Campaign Almanac: Iowa Democrat Wahls announces slate of endorsements for Senate campaign

Zach Wahls’ first batch of nearly 50 endorsements for his U.S. Senate campaign include a former Congressman and Iowa lieutenant governor.

Wahls, a state legislator from Coralville and one of three Democrats seeking the party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election, announced his campaign’s first batch of endorsements Tuesday. They include former Eastern Iowa congressman Dave Loebsack and former Iowa lieutenant governor and agriculture secretary Patty Judge.

Wahls’ campaign said the list of endorsements includes Republicans and no-party voters as well as Democrats.

“Iowans are working hard but aren’t getting ahead, and I’m ready to fight for the change that Iowans need,” Wahls said in a campaign news release. “We need to lower costs and make it easier for folks to get ahead, and I’m proud of the broad coalition we’re building to deliver the change Iowans deserve.”

Also endorsing Wahls were nine current and former state legislators, including Sen. Liz Bennett of Cedar Rapids and former Sen. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha; former presidential candidate and national Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean; and former University of Iowa and professional football player Tim Dwight. The endorsement also included county, city and school board elected officials and union members.

In addition to Wahls, Sioux City state legislator J.D. Scholten and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce leader Nathan Sage are running as Democrats in Iowa’s U.S. Senate election.

Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who is completing her second, six-year term, currently holds the seat. Ernst has not publicly said whether she plans to seek re-election next year, but has hired a campaign manager.

Republican announces run in Iowa-4

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Ames businessman and Iowa Tea Party founder Ryan Rhodes announced his campaign for Congress in Western Iowa’s 4th District on Tuesday.

The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who is campaigning for Iowa governor.

Rhodes becomes the fourth Western Iowa Republican to announce a 4th District campaign, joining Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan, Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, and Humboldt farmer Kyle Larsen.

Rhodes also is the CEO of Parler, a social media platform that has been popular with conservatives.

In a campaign announcement, Rhodes said he is running on a platform of “no compromise on the Second Amendment, ensuring personhood of the unborn, protecting free speech, defending the border, and ending the corporate welfare that shipped American jobs overseas.”

“I’m not a career politician. I’m a businessman and concerned Iowan who has fought all of my life for our values,” Rhodes said in his campaign announcement. “I’m asking you to send me to Congress to drain and then set fire to the Washington swamp.”

Two Democrats have announced campaigns in the conservative-leaning 4th District: Storm Lake stay-at-home mom and former education assistant Ashley WolfTornabane and Sutherland nurse Stephanie Steiner.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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