2025 Iowa elections

In 2025, Iowa held elections for municipal governments, school boards, and to fill vacancies for various offices, including the Iowa General Assembly.^[1]

Under Iowa law, if a vacancy arises during the Iowa General Assembly's legislative session, the Governor of Iowa is required to call an election at the "earliest practical time" with at least eighteen days' notice.^[2]

State legislative

Iowa Senate District 35 special election

Incumbent Republican senator Chris Cournoyer was re-elected state senator in 2022 with 60.0 percent of the vote. She vacated the seat being appointed lieutenant governor in December 2024.^[3] Subsequently, a special election was held in the U.S. state of Iowa on January 28, 2025 to elect a new member for District 35 in the Iowa Senate, representing the counties of Clinton, Jackson, and Scott. Democratic candidate Mike Zimmer achieved an upset victory, flipping a district won by Republican nominee Donald Trump by 21 points in the 2024 presidential election.^[4][5][6][7]

Candidates

The following candidates were certified for the ballot:^[8]

• Katie Whittington, administrative assistant (Republican)
• Mike Zimmer, president of the Central DeWitt School Board (Democratic)

Iowa House of Representatives District 100 special election

Prior to his death, District 100 was represented by Martin Graber following redistricting in 2023. The last election he won was in 2024, when he defeated independent candidate Nicolas Atwood with 67.6% of the vote. Lee County is one of many "pivot counties", counties which twice voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and subsequently swung to Donald Trump in 2016.^[9] Lee County has since voted again for Trump in 2020 and 2024. Subsequently, a special election was held in the U.S. state of Iowa on March 11, 2025 to elect a new member for District 100 in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing a large portion of Lee County. The election will fill a vacancy caused by the death of Republican member Martin Graber, who unexpectedly died on January 31, 2025.^[10]

Candidates

The parties nominated their candidates by convention. The Republican convention chose Blaine Watkins, a legislative aide.^[11] Watkins won with more than 70% of the vote at the Republican meeting.^[12] Other candidates at the convention included Daniel Atwood, a platoon leader in the Iowa National Guard, Tracy Gach, a high school teacher and businessman, and Larry Kruse, a former Lee County supervisor.^[13]

The Democratic convention selected Nannette Griffin, a businesswoman and nominee for the 50th Senate District in 2024.^[14]

Iowa House of Representatives District 78 special election

A special election in the U.S. state of Iowa was held on April 29, 2025, to elect a new member to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 78. The special election was called after the resignation of Democratic incumbent Sami Scheetz following his appointment to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. District 78 is located entirely within Linn County, representing a portion of Cedar Rapids.

On April 8, 2025, governor Kim Reynolds issued the writs of election, scheduling the special election for April 29. Candidates had until April 15 to file for election. No primaries are held for state legislative special elections in Iowa, so political parties must nominate candidates by convention. Independent candidates may petition to be placed on the ballot by collecting signatures.

Previous results (2022–present)

Results before the 2020 redistricting cycle are not included as the current 78th district does not contain any of the old 78th district.

Candidates

• Bernie Hayes, retired engineer, nominee for Iowa Senate District 33 in 2018, nominee for Iowa Senate District 39 in 2022 (Republican)^[17]
• Angel Ramirez, activist (Democratic)^[18]

Results

Decision Desk HQ called the election for Democrat Angel Ramirez after all precincts reported.^[19]

Iowa Senate District 1 special election

Rocky De Witt, the Republican incumbent senator from Iowa's 1st Senate district died of pancreatic cancer on June 25, 2025.^[20] The election took place on August 26, 2025.^[21] The Democratic Party nominated Catelin Drey.^[22] The Republican Party nominated Christopher Prosch.^[23] Drey won the election by 10 points, flipping the seat and ending the Republicans' supermajority in the Iowa Senate.

