The Green Papers: Iowa 2026 General Election
 
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Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 2 June 2026
General Election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
✓ Monday 23 February - Friday 13 March 2026 - Filing Deadline - Primary .
✓ Monday 23 February - Tuesday 2 June 2026 - Filing - Independent/Third/Minor (date changed by HF 954) .
✓ Tuesday 2 June 2026 - Primary . Polling hours 7:00a-8:00p CDT (1200-0100 UTC).
Tuesday 3 November 2026 - General Election . Polling hours 7:00a-8:00p CST (1300-0200 UTC).
 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
Governor:1 
2020 Census:3,192,406 (1.03% of 309,785,186)
2024, 2028 Electoral Votes:6(0.00% of 538)
2022-2030 Representatives:4(0.92% of 435)
Capital:Des Moines
 

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Iowa State and Local Government


Under State law, a candidate in a Primary must receive at least 35% of the vote in that Primary to win a Party's nomination. If no candidate receives 35% in the Primary, the nominee is chosen by the State Convention of the Party.

Voters must be registered voters of either the Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican parties (Iowa's "Political Parties") to participate in the primary election [Iowa Administrative Code §39.3, 43.1, 43.2, 43.3]. Voters can change their party affiliation anytime before election day or at their polling place on election day. Other parties are considered "Non-Party Political Organizations" in Iowa and candidates are nominated by nomination petitions or a nominating convention.


2 June 2025: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 954 which moves the moves the petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, from March to June.

Election Calendar from the Iowa Secretary of State.

Filing Periods for the General Election from the Iowa Secretary of State.

Primary Candidate List from the Iowa Secretary of State.

General Election Candidate List from the Iowa Secretary of State.

2 June 2026 primary: Results from an official source,
Results from a media source,
Results from another media source.

 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 119th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Senator  Joni K. Ernst
• First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2020.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 2 September 2025: "I will not be seeking reelection in 2026 ...."
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (3)
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Joshua "Josh" Turek
• FEC S6IA00298; 30 Jun 26; Tot $6,276,527; Dsb $3,914,213
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Ashley Hinson Arenholz
• aka Ashley Hinson. Member of Congress District 2.
2 September 2025: Candidate for the US Senate Class 2 seat in 2026.

• FEC S6IA00314; 30 Jun 26; Tot $10,217,845; Dsb $5,396,429
  Candidate Libertarian     Thomas Raymond Laehn
• FEC S6IA00181; 30 Jun 26; Tot $31,908; Dsb $38,131

Class 3 Republican Senator  Charles E. "Chuck" Grassley
• First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978], 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Republican     Joshua Daniel Smith
• FEC S6IA00207

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None, All Governors

Chair up for regular election
Open
Republican Governor  Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds
• Ascended to the Governor's Chair: 24 May 2017 [re: Governor Terry E. Branstad (Republican) resignation to become Ambassador to China]; first elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
• Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Chair - 11 April 2025: "After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in 2026...."
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     Auditor  Rob Sand
• for Lieutenant Governor: Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer
• 12 May 2025: Auditor Rob Sand is a candidate for Governor in 2026.
  Candidate Republican     Zach Lahn
• for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Derek Wulf

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Elected on a ticket with Governor.

Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Lieutenant Governor Chris Gearhart Cournoyer
• Appointed: 16 December 2024 by Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds (Republican) [re: resignation of Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg (Republican) on 3 September 2024].
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 25 April 2025: Filed to run for state Auditor in 2026.
2 June 2026: Received her party's nomination for state Auditor.
 Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg resigned on 3 September 2024 to pursue a career opportunity that allows him to focus more on his family. He was appointed on 25 May 2017 by Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds (Republican) and first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He had previously served as State Public Defender.
Under Iowa Code, the governor fills the vacancy by appointment and the appointee serves for the remainder of the term. Until Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds (Republican) makes an appointment, the president of the Senate will be next in line of succession.
16 December 2024: Iowa State Senator Chris Gearhart Cournoyer (Republican) is appointed by Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds (Republican) as Lieutenant Governor.

