by government institutions?

Bruening: First and foremost, the police are an organization which depends on public trust, and public trust is not possible without real accountability when that trust is violated. Qualified immunity, lack of transparency, and little community oversight have created a system that allows police to operate in sometimes unlawful manners. Any effort to build community trust depends on people feeling that their concerns and complaints are taken seriously and effectively addressed.  The same can be said of the judicial and criminal justice systems: real issues must have real answers. Currently, our legislation protects these actors from real accountability and that must change.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Why should Black Iowans entrust you with their vote? What in your record demonstrates that you understand the challenges facing Black communities and will take specific actions to improve their lives.

Bruening: My district has very little diversity and I don’t have a legislative record to expound upon. As the chair of the Clayton County Democrats since 2017, I have been committed to racial and social justice. My campaign focuses on affordability issues, especially for working folks, water quality, and slowing down the spread of data centers—issues which most people agree are important. But in the end, any commitment made here is worth little. What matters are the actions I will actually take if elected because accountability is just as important for politicians.