2026 Iowa gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Iowa gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Kim Reynolds
Republican



The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, [1] to elect the governor of the state of Iowa. On April 11, 2025, incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds declined to seek re-election to a third full term in office. [2] [3] Primaries for this election will be held on June 2, 2026. [1]

Contents

This is the first open seat gubernatorial election in the state since 2006.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Formed exploratory committee

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Brad Sherman
Executive branch officials
State senators
State representatives
Randy Feenstra
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Mike Bousselot (undeclared)
Executive branch officials

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Rob Sand
Governors
Labor unions
Organizations

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [32] Lean RSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [33] Likely RAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [34] Lean RSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [35] TossupSeptember 11, 2025

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State of Iowa Election Calendar 2026" (PDF). sos.gov. Secretary of State of Iowa. January 1, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Pfannenstiel, Brianne (April 11, 2025). "Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announces she will not seek reelection to another term". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Gov. Kim Reynolds' approval rating drops to lowest point, according to new poll". KCCI. September 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ Henderson, Kay (June 4, 2025). "GOP State Rep. Eddie Andrews launches campaign for governor". Radio Iowa. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Henderson, O. Kay (August 15, 2025). "Feenstra hints at official campaign kickoff next month". Radio Iowa.
  6. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (February 17, 2025). "Former Republican state representative to challenge Kim Reynolds for Iowa governor seat". The Des Moines Register . Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ Opsahl, Robin (August 19, 2025). "Former Iowa administrator Adam Steen announces GOP campaign for governor". Iowa Capital Dispatch . Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot launching exploratory campaign for 2026 governor's race". KCCI . April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ Tallal, Skylar (April 15, 2025). "Iowa Republicans hint at 2026 gubernatorial bids after Reynolds' announcement". KGAN . Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ Gorman, Reese (April 11, 2025). "Rep. Zach Nunn Is Talking With His Family About a Potential Run for Governor". NOTUS . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (July 2, 2025). "Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird won't run for governor in 2026". Des Moines Register . Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (April 28, 2025). "Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer files paperwork to run for state auditor in 2026". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Pat Grassley, Iowa House Speaker, to run again, highlighting commitment to constituents". KGAN . June 27, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025. Rep. Grassley had previously said he was considering a run for governor
  14. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (April 29, 2025). "Republican US Rep. Ashley Hinson rules out running for Iowa governor in 2026". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ Richards, Zoë (September 2, 2025). "GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson announces Senate bid for open Iowa seat". NBC News . Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ Tallal, Skylar (July 14, 2025). "Iowa House GOP sets leadership election date, Rep. Kaufmann vying for the position". KGAN . Retrieved July 14, 2025. GOP State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann said he couldn't pass up the opportunity to run for [majority leader]. He originally was strongly considering a run for governor but said a statewide position isn't in the cards
  17. ↑ Martin, Sabine (April 17, 2025). "Is Kari Lake returning to Iowa to run for political office? What she said". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks will not run for governor in 2026". KCRG-TV . April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ Wilde, Wendy; Snover, JD; Burnett, Claire (June 2, 2025). "Iowa Congresswoman Says She Will Run for Re-Election in 2026". WHO . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Naig announces re-election campaign for agriculture secretary, will not run for Iowa governor". KCCI . May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (July 11, 2025). "Zach Nunn to run for reelection to Congress, not Iowa governor - after talking to Trump". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  22. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (July 9, 2025). "Bob Vander Plaats warns Iowa Republicans that Rob Sand is 'compelling' governor candidate". The Des Moines Register . Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025. Vander Plaats waved off any suggestion he might be compelled to seek the nomination himself. 'I'm not running,' he said.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Barton, Tom (April 16, 2025). "Now that Kim Reynolds won't seek re-election, which Republicans are eyeing a run for Iowa governor?". The Gazette . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 "Feenstra garners endorsements from fellow Republicans ahead of gubernatorial race". KCCI . July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Campaign Almanac: Naig will seek re-election as ag secretary, not run for Iowa governor". The Gazette . May 20, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  26. ↑ Hendricks, Conner (November 13, 2024). "Democrat announces candidacy for 2026 Iowa gubernatorial race". KCRG-TV . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  27. ↑ Tallal, Skylar (May 12, 2025). "Iowa Auditor Rob Sand announces 2026 gubernatorial run". KGAN . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Julie Stauch, Pete Buttigieg's 2020 Iowa political director, launches bid for governor". KCCI . June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  29. ↑ Boys, Seth (May 14, 2025). "Rob Sand enters race for Iowa governor". Decorah Leader. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  30. ↑ Lang, Tommy (August 28, 2025). "Rob Sand picks up big endorsement from health care sector". KCJJ . Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  31. ↑ "End Citizens United Endorses Rob Sand for Iowa Governor". admin.endcitizensunited.org. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  32. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  34. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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