2026 Iowa gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Iowa.[1] Incumbent Republican governor Kim Reynolds declined to seek re-election to a third full term.[2][3] Primaries for this election will be held on June 2, 2026.[1]
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November 3, 2026
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This is the first open seat gubernatorial election in the state since 2006, which was the last gubernatorial election in Iowa won by a Democrat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Randy Feenstra, U.S. representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district (2021–present)[4]
- Zach Lahn, farmer[5][6]
- Brad Sherman, former state representative from the 91st district (2023–2025)[7]
- Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025)[8]
- Eddie Andrews, state representative from the 43rd district (2021–present)[9]
Declined
- Brenna Bird, attorney general of Iowa (2023–present) (running for re-election)[10]
- Mike Bousselot, state senator from the 21st district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[11]
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present) (running for state auditor; endorsed Feenstra)[12][13]
- Pat Grassley, speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives (2020–present) from the 57th district (2007–present) and grandson of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (running for re-election)[14]
- Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–present)[15] (running for U.S. Senate)[16]
- Bobby Kaufmann, state representative from the 82nd district (2013–present) (running for re-election)[17]
- Kari Lake, senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2025–present) and nominee for governor of Arizona in 2022 and U.S. senator in 2024[18]
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. representative from Iowa's 1st congressional district (2021–present)[19] (running for re-election; endorsed Feenstra)[20][13]
- Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture (2018–present) (running for re-election)[21]
- Zach Nunn, U.S. representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[22]
- Kim Reynolds, incumbent governor (2017–present)[2]
- Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of The Family Leader, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, and candidate for governor in 2002, 2006, and 2010[23] (endorsed Steen)[24]
Endorsements
Randy Feenstra
- Executive branch officials
- Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[25] (previously endorsed Bousselot)[26]
- U.S. senators
- Joni Ernst, Iowa (2015–present)[13]
- U.S. representatives
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-01 (2021–present)[13]
- Statewide officials
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present)[13]
- Roby Smith, state treasurer of Iowa (2023–present)[27]
- Matt Schultz, former secretary of state of Iowa (2011–2015)[28]
- State legislators
- Ken Rozenboom, president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate (2025–present) from SD-19 (2013–present)[29]
- Carrie Koelker, SD-33 (2019–present)[29]
- Craig Johnson, HD-67 (2023–present)[30]
- John Wills, speaker pro tempore of the Iowa House of Representatives (2020–present) from HD-10 (2015–present)[29]
- Brent Siegrist, HD-19 (2021–present), HD-84 (1985–2003)[29]
- 18 other state legislators[29]
Zach Lahn
Brad Sherman
- Executive branch officials
- Sam Clovis, former senior White House advisor to the Department of Agriculture (2017–2018)[33]
- State legislators
- Kevin Alons, SD-07 (2023–present)[33]
- Doug Campbell, SD-30 (2025–present)[33]
- Jim Carlin, former SD-03 (2017–2023)[33]
- Mark Cisneros, HD-96 (2021–present)[33]
- Dennis Guth, SD-28 (2013–present)[33]
- Judd Lawler, HD-91 (2025–present)[33]
- Anne Osmundson, former HD-64 (2019–2025)[33]
- Sandy Salmon, SD-29 (2023–present)[33]
- Luana Stoltenberg, former HD-81 (2023–2025)[33]
Adam Steen
- State legislators
- Dean Fisher, HD-53 (2013–present)[34]
- Charlie McClintock, SD-42 (2023–present)[35]
- Mike Pike, SD-20 (2025–present)[36]
- Henry Stone, HD-09 (2023–present)[37]
- Individuals
- Steve Deace, conservative talk show host[24]
- Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader[24]
- Organizations
Mike Bousselot (declined)
- Executive branch officials
Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[26] (later endorsed Feenstra)[25]
Declined to endorse
- Statewide officials
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–present)[39]
Polling
Democratic primary
Candidates
Presumptive nominee
- Rob Sand, Iowa auditor of state (2019–present)[41]
Disqualified
- Julie Stauch, business development professional and former Iowa political director for the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign[42]
Did not file
- Paul Dahl, bus driver and perennial candidate[43]
Endorsements
Rob Sand
Independents
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[54] | Tossup | April 9, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[55] | Lean R | March 26, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[56] | Lean R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[57] | Tilt D (flip) | April 13, 2026 |
Polling
Randy Feenstra vs. Rob Sand
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Randy Feenstra (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echelon Insights[58] | April 3–9, 2026 | 377 (LV) | ± 6.6% | 39% | 51% | 10% |
| GBAO (D)[59][B] | March 10–16, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 42% | 50% | 8% |
| Z to A Research (D)[60][61] | October 9–13, 2025 | 1,351 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 43% | 45% | 12% |
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Partisan and media clients
- Poll sponsored by Feenstra's campaign
- Poll sponsored by Josh Turek's campaign, who is a Democratic candidate in the Iowa U.S. Senate election