The 2026 Iowa Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect members of the Iowa Senate from 25 odd-numbered districts.[1]

Background

Republicans have controlled the Iowa Senate since the 2016 election. They expanded their supermajority in the chamber to 35 seats in the 2024 election, their largest majority since the 1970 election.[2] They never seated this many Senators, however, as Chris Cournoyer resigned to become lieutenant governor. Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped her seat in the ensuing special election in a major upset, undoing Republicans' net gain from the 2024 election.[3] Later in 2025, the death of Republican Rocky De Witt led to another special election, which Democrat Catelin Drey won in an upset, breaking the Republican supermajority in the chamber, which they had held since the 2022 elections.[4] Entering the 2026 election, Republicans hold a 33–17 majority in the Senate.

Summary of results by district

District2024 Pres.[5]IncumbentPartyElected SenatorOutcome
1st R+11.4 Catelin Drey Dem TBD
3rd R+47.3 Lynn Evans Rep TBD
5th R+41.1 Dave Rowley Rep TBD
7th R+41.2 Kevin Alons Rep TBD
9th R+42.1 Tom Shipley Rep TBD
11th R+21.9 Julian Garrett Rep TBD
13th R+40.5 Cherielynn Westrich Rep TBD
15th D+16.8 Tony Bisignano Dem TBD
17th D+35.8 Izaah Knox Dem TBD
19th R+35.2 Ken Rozenboom Rep TBD
21st R+2.2 Mike Bousselot Rep TBD
23rd R+16.4 Jack Whitver Rep TBD
25th D+27.3 Herman Quirmbach Dem TBD
27th R+29.5 Annette Sweeney Rep TBD
29th R+30.4 Sandy Salmon Rep TBD
31st D+12.3 William Dotzler Dem TBD
33rd R+28.2 Carrie Koelker Rep TBD
35th R+21.1 Mike Zimmer Dem TBD
37th D+11.3 Molly Donahue Dem TBD
39th D+22.5 Liz Bennett Dem TBD
41st R+11.3 Kerry Gruenhagen Rep TBD
43rd D+38.3 Zach Wahls Dem TBD
45th D+52.6 Janice Weiner Dem TBD
47th R+8.0 Scott Webster Rep TBD
49th D+8.7 Cindy Winckler Dem TBD

Retirements

Republicans

Democrats

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[9] Likely R January 22, 2026

Detailed results

District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 33 • District 35 • District 37 • District 39 • District 41 • District 43 • District 45 • District 47 • District 49

District 1

The 1st district encompasses the city of Sioux City. The incumbent is Democrat Catelin Drey, who was elected in a special election on August 26, 2025, with 55.2% of the vote.[10]

District 1 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catelin Drey (incumbent)
Republican Christopher Prosch
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 3

The 3rd district encompasses all of Buena Vista, O'Brien, and Osceola counties, as well as parts of Cherokee and Clay counties. The incumbent is Republican Lynn Evans, who was elected in 2022 with 99.1% of the vote.[11] Evans briefly ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa's 4th congressional district, but dropped out of the race in July 2025.

He announced that he would instead run for re-election.[12]

District 3 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Evans (incumbent) 4,279 71.58%
Republican Shane Bellefy 1,689 28.25%
Write-in 10 0.17%
Total votes 5,978 100.00%
District 3 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lynn Evans (incumbent)
Democratic Mike Frantz
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 5

The 5th district encompasses all of Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto, and Winnebago counties, as well as part of Clay County. The incumbent is Republican Dave Rowley, who was re-elected in 2022 with 98.5% of the vote.[11]

Rowley announced he would run for re-election in August 2025.[15] He was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in early 2026, but has said this does not affect his plans to run for re-election.[16]

District 5 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Rowley (incumbent) 3,638 52.56%
Republican Stacy Besch 3,277 47.34%
Write-in 7 0.10%
Total votes 6,922 100.00%
District 5 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Rowley (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 7

The 7th district encompasses all of Monona County, most of Woodbury County, and parts of Cherokee and Plymouth counties. The incumbent is Republican Kevin Alons, who was elected in 2022 with 98.0% of the vote.[11] He is running for re-election.[17]

District 7 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kevin Alons (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 9

The 9th district encompasses all of Adams, Cass, Montgomery, Page, and Ringgold counties, as well as most of Union County. The incumbent is Republican Tom Shipley, who was re-elected in 2022 with 76.9% of the vote.[11]

District 9 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Baier
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 11

The 11th district encompasses all of Warren County and part of Marion County. The incumbent is Republican Julian Garrett, who was re-elected in 2022 with 61.6% of the vote.[11] After a prostate cancer diagnosis, Garrett announced he would not be seeking re-election.[18]

