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Campaign Almanac: Iowa Democrat ending congressional bid to run for state auditor
Also, Shannon Lundgren halts bid for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat
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Democrat Taylor Wettach is dropping his bid for Congress in southeastern Iowa to instead run for state auditor — a move that gives Iowa Democrats a candidate in an open-seat race for the only statewide elected office the party currently holds.
Wettach, a trade and national security attorney from Muscatine, announced Monday that he is seeking the state auditor’s office, pitching himself as an independent watchdog focused on accountability, transparency and protecting taxpayers.
“I’m running because public office should be about service and responsibility — not power and self-protection,” Wettach said in a campaign release. “The State Auditor is supposed to serve as an independent watchdog for the people, regardless of who is in power — not a lapdog for corrupt politicians. I’m running to protect taxpayers, not politicians, and to make sure Iowa has an auditor who tells the truth, follows the money, and stands up to power.”
The announcement comes as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and legislative Republicans have moved to limit the authority of the auditor’s office, currently held by Democrat Rob Sand, who is running for governor in 2026.
With Sand running to seek the governor’s office, the auditor’s seat will be open in 2026.
Republican Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer is seeking her party's nomination for state auditor and has been backed by Reynolds, who is not seeking re-election. Cournoyer faces a primary challenge from Iowa County supervisor Abigail Maas, who is also seeking the GOP nomination for state auditor.
Wettach framed his candidacy as a response to those efforts, arguing that recent moves have weakened independent oversight of state government. He said his legal work analyzing complex records and evidence has prepared him to conduct audits and investigations that can withstand legal scrutiny — ensuring oversight is driven by facts, not politics, and that misuse of taxpayer dollars leads to real accountability.
The race has already drawn prominent Democratic support. Former Iowa Gov. and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and longtime former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller both endorsed Wettach.
“Iowans work hard for every dollar they send to the government, and they deserve to know those dollars are being spent honestly, responsibly, and in the public interest,” Vilsack said in a statement released by Wettach’s campaign. “The State Auditor plays a critical role in safeguarding that trust, and Taylor Wettach has the integrity, experience and commitment to stewardship that the office demands.”
Miller said Wettach’s legal background makes him well suited for the job, noting that effective audits depend on careful evaluation of evidence and investigations that can hold up in court — not politics — to ensure public dollars are spent honestly and in the public interest.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said she has been impressed with Wettach’s integrity and commitment to public service, and said Iowa needs a state auditor who will put taxpayers first and refuse to let politicians operate without oversight.
Wettach’s pivot reshapes the Democratic primary in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. His exit largely clears the field for Christina Bohannan, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for a third time in the competitive district. Bohannan is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, with national Democrats again targeting the seat. Bohannan faces a primary challenge from Travis Terrell, a health care worker from Tiffin.
Fundraising reports from the third quarter of 2025 show Bohannan outpacing her rivals, raising $1.06 million. Wettach reported $429,099, while Terrell raised $12,940.
Wettach said his new campaign is not about party labels but about restoring trust in government at a time when Iowans are facing rising costs and increased scrutiny of how public dollars are spent.
Lundgren suspends congressional bid; will seek re-election to Iowa House
Republican state Rep. Shannon Lundgren announced Monday that she is suspending her campaign for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd District and will instead seek re-election to her Iowa House seat.
Lundgren, a fifth-term lawmaker from Peosta, said she decided to step away from the congressional race after discussions with her family and plans to focus on her work in the Legislature and a bid to retain her House District 65 seat.
“Serving the people of Dubuque County in the Iowa House has been the honor of my lifetime,” Lundgren said in a statement. “I remain deeply committed to fighting for Iowa values — strong families, small businesses, fiscal responsibility, and putting Iowa first — at the state level where I can continue delivering real results for our communities right here at home.”
Lundgren launched her congressional campaign in September, pitching herself as an “America First” conservative aligned with President Donald Trump. She said ongoing challenges facing Iowa families convinced her that her experience is most needed in Des Moines, where she serves on the Ways and Means, Commerce and State Government committees.
She thanked supporters, volunteers and donors for backing her congressional bid, and said she plans to continue her work championing legislation on economic growth, health care access, public safety, lowering energy costs and supporting working families.
Her exit largely clears the field for former state lawmaker and Trump administration appointee Joe Mitchell, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which is open after Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson launched a campaign for U.S. Senate.
Mitchell, who faces a primary challenge from Republican state Sen. Charlie McClintock, of Alburnett, has emerged as an early front-runner in the Republican primary.
Mitchell praised Lundgren’s service, calling her a longtime friend with a strong record in her community, and said he is focused on uniting Republicans and building support across northeast Iowa.
The former state legislator from Clear Lake entered the race in September after Hinson announced her Senate bid and has since posted strong fundraising numbers, reporting more than $700,000 raised by the end of 2025 and nearly $600,000 cash on hand, along with endorsements from national GOP leaders including U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Turning Point Action, the political arm of the conservative advocacy group founded by the late Charlie Kirk, also has endorsed Mitchell in the Republican primary.
Kirk, a well-known national figure in conservative politics, was shot to death last year at Utah Valley University. Mitchell worked with Kirk to start RunGenZ, an organization that recruits and trains conservatives to run for public office.
Democrats in the race are state Rep. Lindsay James of Dubuque, former nursing dean Kathy Dolter of Asbury, Cedar Rapids nonprofit cofounder Clint Twedt-Ball, Boone hotel manager Guy Morgan and former state park manager Don Primus of Steamboat Rock.
Konfrst suspends campaign for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights, announced Monday she is suspending her campaign for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, saying she plans to continue serving in the Iowa Legislature.
In a statement, Konfrst praised her campaign staff, volunteers and supporters.
“I’m deeply proud of the campaign we’ve run, and I’m looking forward to serving in the Iowa legislature and working for my constituents,” she said.
In her statement, Konfrst said her broader political focus remains on making Iowa “a kinder place to live and raise a family,” where working-class Iowans are not “crushed by costs” and young people can build a future in the state.
She sharply criticized President Donald Trump and Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, accusing them of fueling chaos, rising costs and corruption, and said Democrats must win control of the U.S. House and Senate in November to counter those policies.
As she steps back from the race, Konfrst said she will remain active in Democratic efforts statewide and endorsed state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, as the party’s nominee to challenge Nunn in the general election, saying she looks forward to being represented by a Democrat in Congress next year.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig to run for a third term
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Monday that he will run for a third term in office, vowing to continue growing markets for Iowa farmers and expanding conservation efforts, as two Democrats have mounted campaigns for the seat earlier this month.
Naig, who was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, said he has spent his time in office expanding access to E15 fuel, creating the Choose Iowa Program and securing investments for water quality funding.
“As Secretary of Agriculture, my focus has always been on delivering results for Iowa,” Naig said in a statement Monday. “We’ve grown markets for Iowa products, saved families money at the gas pump, expanded conservation efforts across the state, and protected the livelihoods of those who feed and fuel consumers at home and around the world. There’s more work to do, and that’s why I’m running: to keep Iowa growing.”
Naig previously served as deputy secretary of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. If reelected, Naig said he would grow Iowa’s economy by “cutting red tape” and focusing on fiscal responsibility.
In January, clean water advocate and author Chris Jones announced he is seeking the Democratic nomination in the race with a campaign focused on improving Iowa’s water quality, arguing the state’s agriculture system has led to widespread pollution. Wade Dooley, a crop management business owner and farmer of Marshalltown, is also running as a Democrat.
The primary election is June 2 and the General Election is Nov. 3.
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
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