Campaign Almanac: House GOP launches ad campaign hitting Democrats over shutdown

House Republicans’ campaign arm launched a paid advertising campaign hitting Democrats over the government shutdown in 42 competitive House seats — including two in Iowa — hours after the federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on Wednesday.

The National Republican Congressional Committee released a 30-second spot in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, where Republican incumbent U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn are running for re-election in closely watched competitive races in 2026.

Republicans accuse Democrats of “grinding America to a halt in order to give illegal immigrants free health care.”

“Democrats refused to fund the government. So now military troops, police and Border Patrol lose their paychecks. Because of Democrats, veterans, farmers, small businesses lose critical funding. Disaster relief, cut off,” the NRCC ad states. “Democrats are grinding America to a halt in order to give illegal immigrants free health care. Tell Democrats: Stop the shutdown.”

NRCC Spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said in a statement Miller-Meeks, Nunn and Republicans “are focused on keeping the government working for Iowans.”

“The contrast couldn’t be clearer, and Iowans know they have a fighter with Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn,” she said.

Democrats counter that Republicans walked away from negotiations and are risking steep health care cost hikes for thousands of Iowans.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) cast blame on Republicans in a statement on Wednesday.

“Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn helped House Republicans barrel the nation towards a shutdown because they decided that averting skyrocketing health care costs for millions of Americans wasn’t worth their time,” DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith said in a statement.

The messaging underscores how national Republicans plan to use the shutdown fight to put pressure on Democrats in competitive races, particularly in battleground districts like Iowa’s 1st and 3rd.

Lundgren launches campaign with wave of GOP endorsements

Seventeen current and former Republican state legislators are backing state Rep. Shannon Lundgren in her bid for Congress.

The endorsements, announced Tuesday, highlight Lundgren’s early show of support among GOP colleagues as she competes in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2026 to succeed retiring Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not seeking re-election.

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Lundgren is seeking the Republican nomination for Iowa’s open 2nd District U.S. House seat in 2026. The district covers much of northeast Iowa.

A Peosta Republican who chairs the Iowa House Commerce Committee, Lundgren has branded herself an “America First Mom and Grandma” and emphasizes her longtime support for President Donald Trump.

Among those endorsing Lundgren are Iowa House Speaker Pro Tempore John Wills, state Sen. Dan Zumbach of Ryan, former Congressman and current Rep. David Young of Van Meter, and state Rep. Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs. Several lawmakers cited her record of backing farmers, small businesses, veterans, law enforcement and conservative cultural priorities.

“Shannon has the strength and determination to deliver real results that safeguard our American values,” Wills said in a statement. Zumbach called her a proven advocate for rural Iowa, while Young said her experience as a legislator and small-business owner make her “the right choice” to represent the district.

Lundgren has served in the Iowa House since 2017. She and her husband own and operate Trackside Bar & Grill in Peosta. In the Legislature, she has supported tax cuts, deregulation measures, “Back the Blue” laws increasing penalties for rioting, and bills restricting transgender participation in girls’ sports and barring transgender people from using school restrooms and changing rooms that do not correspond to their sex assigned at birth.

Lundgren is among four Republicans vying for their party’s nomination to fill the open Northeast Iowa seat in 2026. Former Iowa U.S. Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque, State Sen. Charlie McClintock of Alburnett and former state lawmaker Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake also are competing for the GOP nomination.

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Hawkeye Area Labor Council announces Cedar Rapids endorsements

The Hawkeye Area Labor Council AFL-CIO has endorsed a slate of candidates in Cedar Rapids’ upcoming city and school elections, as well as backing the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s 2025 bond referendum.

The labor council announced support for Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell’s re-election campaign and incumbent Cedar Rapids Council Members Ashley Vanorny (District 5), Dale Todd (District 3), Marty Hoeger (District 1) and Tyler Olson (at-large).

In school board contests, the group endorsed Mimi Daoud (District 2) and Jennifer Borcherding (District 3) for the Cedar Rapids school board and Angelica Vannatta for the Marion school board.

The endorsements were approved by a two-thirds vote of the council’s executive board and delegate body, according to the organization.

The Hawkeye Area Labor Council represents 85 affiliated unions across 26 counties in eastern and northern Iowa. As the official regional body of the national AFL-CIO, it advocates for legislation and policies it says advance social and economic justice for working families.

A full list of endorsements can be found at hawkeyearealaborcouncil.com.