District 11 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hollie Zajicek 1,991 39.04%
Republican Jon Thorup 1,570 30.78%
Republican Mandee Shivers 1,528 29.96%
Write-in 11 0.22%
Total votes 5,100
District 11 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sinikka Waugh
Republican Hollie Zajicek
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 13

The 13th district encompasses all of Davis, Monroe, and Wapello counties and part of Appanoose County. The incumbent is Republican Cherielynn Westrich, who was elected in 2022 with 64.9% of the vote.[11]

District 13 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Kulmatycki 2,311 53.89%
Republican Austin Garmon 1,082 25.23%
Republican Edwin Brand 889 20.73%
Write-in 6 0.14%
Total votes 4,288 100.00%
District 13 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brenda Case
Republican Jeff Kulmatycki
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 15

The 15th district encompasses southern Des Moines, including the Des Moines International Airport. The incumbent is Democrat Tony Bisignano, who was re-elected in 2022 with 95.3% of the vote.[11]

District 15 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tony Bisignano (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 17

The 17th district encompasses central Des Moines. The incumbent is Democrat Izaah Knox, who was elected in 2022 with 76.6% of the vote.[11] Knox is not seeking re-election, as he is running for Polk County Supervisor.[19]

District 17 Democratic primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Samy El-Baroudi 2,627 53.18%
Democratic Grace Van Cleave 2,303 46.62%
Write-in 10 0.20%
Total votes 4,940 100.00%
District 17 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Samy El-Baroudi
Republican Ronald Langston
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 19

The 19th district encompasses all of Jasper County as well as parts of Mahaska and Marion counties. The incumbent is Republican Ken Rozenboom, who was re-elected in 2022 with 68.6% of the vote.[11] Rozenboom is not running for re-election.[20]

District 19 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barb Kniff McCulla 4,192 67.83%
Republican Bob Eschliman 1,979 32.02%
Write-in 9 0.15%
Total votes 6,180 100.00%
District 19 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barb Kniff McCulla
Democratic Zachary Mecham
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 21

The 21st district encompasses the city of Ankeny. The incumbent is Republican Mike Bousselot, who was elected in 2022 with 50.9% of the vote.[11] In April 2025, Bousselot formed an exploratory committee to explore running for governor in 2026, but ultimately decided to run in District 23.[21][22]

District 21 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Hollinrake
Democratic Heather Matson
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 23

The 23rd district encompasses parts of Dallas and Polk counties. The incumbent is Republican Jack Whitver, who was re-elected in 2022 with 58.6% of the vote.[11]

On September 16, 2025, he announced that he would not seek re-election.[6]

Mike Bousselot is running with Whitver's support.[22] He is overwhelmed with the thought of running for re-election in District 21, so he is moving out to a "safer" seat. [23]

Tony Thompson is the Democrat running for this seat.[24]

District 23 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Bousselot 3,610 64.86%
Republican Wes Enos 1,935 34.76%
Write-in 21 0.38%
Total votes 5,566 100.00%
District 23 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Bousselot
Democratic Tony Thompson
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 25

The 25th district encompasses the city of Ames. The incumbent is Democrat Herman Quirmbach, who was re-elected in 2022 with 75.7% of the vote.[11]

District 25 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herman Quirmbach (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 27

The 27th district encompasses all of Grundy, Hardin, and Poweshiek counties, most of Tama County, and part of Black Hawk County. The incumbent is Republican Annette Sweeney, who was re-elected in 2022 with 66.6% of the vote.[11] She is running for re-election.[25]

District 27 Republican primary[13][14]
Unofficial results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Annette Sweeney (incumbent) 3,502 68.53%
Republican Rocky Damiano 1,596 31.23%
Write-in 12 0.23%
Total votes 5,110 100.00%
District 27 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Annette Sweeney (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 29

The 29th district encompasses all of Bremer, Butler, and Chickasaw counties, as well as most of Floyd County. The incumbent is Republican Sandy Salmon, who was elected in 2022 with 65.4% of the vote.[11]

District 29 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sandy Salmon (incumbent)
Democratic Jim Vowels
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 31

The 31st district encompasses the city of Waterloo. The incumbent is Democrat William Dotzler, who was re-elected in 2022 with 96.9% of the vote.[11]

District 29 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Timi Brown-Powers
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 33

The 33rd district encompasses most of Dubuque and Jackson counties, as well as all of Jones County. The incumbent is Republican Carrie Koelker, who was re-elected in 2022 with 65.8% of the vote.[11]

District 33 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carrie Koelker (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 35

The 35th district encompasses all of Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott counties. The incumbent is Democrat Mike Zimmer, who was elected in a 2025 special election with 51.7% of the vote.[26]

