Polk County

Took over from John Sarcone, who had run the office since 1990, after promising to stop asking for cash bail in most low-level, nonviolent cases and to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana possession. Her campaign says she has kept every promise within her own authority.

Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Polk County bio, Campaign site

A first-time candidate who managed Deidre DeJear's 2018 campaign for secretary of state. Says her priorities are mental health services and water quality, and wants more nonprofits and grassroots groups to know about and apply for county grants.

Sources: WHO 13, Hola Iowa

Calls himself a "common-sense" Democrat and won't take corporate PAC money. Wants to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stock, and is endorsed by Tom Harkin, the Iowa Federation of Labor and the state teachers' union.

Sources: Campaign platform, Campaign endorsements, Wikipedia

As a prosecutor he convicted the lottery insider behind the $25 million Hot Lotto fraud, and as auditor his office flagged $21 million in misused federal COVID money that the state paid back. Says he would veto "culture war" bills.

Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, The Gazette, Wikipedia

Wants voting made easier for eligible Iowans while keeping elections secure. "I'm not running to be a partisan warrior," he says. Endorsed by the Iowa Federation of Labor and VoteVets.

Sources: Campaign site, Scott County Democrats, iVoterGuide

Won a settlement of about $15 million for hospital and clinic workers, and wants the office's first wage enforcement unit. Endorsed by former Attorney General Tom Miller, the Iowa Federation of Labor and the Sierra Club.

Sources: Campaign site, Iowa Podcast, Wikipedia

Running on rooting out waste and fraud. Says his federal job was cut by DOGE and that Trump went after his law firm. Endorsed by former Gov. Tom Vilsack and former Attorney General Tom Miller.

Sources: Campaign site, Daily Iowan

His first priority is protecting IPERS, the public employees' pension fund, from privatization. Also running on paying down debt and returning unclaimed money to Iowans.

Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Campaign site

Calls Iowa's water quality the "biggest failure of our state government in the history of the state" and wants tighter rules on large livestock operations. Wrote The Swine Republic, a 2025 book on farming and water.

Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Iowa PBS

A former hospital chaplain who flipped a Republican Senate seat in 2020 and in 2022 unseated Senate President Jake Chapman. Says her top priorities are lowering costs and protecting Social Security and Medicaid, and that she will "keep the government out of women's personal health care decisions."

Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Ballotpedia News

Runs on "public money for public schools," support for Area Education Agencies, protections for LGBTQ students, raising the minimum wage to a living wage and keeping abortion legal. Endorsed by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund.

Sources: Campaign site, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Ballot Brief

Runs on public schools, reproductive freedom and maternal health care, affordable child care, and "attainable homeownership and rent stabilization." The NRA grades her F.

Sources: Wikipedia, Campaign site, NRA-PVF grades

Says the campaign is about "an Iowa where we invest in our public schools, strengthen our communities, protect our clean water, and give every Iowan, not just the wealthiest, a fair shake."

Sources: KCRG / Iowa Capital Dispatch, BallotReady

Says her priorities include public education, mental health and reproductive rights, and supports stricter gun laws. Her campaign backs fully funding public schools and universal pre-K.

Sources: Wikipedia, Ballot Brief

Has worked for years with Des Moines residents on neighborhood and family support programs, and runs on safer neighborhoods, job training and financial literacy for young people.

Sources: Ballot Brief, Campaign site

The ranking Democrat on the House Environmental Protection Committee. Says he brings "an evidence-based approach to problem solving" to the Legislature.

Sources: Wikipedia, Ballot Brief

Ended his 2018 run for governor after the Des Moines Register reported three women's accounts of sexual misconduct; he stayed in the Senate and lost reelection in 2024 by 44 votes. Runs on public schools, workers' rights, health care and water quality.

Sources: Wikipedia, Bleeding Heartland

Has led advocacy at the Capitol for special education and services for children with disabilities. Lost to Gustoff in 2024 and is running again.

Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Ballot Brief

Supports more school funding, affordable child care, abortion access and stricter gun laws. Endorsed by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund.

Sources: Wikipedia, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa

Says leadership starts with listening to and showing up for constituents. Endorsed by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund.

Sources: Ballot Brief, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Campaign site

Deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as a brigade lawyer. Wants to fully fund public schools, require accountability from private schools that get taxpayer money, and manage farm runoff to protect water; the NRA gives her an AQ (pro-gun questionnaire) rating.

Sources: DLCC, Ballot Brief, NRA-PVF grades

Runs on cost of living, public school funding, health care and environmental protection. Endorsed by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund.

Sources: Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Ballot Brief, Campaign site

Runs on support for public schools and teachers, bringing businesses and workers to Iowa, and addressing cancer rates and water quality.

Sources: Ballot Brief, Campaign site