Primary fields for Iowa congressional seats solidify as candidates enter, leave races

With open seats and competitive races across Iowa’s state and federal offices on the horizon in the 2026 election, campaign announcements — and exits — were announced this week for Iowa’s congressional seats.

One announcement came Tuesday as Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl launched his campaign for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra who is looking at a run for governor. While Windschitl is currently the highest-profile Republican in the race, other Republicans have announced campaigns for the seat in the longtime conservative stronghold, including Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan.

Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, had also announced an exploratory committee for the 4th District seat in May. But on Wednesday, he announced plans to seek reelection to the Iowa Senate instead of pursuing a congressional campaign.

“After visiting with hundreds of Iowans over the past six weeks, and much self-reflection, my passion remains with our work in the Iowa Senate and at the Capitol in Des Moines,” Evans said in a statement. “I remain grateful for this opportunity given to me by my constituents. I intend to earn their continued support between now and next November.”

Evans said he was met with a support and encouragement that was “nothing short of overwhelming” during his time considering a run in the 4th District. However, he said he planned to continue to work on education policy, tax changes and eminent domain as a state legislator instead of running for Congress.

Evans had announced he was considering a run after Feenstra had put his hat into the race to succeed Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor said in April she would not seek reelection in 2026. Reynolds’ announcement came as a surprise to many in Iowa politics, and has already sparked changes among state and federal Republicans holding office.

Nunn mulls gubernatorial bid

Feenstra may not be the only U.S. representative to leave their position to run for governor. The Des Moines Register reported Monday that sources close to U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, is also considering joining the primary race to become Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial nominee.

Nunn had previously stated he does not plan to run for governor. But the Register reported sources close to Nunn say recent announcements in the GOP primary field caused him to reconsider this decision — specifically, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s announcement that she will not run for governor. With longstanding ties to President Donald Trump, Bird was considered a possible top contender in the gubernatorial race. Bird earlier in July she plans to run for a second term as attorney general.

Nunn’s campaign staff did not respond to a request Wednesday for comment on a potential campaign for governor.

In addition to the two U.S. representatives, Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, also has an exploratory committee for a gubernatorial campaign, and Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, and former state Rep. Brad Sherman have officially launched campaigns for governor. Among Democrats, Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and former political operative Julie Stauch have launched campaigns as gubernatorial candidates.

Nunn’s potential run for governor would turn Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District campaign into an open race. The seat is expected to be one of the most competitive U.S. House districts in 2026. Two Democrats, Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, are running for the seat.

New Democrat joins 1st District primary race

Iowa’s 1st Congressional Congressional District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, has also been marked as a potential competitive district in the upcoming election. Over the past few months, several Democrats have announced campaigns to run against Miller-Meeks for the seat, including Democrat Christina Bohannan, who lost to Miller-Meeks by less than 800 votes in 2024, former legislator Bob Krause and Travis Terrell, a patient access specialist at University of Iowa Health Care.

On Tuesday, Taylor Wettach, a lawyer from Muscatine, joined the field. Wettach formerly worked for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, a New York-based law firm, but said he resigned from his job after the firm “caved to Trump’s bullying and cut a deal to do his legal work for free.” The Associated Press reported in April that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP was one of five firms that agreed to provide $125 million in free legal services to avoid executive actions other legal organizations are facing from the Trump administration.

Wettach said quitting his job wasn’t easy, but “real change never comes easy, neither does fighting for what’s right” in a video announcing his run for Congress. If elected, the 34-year-old Democrat said he would work to support public schools, oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare and advocate against trade wars that could impact Iowa businesses and farms.

“We can achieve all of that and send Mariannette Miller-Meeks packing if we’re ready to embrace full change and new leadership,” Wettach said. “I’m committed to building that movement from the ground floor up.”

Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson with the National Republican Congressional Committee, criticized “East Coast Elitist” Wettach for joining the “clown car Democrat primary” in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann also issued a statement opposing Wettach, saying that he and other Democratic candidates will lose to Miller-Meeks in 2026.

“East Coast liberal lawyer Taylor Wettach is the latest out-of-touch Democrat to join the messy primary to decide who’s going to lose to Mariannette Miller-Meeks this time around,” Kaufmann said. “Whether it’s Wettach, two-time loser Christina Bohannan, Bernie Sanders socialist Travis Terrell, or extreme radical Bob Krause who survives, none are a match for America-First fighter Mariannette Miller-Meeks and her strong record of delivering for Iowans. Welcome back to Iowa, Taylor.”