District 35 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Stutting
Democratic Mike Zimmer (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 37

The 37th district encompasses the city of Marion. The incumbent is Democrat Molly Donahue, who was elected in 2022 with 56.0% of the vote.[11]

District 37 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Molly Donahue (incumbent)
Republican Randy Marzen
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 39

The 39th district encompasses southern Cedar Rapids. The incumbent is Democrat Liz Bennett, who was elected in 2022 with 64.8% of the vote.[11]

District 39 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Liz Bennett (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 41

The 41st district encompasses all of Cedar County, as well as parts of Muscatine and Scott counties. The incumbent is Republican Kerry Gruenhagen, who was elected in 2022 with 58.1% of the vote.[11]

District 41 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kerry Gruenhagen (incumbent)
Democratic Tom Wieck
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 43

The 43rd district encompasses the cities of North Liberty, Coralville, and Solon. The incumbent is Democrat Zach Wahls, who was re-elected in 2022 with 97.5% of the vote.[11]

Wahls is retiring to run for US Senate.[8]

District 43 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Meghann Foster
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 45

The 45th district encompasses the city of Iowa City. The incumbent is Democrat Janice Weiner, who was elected in 2022 with 82.0% of the vote.[11] She is running for re-election.[27]

District 45 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janice Weiner (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 47

The 47th district encompasses the cities of Bettendorf and Eldridge. The incumbent is Republican Scott Webster, who was elected in 2022 with 56.1% of the vote.[11]

Ophthalmologist Dr. Nikhil Wagle, who is also a Pleasant Valley School board member, announced in August 2025 that he would run for this seat.[28]

District 47 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nikhil Wagle
Republican Scott Webster (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

District 49

The 49th district encompasses the city of Davenport. The incumbent is Democrat Cindy Winckler, who was elected in 2022 with 93.3% of the vote.[11]

District 49 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cynthia Mensendick
Democratic Cindy Winckler (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes 100.0

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. "Republicans expand majorities in Iowa Legislature to historic levels after strong election". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
  3. ↑ Smith, Mitch (January 29, 2025). "Democrat Appears to Flip Iowa State Senate Seat in a Boost for the Party". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. "Democrat Catelin Drey wins Iowa Senate special election, breaking Republican supermajority". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  5. ↑ "Dave's Redistricting". Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Payne, Marissa (September 16, 2025). "Jack Whitver won't seek reelection to Iowa Senate in 2026, will retire as majority leader". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Izaah Knox announces campaign for Polk County supervisor in 2026". KCCI. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Koons, Cami (2025-06-11). "Democrat Zach Wahls announces bid for U.S. Senate". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  9. ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ Nir, David (August 26, 2025). "Iowa Democrats win massive upset to break GOP supermajority". The Downballot. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "2022 General Election". electionresults.iowa.gov. Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (July 9, 2025). "Republican state Sen. Lynn Evans drops bid for Iowa's 4th Congressional District". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Candidate List June 2, 2026 Primary Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2026 Primary Election - June 2, 2026". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Bower, George (August 18, 2025). "Rowley Will Run Again". Northwest Iowa Now. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ Price, Dave (February 23, 2026). "2nd Iowa lawmaker diagnosed with cancer". KTIV. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  17. ↑ McNett, Jared (September 24, 2025). "State Sen. Kevin Alons running for reelection". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Iowa state senator declines to run for reelection amid prostate cancer diagnosis". KCCI. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  19. ↑ "Izaah Knox announces campaign for Polk County supervisor in 2026". KCCI. 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  20. ↑ "Rozenboom to retire from Iowa Senate". Oskaloosa Herald. 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  21. ↑ "Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot launching exploratory campaign for 2026 governor's race". KCCI. April 22, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Tallal, Skylar (November 19, 2025). "GOP Sen. Bousselot seeks reelection, ending rumors over potential run for governor". KGAN. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  23. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (November 19, 2025). "GOP Sen. Bousselot seeks reelection, ending rumors over potential run for governor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ Thompson, Amanda (November 24, 2025). "Elkhart Farmer, Business Owner Tony Thompson Launches Campaign for Iowa Senate District 23" (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  25. ↑ Loring-Jass, Elaine (November 27, 2025). "Sweeney re-election bid announced". Times-Citizen Communications. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  26. ↑ "State Senate District 35 - Special Election". electionresults.iowa.gov. Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Janice Weiner launches re-election campaign for Iowa Senate". KGAN. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  28. ↑ Wren, Sharon (August 6, 2025). "Wagle announces run for Iowa Senate District 47 seat". Our Quad Cities. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iowa_Senate_election