Willems and Bird Will Face Iowa Attorney General Race

Candidates Nate Willems and Brenna Bird are vying for the Iowa Attorney General seat in the upcoming election.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Willems and Bird Will Face Iowa Attorney General Race

Live Poll

Should the Iowa Attorney General focus more on challenging corporations or local law enforcement support?

Nate Willems and Republican incumbent Brenna Bird will compete for the Iowa Attorney General position on November 3, 2026. The race centers on differing approaches to corporate oversight and law enforcement strategies.

Why it matters

The election will determine the state's direction on consumer protection and the management of high-profile legal settlements. The next attorney general will oversee offices currently tasked with balancing corporate litigation and public safety initiatives.

The attorney general's office recently secured $126 million for Iowa as part of a $135 million settlement with Meta regarding teen Instagram accounts. Additionally, the office has managed a consumer protection division development spanning 40 years across all 99 counties.

The players

Nate Willems

He is an attorney and partner at the law firm Rush & Nicholson who previously served as a lawmaker in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Brenna Bird

She is the Republican incumbent currently serving as the Attorney General of Iowa.

The details

Incumbent Brenna Bird has focused on the establishment of a cold case unit and plans for a special victims unit, while challenger Nate Willems emphasizes his background as a former state lawmaker and attorney. Both candidates are campaigning on strategies to address violent crime through support for local law enforcement and continued oversight of major corporations.

The election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
The article was published on September 30, 2026.

Legal Context

The race highlights a broader trend of state-level attorneys general aggressively pursuing corporate accountability under frameworks like the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. This election marks a potential shift in how the state balances individual consumer protections against major technology firm settlements.

The outcome will dictate state policy on funding for school resource officers and the operation of victim-support units across all 99 counties. Residents can expect the new administration to influence how the state manages future consumer protection lawsuits and public safety programs.

The takeaway

Voters should review each candidate's specific plans for the proposed special victims unit and their track record on corporate oversight. Understanding these positions is essential for evaluating how the Attorney General's office will handle future legal and consumer protection challenges.