2026 Iowa Senate election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2026 Iowa Senate Election

← 2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
25 of the 50 seats in the Iowa Senate 26 seats needed for a majority
Leader Amy Sinclair Janice Weiner Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 9, 2023 January 8, 2025 Leader's seat 12th district 45th district Last election 19 seats, 59.58% 6 seats, 36.98% Current seats 33 17 Seats needed Steady Increase 9 Seats up 14 11
Status of the incumbents:      Republican incumbent running      Republican incumbent retiring or switching seats      Democratic incumbent running      Democratic incumbent retiring      No election
Incumbent President of the Senate Amy Sinclair Republican

Elections in Iowa
Federal government U.S. Presidential elections 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential caucuses Democratic 1976 1980 1984 1992 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Republican 1980 1996 2000 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections 1848 1849 1852 1855 1857 sp 1858 1860 1864 1866 1866 sp 1870 1870 sp 1872 1878 1882 1882 sp 1884 1888 1890 1894 1896 1900 1902 1902 sp 1907 1908 1908 sp 1909 1911 sp 1913 1914 1918 1920 1922 sp 1924 1926 1926 sp 1930 1932 1936 1936 sp 1938 1942 1944 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 2022 2026 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1846 1847 1848 1850 1st sp 1852 1854 1856 1858 1860 1861 1st sp 1862 1864 1866 1868 1870 2nd sp 1872 1874 1876 1878 1879 5th sp 1880 1882 1883 6th sp 1884 7th sp 1886 1888 1890 7th sp 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 10th sp 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1911 9th sp 1912 11th sp 1914 2nd sp 1916 1918 1920 1921 5th sp 1922 1923 8th sp 1924 1926 1928 9th sp 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 6th sp 1942 9th sp 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1959 4th sp 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026
State government General elections 2009 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2025 2026 Gubernatorial elections 1846 1850 1854 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Secretary of State elections 2018 2022 2026 State Auditor elections 2014 2018 2022 2026 State Treasurer elections 2018 2022 2026 Secretary of Agriculture elections 2018 2022 2026 Attorney General elections 2014 2018 2022 2026 Senate elections 1846 1848 1850 1852 1854 1856 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Special elections House of Representatives elections 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Territorial Council elections 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845
Ballot measures 2020 Question 1 2022 Amendment 1
Cedar Rapids Mayoral elections 2021 2025
Des Moines Mayoral elections 1997 sp 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
v t e

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]

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.

District	2024 Pres.[5]	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Outcome
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

• District 23: Jack Whitver is retiring.^[6]

• District 17: Izaah Knox is retiring to run for Polk County supervisor.^[7]
• District 43: Zach Wahls is retiring to run for the U.S. Senate.^[8]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_Iowa_Senate_election&oldid=1358570960"

Categories:

• 2026 Iowa elections
• 2026 state legislature elections in the United States
• Iowa Senate elections

Hidden categories:

• Articles with short description
• Short description with empty Wikidata description
• Use American English from June 2026
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Pages using sidebar with the child parameter
• Articles with hCards