The 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Iowa. Primary elections will be held on June 2, 2026. Two-term Republican Joni Ernst, who was re-elected in 2020 with 51.8% of the vote, declined to seek reelection to a third term.
November 3, 2026 | |||||||
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Background
Since voting for President Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012, Iowa has trended increasingly Republican and is now considered a moderately to strongly red state at the federal and state level. Republican nominee Donald Trump won Iowa in 2020 by 8 percentage points, and in 2024 grew his margin to 13 percentage points. Republicans control every statewide executive office (except the state auditor's office), majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, and the entire congressional delegation.
Senator Joni Ernst was first elected in the red wave of 2014, defeating U.S. Representative Bruce Braley by about 8 percentage points. She was re-elected in 2020 defeating Theresa Greenfield by 6.5 percentage points in what was expected to be a dead heat.
In May 2025, Ernst sparked controversy after replying to a constituent upset by thousands of preventable deaths resulting from Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by responding, "Well, we all are going to die" during a town hall in north-central Iowa.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Jim Carlin, former state senator from the 3rd district (2017–2023) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
- Ashley Hinson, U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–present)
- Joshua Smith, former vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee (2022–2023) and Libertarian candidate for president in 2024
Filed paperwork
- John Berman
Potential
- Matthew Whitaker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO (2025–present), acting United States Attorney General (2018-2019), nominee for state treasurer in 2002, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014
Declined
- Brenna Bird, Attorney General of Iowa (2023–present) (running for re-election)
- Joni Ernst, incumbent U.S. Senator (2015–present)
- Kari Lake, senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2025–present), party nominee for Governor of Arizona in 2022 and U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2024
- Zach Nunn, U.S. Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Hinson)
Endorsements
Jim Carlin
- State legislators
- Kevin Alons, state senator from the 7th district (2023–present)
- Doug Campbell, state senator from the 30th district (2023–present)
- Sandy Salmon, state senator from the 29th district (2023–present)
- Samantha Fett, state representative from the 22nd district (2025–present)
- Mark Cisneros, state representative from the 91st district (2021–present)
Ashley Hinson
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th and 47th president of the United States (2017–2021; 2025–present)
- Terry Branstad, former U.S. ambassador to China (2017–2020) and governor of Iowa (1983–1999; 2011–2017)
- U.S. senators
- Jim Banks, Indiana (2025–present)
- Katie Britt, Alabama (2023–present)
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas (2013–present)
- Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma (2023–present)
- Tim Scott, South Carolina (2013–present)
- John Thune, Senate Majority Leader (2025–present) from South Dakota (2005–present)
- Jerry Moran, Kansas (2011–present)
- Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia (2015–present)
- Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania (2025–present)
- U.S. representatives
- Tom Emmer, House Majority Whip (2023–present) from MN-6 (2015–present)
- Zach Nunn, IA-3 (2023–present)
- Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader (2023–present) from LA-1 (2008–present)
- Elise Stefanik, NY-21 (2015–present)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-1 (2023–present), IA-2 (2021–2023)
- State legislators
- Bobby Kaufmann, majority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 82nd district (2013–present)
- Organizations
- Maggie's List
Fundraising
Italics indicate a declined candidate.
| Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Jim Carlin (R) | $125,401 | $124,689 | $711 |
| Ashley Hinson (R) | $3,212,895 | $1,087,489 | $2,125,405 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Joni Ernst vs. "Someone Else"
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst | Someone Else | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights (R) | December 6–7, 2024 | 600 (LV) | – | 48% | 27% | 26% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Bob Krause, former state representative from the 7th district (1973–1978) and perennial candidate
- Nathan Sage, market director for KNIA
- Richard Sherzan, former state representative from the 63rd district (1979–1981) and candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2016 and 2018
- Josh Turek, state representative from the 20th district (2023–present)
- Zach Wahls, state senator from the 43rd district (2019–present) and former Senate Minority Leader (2020–2023)
Withdrawn
- Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines school board and former Chief of Staff to the First Lady of the United States (2009–2011)
- J. D. Scholten, state representative from the 1st district (2023–present) and nominee for Iowa's 4th congressional district in 2018 and 2020 (endorsed Turek)
Declined
- Rob Sand, Iowa Auditor of State (2019–present) (running for governor)
Endorsements
Nathan Sage
- Executive branch officials
- Robert Reich, United States Secretary of Labor (1993–1997)
Josh Turek
- Statewide officials
- Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor of Iowa (1999–2007)
- Tom Miller, former attorney general of Iowa (1979–1991, 1995–2023)
- State legislators
- Michael Gronstal, former majority leader of the Iowa Senate (2006–2017) from the 8th district (1985–2017)
- Molly Donahue, state senator from the 37th district (2023–present)
- Robert Dvorsky, former state senator from the 37th district (1995–2019)
- Pam Jochum, former president of the Iowa Senate (2013–2017)
- Art Staed, state senator from the 40th district (2025–present)
- 18 state representatives
- Local officials
- Dave Muhlbauer, Crawford County supervisor
- Matt Walsh, mayor of Council Bluffs (2014–present) (Republican)
- Organizations
- Heat and Frost Insulators Local 39
Zach Wahls
- U.S. representatives
- Dave Loebsack, IA-2 (2007–2021)
- Statewide officials
- Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont (1991–2003) and chair of the DNC (2005–2009)
- Patty Judge, former lieutenant governor of Iowa (2007–2011)
- Jason Kander, former secretary of state of Missouri (2013–2017)
- State legislators
- Liz Bennett, state senator from the 39th district (2023–present)
- Matt Blake, state senator from the 22nd district (2025–present)
- Ken Croken, state representative from the 97th district (2023–present)
- Daniel Gosa, state representative from the 81st district (2025–present)
- David Jacoby, state representative from the 86th district (2003–present)
- Izaah Knox, state senator from the 17th district (2023–present)
- Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones, former state senator from the 23rd district (1987–1995)
- Jim Lykam, former state senator from the 45th district (2017–2023)
- Liz Mathis, former state senator from the 34th district (2011–2023)
- Richard Myers, former state representative from the 30th district (1994–2003)
- Notable individuals
- Tim Dwight, former NFL and University of Iowa football player
- Labor unions
- Communications Workers of America Local 7110
- Ironworkers Locals 67, 89 & 111
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 610
- Teamsters Local 90
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1846
- Heat and Frost Insulators Local 81
- Organizations
Jackie Norris (withdrawn)
- Statewide officials
- Sally Pederson, former Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (1999–2007)
- State legislators
- Tony Bisignano, state senator from the 15th district (2015–present)
- Claire Celsi, state senator from the 16th district (2019–2025) (deceased)
- Local officials
- Connie Boesen, mayor of Des Moines (2024–present)
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Nathan Sage (D) | $1,119,898 | $851,129 | $268,769 |
| Josh Turek (D) | $1,008,592 | $356,611 | $651,981 |
| Zach Wahls (D) | $1,303,295 | $718,251 | $585,045 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Declared
- Thomas Laehn, Greene County Attorney
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Thomas Laehn (L) | $29,285 | $26,910 | $2,375 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections | Likely R | August 28, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | October 14, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | August 12, 2025 |
| Race To The WH | Lean R | September 4, 2025 |
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Joni Ernst vs. Jackie Norris
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst (R) | Jackie Norris (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | August 18–19, 2025 | 572 (V) | ± 4.1% | 45% | 42% | 13% |
Joni Ernst vs. Nathan Sage
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst (R) | Nathan Sage (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | August 18–19, 2025 | 572 (V) | ± 4.1% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
Joni Ernst vs. Josh Turek
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst (R) | Josh Turek (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | August 18–19, 2025 | 572 (V) | ± 4.1% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
Joni Ernst vs. Zach Wahls
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst (R) | Zach Wahls (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | August 18–19, 2025 | 572 (V) | ± 4.1% | 43% | 42% | 15% |
Joni Ernst vs. Generic Democrat
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Joni Ernst (R) | Generic Democrat | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) | June 2–3, 2025 | 568 (V) | ± 4.1% | 45% | 43% | 12% |
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