2026 Iowa gubernatorial election
The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of the state of Iowa. Incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds declined to seek a third full term in office. Primaries for this election will be held on June 2, 2026.
Article
2026 Iowa gubernatorial election
The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of the state of Iowa. Incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds declined to seek a third full term in office. Primaries for this election will be held on June 2, 2026.
This is the first open seat gubernatorial election in the state since (/wiki/2006Iowagubernatorialelection), which was also the last gubernatorial election in Iowa won by a Democrat.
Republican primary
Declared
• Randy Feenstra, U.S. representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district (2021–present) • Zach Lahn, farmer • Brad Sherman, former state representative from the 91st district (2023–2025) • Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025) • Eddie Andrews, state representative from the 43rd district (2021–present)
Declined
• Brenna Bird, Attorney General of Iowa (2023–present) (running for re-election) • Mike Bousselot, state senator from the 21st district (2023–present) (running for re-election) • Chris Cournoyer, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (2024–present) (running for state auditor) • 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) • Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–present) (running for U.S. Senate) • Bobby Kaufmann, state representative from the 82nd district (2013–present) (running for re-election) • Kari Lake, senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2025–present) and nominee for governor of Arizona in (/wiki/2022Arizonagubernatorialelection) and U.S. senator in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesSenateelectioninArizona) • Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. representative from Iowa's 1st congressional district (2021–present) (running for re-election) • Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture (2018–present) (running for re-election) • Zach Nunn, U.S. representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election) • Kim Reynolds, incumbent governor (2017–present) • Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of The Family Leader, nominee for lieutenant governor in (/wiki/2006Iowagubernatorialelection), and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2002Iowagubernatorialelection), (/wiki/2006Iowagubernatorialelection), and (/wiki/2010Iowagubernatorialelection) (endorsed Steen)
Democratic primary
Presumptive nominee
• Rob Sand, Iowa Auditor of State (2019–present)
Disqualified
• Julie Stauch, business development professional and former Iowa political director for the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign
Independents
Declared
• Sondra Wilson, pre-law student (previously ran as a Democrat)
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Lean R</td><td>September 11, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Lean R</td><td>March 26, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Lean R</td><td>September 4, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Tossup</td><td>January 14, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Randy Feenstra (R)</th><th>Rob Sand (D)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Z to A Research (D)</td><td>October 9–13, 2025</td><td>1,351 (LV)</td><td>± 2.7%</td><td>43%</td><td>45%</td><td>12%</td></tr></tbody></table>