Iowa Candidates Face Survey on Pipeline Eminent Domain
Landowners are pressuring election candidates to define their stances on private property rights and carbon pipelines.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Should the state prohibit the use of eminent domain for private carbon capture pipeline projects?
Iowa landowners recently surveyed candidates running for governor and state legislative seats regarding the use of eminent domain for carbon capture projects. The effort aims to clarify political positions on property rights ahead of the upcoming election.
Why it matters
The survey seeks to hold future officials accountable for their stance on private projects that utilize eminent domain. Voters want to know whether elected leaders will prioritize land protections in future regulatory and legislative sessions.
Out of the candidates contacted, 66 participants responded to the property rights survey. This group includes 28 Democratic and 30 Republican candidates, alongside a smaller contingent of 6 Independents and 2 Libertarians.
The players
Kim Reynolds
She is the current Governor of Iowa who vetoed carbon pipeline restriction legislation in 2025.
Rob Sand
He is a candidate for governor of Iowa who participated in the landowner survey.
Zach Lahn
He is a candidate for governor of Iowa who participated in the landowner survey.
Summit Carbon Solutions
This is a private company that received approval from the Iowa Utilities Commission in 2024 for a carbon capture pipeline project.
Iowa Utilities Commission
This is the regulatory body responsible for approving infrastructure permits and managing utilities oversight in the state.
The details
Landowners distributed a five-question survey to candidates across various levels of government, from county offices to federal legislative seats. The collected responses were published online to inform voters about which candidates oppose or support eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines.
Timeline
In 2024, the Iowa Utilities Commission approved a permit for the Summit Carbon Solutions project.
In 2025, Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed legislation intended to restrict carbon capture pipelines.
On Thursday, October 9, 2026, landowners held a news conference to discuss the survey results.
The Iowa general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Market Landscape
The landowner survey highlights a shift in how agricultural interests engage with state politics to challenge infrastructure-related property seizures. This effort seeks to influence future legislative agendas following the recent 2025 vetoed carbon pipeline restriction legislation.
Voters can review the published survey responses on the project's website to determine where their local candidates stand on property protection issues. These positions may directly influence future land-use laws and the selection of state regulators who oversee private projects.
The takeaway
Landowners are leveraging the electoral process to demand clarity on private property rights as pipeline projects continue to develop. Voters should research candidate stances on eminent domain to understand how upcoming legislative changes could impact their local land usage.
What happens next
The Iowa general election will take place on November 3, 2026, which will determine the leadership responsible for future eminent domain policy and the appointment of utility commissioners.
Further reading
For more context on how energy infrastructure affects land use, read the Iowa Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowacapitaldispatch.
Live Poll
Should the state prohibit the use of eminent domain for private carbon capture pipeline projects?
