2026 Midterms State GuideIowa
Hold on to your sweet corn and covered bridges.
- PrimaryStatewideJune 2This date has passed.
- Election DayGeneralNov. 3
Updated
Hi! It’s me, Shadrach. Apparently, I’m your civic guide today. If you’ve been complaining about how things are going (and I’ve heard you, the walls are thin), this guide will help you feel informed and able to vote in this year’s midterms. Now, hold on to your sweet corn and covered bridges, and let’s get into it.
Iowa at a glance
Iowa votes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for governor, U.S. Senate, all 4 U.S. House seats and one statewide ballot measure.
- Election Day
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Voter registration
- Oct. 19: Voter registration deadline
- Early voting
- Oct. 14: In-person absentee voting begins at your county auditor's office
- Governor
- 2 candidates
- U.S. Senate
- 3 candidates
- U.S. House
- 4 seats
- Statewide ballot measures
- 1
Your to-do list
0 of 3 doneImportant dates
- Sept. 19Absentee ballots must be available and distributed to military and overseas voters This date has passed.
- Oct. 14In-person absentee voting begins at your county auditor's office
- Oct. 19Voter registration deadline
- Oct. 19Absentee ballot request deadline
- Nov. 2In-person absentee voting ends at your county auditor's office
- Nov. 3Election Day
- Nov. 3Absentee ballot return deadline
What’s at stake
An open Senate seat drew national attention from Democrats. In a truly purple state, the candidate facing Rep. Ashley Hinson could have a shot at flipping the currently-red seat to blue. Combined with Iowa’s two competitive toss-up districts (and one that leans less Republican with every passing day), Dems are eyeing Iowa as a state where they might make real inroads toward retaking Congress. Voters have expressed concern about affordability, specifically with rising energy and healthcare costs. A 2026 poll found 61% of Iowans say their healthcare costs have increased and 59% believe the government could be doing more to lower them. Democrats criticize the current administration’s policies and warn of an affordability crisis, while Republicans argue recent economic indicators show signs of stabilization and renewed investment in agriculture.
Who’s on your ballot
Tap a race to see the candidates.
Iowa is choosing a governor
See whose priorities line up with yours
Here are the top priorities each candidate lists, in their own words. Pick the 2 that matter most to you. Names stay hidden until you see your results.
0 of 2 picked
- Top priorities
Zach LahnRepublican- Upholding social conservative priorities, including protecting life before birth, addressing chronic illness in kids, banning benefits for illegal immigrants, and reducing the tax burden on Iowa families.
- Addressing Iowa's cancer crisis by conducting independent safety testing on products, redirecting University of Iowa research toward solving the state's rising cancer rates, and prioritizing clean water through incentives for farmers to reduce agricultural runoff.
- Saving the family farm by restricting foreign and out-of-state land ownership, filing antitrust suits against agricultural monopolies, and ending tax credits for out-of-state corporations in favor of Iowa-based businesses.
Rob SandDemocratcurrent state Auditor
Top priorities- Growing Iowa's economy and lowering costs by reversing the privatization of Medicaid, restoring the State Auditor's ability to uncover waste and fraud, and expanding job opportunities to rural communities through remote work programs for state employees.
- Strengthening public education by investing in universal all-day pre-K and adding accountability measures to Iowa's private school voucher program.
- Helping Iowans live better, healthier lives by addressing Iowa's rising cancer rates and reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
- Get to know ’em
Thomas LaehnLibertarian
All U.S. House of Representatives seats are up for election every two years. Find your district here.
- Shadrach’s big picture
Iowans will elect four candidates to represent them in the U.S. House. Republicans are expected to hold two of those seats, and the other two are toss ups. Iowa is one of the most closely watched states this cycle as it could be one that determines House control.
- Open seats
Two districts were open. The incumbent in IA-2 Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) ran for U.S. Senate, and the incumbent in IA-4 Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) ran for governor.
- Competitive districts
Cook ranks both IA-1 and IA-3 as competitive districts. IA-2 leans Republican and has drifted further away from safe territory since the start of the cycle, and IA-4 is solidly Republican.
Statewide ballot measures
1 to read before you go. Tap one to open it.
This amendment would require a two-thirds (66.67%) vote from both chambers of the state legislature to pass a bill that would increase the individual or corporate income tax rate or create a new income tax. The amendment would not require local option taxes to be approved by a two-thirds majority.
Voting yessupports requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the state legislature to raise the individual or corporate income tax rate or create a new income taxVoting noopposes this constitutional amendment, maintaining the current requirement of a simple majority vote in both chambers
Also on the ballot
Other races Iowa voters will decide.
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Secretary of State
- Auditor
- Agriculture Commissioner
- Treasurer
- State Senate
- State House
- Intermediate appellate courts
- Municipal government
Whose job is it?
Ten things government does. Tap the office that does each one.
Whose job is it to…
1 of 10
Declare a state of emergency after a hurricane or flood?
Pass it on
Know someone voting in Iowa?
Send them the guide. It takes one tap, and it saves them an evening of arguing in a group chat.
From the newsroom
How TPO has covered Iowa this cycle. Tap one to read it here.
A prayer for Iowa
Father, all eyes are on Iowa. In the midst of that pressure, we ask that You would steady the hearts of Iowans with Your steadfast care. Protect voters’ judgment from being swept up in the national noise. Anchor them instead in wisdom to vote, seeking the righteousness of Your Kingdom and the flourishing of their communities.
We pray for every candidate. Keep them from performance, posturing, and contempt. Instead, help them campaign with transparency and integrity. May whoever wins steward the weight of this office well, leading with dignity and discernment.
For the many who will be disappointed by the result, comfort them in their grief and make Yourself known to them in their fear of tomorrow. Open doors for conversations about the good news that Your sovereignty is not suspended on election night, and Your good purposes aren’t undone by any election cycle.
And for the many who will be pleased, turn their hearts toward love of neighbor, humble service, and gracious speech.
Amen.