Iowa Voters Pick Governor, Senator on Election Day
Iowa voters head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to choose a governor, U.S. senator, 4th District representative, and county supervisors.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
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Iowa voters will choose a new governor, U.S. senator, 4th Congressional District representative, and Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors members on November 3, 2026. Candidates from both parties campaigned in Council Bluffs in the days before the vote.
Why it matters
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April 2025 that she would not seek reelection, opening the governor's seat and shaping the state's election season. The outcome will determine who leads Iowa's executive office and represents the state in the U.S. Senate.
Four contests are on Iowa's ballot: governor, U.S. senator, the 4th Congressional District seat, and Pottawattamie County supervisors. Results will not be known until ballots are counted after polls close on Election Day.
The players
Kim Reynolds
Kim Reynolds is the Republican governor of Iowa who announced in April 2025 that she would not seek reelection, opening the governor's race.
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz is the Republican U.S. senator from Texas who campaigned alongside Ashley Hinson in Council Bluffs five days before Election Day.
Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear is the Democratic governor of Kentucky who joined Iowa Democrats in Council Bluffs on the Sunday before the election.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, who held a rally in Dubuque on the Sunday before Election Day.
The details
The Nonpareil is providing live coverage starting when polls open and continuing until ballots are counted. Democratic candidates, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former Sen. Tom Harkin, toured Council Bluffs on Sunday, while Republican candidates visited the city on the Thursday before Election Day.
Timeline
April 2025: Reynolds announced she would not seek reelection.
Thursday before Election Day: Republican candidates toured Council Bluffs.
Sunday before Election Day: Democratic candidates toured Council Bluffs, and President Donald Trump held a rally in Dubuque.
Five days before Election Day: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joined Ashley Hinson in Council Bluffs.
November 3, 2026: Election Day.
Political Context
The open governor's seat follows Reynolds's April 2025 announcement that she would not seek reelection, which set the state's 2026 contests in motion. Opposition parties have campaigned across Council Bluffs and Dubuque to contest the seats the outcome will decide.
Voters across Iowa will decide who serves as governor and U.S. senator for the state, and residents of the 4th Congressional District will choose their representative. Pottawattamie County voters will also elect members of the Board of Supervisors, who make county-level decisions.
The takeaway
Iowa voters have several races to weigh on November 3, and the open governor's seat makes this cycle particularly consequential. Checking your county's sample ballot before Election Day can help you see every contest you will vote on.
What happens next
Polls open on November 3, 2026, and results will be reported as ballots are counted that evening.
Further reading
For broader coverage of the races, see Elections on the politics desk.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Nonpareil.
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