Iowa House of Representatives District 7 special election

Mike Sexton, the Republican incumbent senator from Iowa's 7th House of Representatives district resigned September 19, 2025, after being appointed Iowa state director for USDA Rural Development.^[24] The election took place on December 9, 2025. The Democratic Party nominated Rachel Burns. The Republican Party nominated Wendy Larson.^[25] Larson won the election by 40 points, less than 51 point margin by Republican nominee Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.^[26]

Results

Iowa Senate District 16 special election

Incumbent Democratic senator Claire Celsi was re-elected state senator in 2024 with 69.5 percent of the vote. She died on October 6, 2025. Subsequently, a special election will be held on December 30, 2025 to elect a new member for District 35 in the Iowa Senate, representing part of Dallas and Polk counties. Democrats nominated Renee Hardman while Republicans nominated Lucas Lifton. Hardman won the election by 43 points, more than 17 point margin by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.^[28]

Candidates

• Renee Hardman, CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa and West Des Moines city councilmember (Democratic)
• Lucas Loftin, software manager (Republican)

Results

Local elections

The filing period for municipal offices is August 11, 2025, to August 28, 2025 for cities with primary elections. Such primary elections will be held October 7, 2025. All other cities and school boards have a filing period of August 25, 2025, to September 18, 2025. The regularly scheduled election will be November 4, 2025. In the event a municipal election requires a runoff, the runoff will be held on December 2, 2025.^[1]

References

1. ^ "State of Iowa Election Calendar". Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
2. ^ "69.14 Special election to fill vacancies.". Iowa Code. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
3. ^ Opsahl, Robin (16 December 2024). "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor". Iowa Capitol Dispatch. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
4. ^ Opsahl, Robin (29 January 2025). "Democrat Mike Zimmer wins Iowa Senate special election". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
5. ^ "Democrat Appears to Flip Iowa State Senate Seat in a Boost for the Party". 2025-01-29. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
6. ^ "Democrats flip Iowa state Senate seat". The Hill
7. ^ "Republicans lose Iowa election in district Trump won by 21 points". Newsweek. 2025-01-29. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
8. ^ "Iowa state legislative special elections, 2025". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
9. ^ "Pivot Counties in Iowa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
10. ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (January 28, 2025). "Republican Iowa state Rep. Martin Graber dies unexpectedly at 72". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
11. ^ "Republican Candidate Blaine Watkins". Lee County GOP. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
12. ^ Vandenberg, Chuck (13 February 2025). "Watkins wins GOP nod for 100th District". Pen City Current. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
13. ^ Kloepper, Vicky (15 February 2025). "Republican special election candidate nominated". Daily Gate City. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
14. ^ "It's official. Nannette Griffin is the Democratic candidate for House District 100. Get involved in whatever way you are able. Talk to your friends and family. Knock doors with Nannette if you can, or drive someone while they knock. Let's win it.". Facebook. Lee County Democrats. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
15. ^ "IA 2022 State House". Dave's Redistricting. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
16. ^ "Iowa House of Representatives District 78". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
17. ^ Nieland, Grace (15 April 2025). "Republican Bernie Hayes to run in House District 78 special election". The Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
18. ^ Nieland, Grace (14 April 2025). "Democrat Angel Ramirez to run in House District 78 special election". The Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
19. ^ "Iowa State House 78 Special Election General". Decision Desk HQ. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
20. ^ Breen, Matt (June 26, 2024). "Iowa State Senator Rocky De Witt dies after battle with pancreatic cancer". KTIV. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
21. ^ https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/your-local-election-hq/reynolds-sets-date-to-elect-new-state-senator/
22. ^ Ewertz, Maren (July 9, 2025). "Woodbury County Democrats announce candidate for Iowa Senate District 1 special election". KCAU-TV. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
23. ^ Irvine, Brandon (July 8, 2025). "GOP nominates candidate for Iowa State Senate District 1 special election". KTIV. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
24. ^ "Iowa representative Mike Sexton resigns, takes role with President Trump". KWWL. September 19, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
25. ^ "Candidate List - December 9, 2025 Special Election". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
26. ^ "Special Election - House District 7". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
27. ^ "State Representative District 7 To Fill a Vacancy". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
28. ^ "State Senate District 16 To Fill a Vacancy". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 10 December 2025.

See also

• 2025 United States state legislative special elections