119th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2026, 2028. No Term Limit. 119th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
4 Republican (2 Renominated, 2 Open)

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 1
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks
• First elected: 2020.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Christina Bohannan
• FEC H2IA02111; 30 Jun 26; Tot $7,051,745; Dsb $1,733,644
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks
• FEC H8IA02043; 30 Jun 26; Tot $7,208,271; Dsb $2,890,534
  Candidate No Party     Michael Bridgford
• FEC H6IA01213; 30 Jun 26; Tot $189,523; Dsb $64,664

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 2
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Member of Congress  Ashley Hinson Arenholz
• First elected: 2020
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 2 September 2025: Candidate for the US Senate Class 2 seat in 2026.
2 June 2026: Received her party's nomination for the US Senate Class 2 seat.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (4) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Lindsay James
• FEC H6IA02211; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,628,201; Dsb $872,363
  Candidate Republican     former state Representative Joe Mitchell
• FEC H6IA02237; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,938,593; Dsb $1,043,029
  Candidate Libertarian     Richard "Rick" Stewart
• 15 June 2026: Removed by State Objections Panel but survived the challenge.
  Candidate No Party     Dave Bushaw
• FEC H6IA02260; 30 Jun 26; Tot $26,117; Dsb $14,483

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 3
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Zach Nunn
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Sarah Trone Garriott
• FEC H6IA03268; 30 Jun 26; Tot $5,293,773; Dsb $1,434,089
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Zach Nunn
• FEC H2IA03119; 30 Jun 26; Tot $4,869,249; Dsb $1,353,713

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 4
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Member of Congress  Randall "Randy" Feenstra
• First elected: 2020
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - Running for Governor in 2026.
2 June 2026: Did not receive his party's nomination for Governor.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Dave Dawson
• FEC H6IA04217; 30 Jun 26; Tot $135,722; Dsb $85,959
  Candidate Republican     Chris McGowan
• FEC H6IA04167; 30 Jun 26; Tot $679,844; Dsb $350,993

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Seat up for regular election Republican Secretary of State  Paul D. Pate
• First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2018, 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     Ryan Peterman
  Candidate Republican     Secretary of State  Paul D. Pate

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Seat up for regular election Republican Attorney General  Brenna Bird
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Nate Willems
  Candidate Republican     Attorney General  Brenna Bird

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Seat up for regular election Republican Treasurer  Roby Smith
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     former Soil and Water Conservation Commissioner John Norwood
  Candidate Republican     Treasurer  Roby Smith

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Seat up for regular election
Open
Democratic Auditor  Rob Sand
• First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 12 May 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
2 June 2026: Received his party's nomination for Governor.
 ** Open Office (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     Taylor Wettach
  Candidate Republican     Lieutenant Governor  Chris Gearhart Cournoyer
• 25 April 2025: Filed to run for state Auditor in 2026.

Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Seat up for regular election Republican Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship  Mike Naig
• Appointed: 1 March 2018 (re: Bill Northey's confirmation by the U.S. Senate as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services); first elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2)
  Candidate Democratic     Chris Jones
  Candidate Republican     Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship  Mike Naig
 

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
 • Democratic (affiliates): 1 incumbent, 11 candidates
 • Republican: 12 incumbents, 12 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
 • Green (affiliates)
 • Libertarian: 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
 • Unity
Independents
 • No Party: 2 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


Links Links to other web sites

Election Authority
 • Iowa Secretary of State
Democratic
 • Iowa Democratic Party
Republican
 • Iowa House Republican Caucus
 • Republican Party of Iowa
Third Party
 • Iowa Green Party
 • Iowa Green Party
 • Libertarian Party of Iowa
 • The Unity Party of Iowa
Media & others
 • Blog for Iowa
 • Caucus Iowa
 • Dubuque Telegraph Herald
 • Fort Madison Daily Democrat
 • Globe Gazette - Mason City
 • Iowa Farmer Today
 • Iowa Independent
 • Iowa Public Television - Johnston
 • Iowa Starting Line
 • Kalona News
 • KCRG TV - ABC - Cedar Rapids - Iowa City - Dubuque
 • Politics1.com - Iowa
 • Quad-Cities - Dispatch/Argus/Leader - Moline - Rock Island - Davenport
 • Quad-City Times
 • Sioux City Journal
 • The Bloomfield Democrat
 • The Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs
 • The Gazette - Cedar Rapids
 • The Gazette - Cedar Rapids
 • The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier

 


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