Campaign Almanac: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson endorses Miller-Meeks’ re-election bid

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson threw his support behind Republican Iowa U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in Iowa’s competitive 1st Congressional District.

In a statement on Wednesday, Johnson praised Miller-Meeks, including her time serving in the U.S. Army, which he said she has used to “champion conservative solutions and lead efforts to support our troops, veterans, and law enforcement.”

“Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is an America First patriot who has helped deliver working families tax cuts, a secure border, American energy dominance, and peace through strength for families across Iowa and our nation,” Johnson said in the statement. “I am proud to ENDORSE Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s 1st District, and look forward to working with her to defend and grow our majority and CONTINUE our American comeback!”

Johnson’s backing of Miller-Meeks follows President Donald Trump's endorsement of the congresswoman earlier this month in an election that many political forecasters, including The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Inside Elections predict will be a “toss-up.”

“I’m honored to have the support of Speaker Mike Johnson,” Miller-Meeks said in a statement. “Together, we’ve secured the border, delivered historic tax cuts for working and middle-class Iowans, and are fighting to lower the cost of living. We’ll NEVER stop putting Iowa families first and defending the values that make our country the greatest on earth.”

Miller-Meeks faces a potential primary challenge from Davenport Republican and Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast founder David Pautsch, who garnered 44 percent of the GOP primary vote when he ran against her in 2024.

Democrat Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor and former state lawmaker, is running against Miller-Meeks for the third time after losing to the congresswoman by fewer than 800 votes in 2024. Other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination are lawyer Taylor Wettach of Muscatine and Travis Terrell, a health care worker from Tiffin.

Jason Kander, Iowa union back Wahls’ U.S. Senate bid

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Former Missouri Secretary of State and Afghanistan War veteran Jason Kander and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1846 have endorsed Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls in his campaign for the U.S. Senate, adding to the Democrat’s growing list of labor and national supporters.

Kander, a leading advocate for veterans’ mental health and democracy reform, praised Wahls as “authentic, relentless, candid, and disciplined,” saying he has “the backbone to win” in a red-leaning state and calling him “the future of the Democratic Party.”

Wahls, in a statement, said he was honored to receive Kander’s support, adding that his “courage and integrity have inspired an entire generation of public servants.”

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UFCW Local 1846, which represents grocery, meatpacking, pharmacy, and food processing workers, cited Wahls’ record of standing “shoulder-to-shoulder with working people” in its endorsement.

“He’s fought to raise wages, lower costs, and protect our benefits — and he’s not afraid to take on the corporate special interests that put profits ahead of people,” Roger Kail, president of UFCW Local 1846, said in a statement released by Wahls’ campaign. “Zach understands that when workers do better, Iowa does better, and that’s why our members are proud to stand with him in this race for the U.S. Senate.”

Wahls, in a statement, praised UFCW members for keeping Iowa’s economy running.

“In the U.S. Senate, I’ll fight to make sure Iowa’s workers finally get the fair deal they deserve,” he said.

Wahls’ campaign has now been endorsed by a growing list of Iowa labor organizations, along with local leaders and community advocates across the state.

A state legislator from Coralville, Wahls is one of four Democrats seeking their party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election. The other Democrats running are Council Bluffs state legislator Josh Turek, former Chamber of Commerce leader Nathan Sage of Indianola, and veterans advocate and former state legislator Bob Krause.

Eastern Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Sioux City lawyer and former state legislator Jim Carlin are running for the Republican nomination.

Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election is open after Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst this year announced she will not seek re-election to a third, six-year term.

Hinson touts 99-county team

Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s campaign for U.S. Senate released its list of county chairs in all of Iowa’s 99 counties on Tuesday, touting the lineup as evidence of broad grassroots support across the state.

The list includes current and former lawmakers, county officials, veterans, farmers and community leaders.

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“We are building a historic grassroots movement on Team Hinson — our team is made up of moms, veterans and farmers who want to see Washington run a whole lot more like the great state of Iowa,” Hinson said in a statement. She added that she’ll continue traveling to all 99 counties to promote her agenda focused on cutting taxes, making child care and housing more affordable, supporting veterans, and strengthening Iowa agriculture.

Former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill endorses McGowan for Congress

Robert O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL who claims to have fired the shots that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is endorsing Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan’s run for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.

“The McGowan family has demonstrated a generational commitment to service in the military that is quite rare today,” O’Neill said in a statement Wednesday. “I have every confidence that he will be a tireless and effective advocate for our veterans, as well as the men and women who are presently serving in uniform.”

McGowan of Sioux City served in the Iowa Air National Guard and has five children who have all pursued paths that include service in the armed forces. His father also served with the Iowa Air National Guard in Vietnam.

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“I want to thank former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill for his countless and courageous sacrifices in defense of freedom around the globe,” McGowan said in a statement. “Few have been asked to answer the call as he has, day-in and day-out for 17 years as one of our nation's elite combat warriors.”

Other candidates seeking the Republican nomination in Iowa’s reddest congressional district include former Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, Iowa Tea Party founder Ryan Rhodes of Ames, Christian Schlaefer of Kossuth County and Air Force combat veteran Douglas Jensen of Silver City.

Former Democratic State Rep. Dave Dawson of Lawton, Storm Lake stay-at-home mom and former education assistant Ashley WolfTornabane, and Sutherland nurse Stephanie Steiner are running as Democrats.

Iowa City state lawmaker Adam Zabner launches re-election bid

Democratic state Rep. Adam Zabner announced he will seek re-election to Iowa’s 90th House District seat, pledging to continue fighting for progressive priorities such as lowering costs, strengthening public schools and expanding access to health care.

Zabner, the son of Venezuelan immigrants and a lifelong Iowa City resident, was first elected in 2022. He has championed voting rights, disability access and public health.

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Last year, Zabner successfully pressured the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to comply with the federal National Voter Registration Act, after he discovered the state’s Medicaid application only included a printed web link to a registration form buried on page 16 of a 27-page packet. Following months of advocacy, HHS began including a full voter registration form in August 2024 — a change that has led to a tenfold increase in Medicaid-based voter registrations, according to Zabner.

In a September op-ed for The Gazette, Zabner noted that “over 3,000 more people were registered through the program since the change was made”

Zabner also authored bipartisan legislation signed into law in 2024 requiring the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to evaluate and improve accessibility for people with disabilities at state parks. The law directed the DNR to publish accessibility information online and provided $250,000 to upgrade park infrastructure.

“Our state is headed in the wrong direction, now more than ever, Iowa City deserves a fighter in Des Moines,” Zabner said in his re-election statement. “ … We have a chance to turn this state around in 2026 and deliver lower costs, stronger public schools, and better health care for Iowans.”

The district represents north Iowa City.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau