Campaign Almanac: Iowa’s first openly transgender lawmaker announces 2026 re-election campaign

Iowa’s first openly transgender state lawmaker, Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, announced she will seek re-election in 2026, pledging to “bring new friends with me to Des Moines” as she called for change in state leadership.

Wichtendahl, a Democrat from Hiawatha representing Iowa House District 80, made the announcement Thursday at her second annual “Pizza Summit” event alongside Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, who is running for Congress in northeast Iowa’s 2nd District.

“Imagine if we had a government that was interested in solving actual problems instead of playing culture warrior by targeting the trans community,” Wichtendahl said in her remarks. “Iowa wouldn’t have the worst economy in the nation, a $900 million budget shortfall and rising cancer rates. 2026 is a time for change and I'm going to bring new friends with me to Des Moines.”

James praised Wichtendahl for her candor and courage, saying, “The one thing I love about Aime is she isn’t afraid to speak truth to power.”

Elected in 2024, Wichtendahl made history as the first transgender person to serve in the Iowa Legislature after defeating Republican John Thompson. During her first term, she has served on the Economic Growth and Technology, Local Government, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means committees.

Among her legislative efforts, Wichtendahl helped pass HF 969 to expand cancer coverage for Iowa firefighters. She has also drawn statewide attention for her emotional testimony earlier this year opposing a law that removed gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act — recalling how such protections once kept her from being evicted after she transitioned.

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Wichtendahl, a former Hiawatha City Council member, has continued to use her platform to criticize what she describes as “culture war politics” and to defend programs such as IPERS and the Affordable Care Act from proposed cuts.

Iowa House District 80 covers Hiawatha, Robins and northeast Cedar Rapids.

The 2026 general election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.

Linn County Democrats announce keynote speaker

The Linn County Democrats will host their annual Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4640 North River Blvd. NE in Cedar Rapids. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., with dinner and the program at 6 p.m.

The keynote speaker is Jess Piper, known as the “Dirt Road Democrat.” Piper, a former American literature teacher, ran as a Democrat in one of Missouri’s reddest districts — Missouri House District 1 — in 2022. While she did not win, her campaign built a blueprint for organizing progressive voters in rural America, according to Linn County Democrats.

Today she serves as executive director of Blue Missouri, an organization that supports down-ballot progressive candidates and works to rebuild Democratic infrastructure in rural communities. Her focus is on rural schools, health care access, job creation and rebuilding civic engagement in places that many national campaigns overlook. She argues that the path to Democratic success includes showing up, listening to rural communities, and offering solutions that reflect their priorities.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are Mary Burke, Catherine Deshaise Crist, Shawn Gallagher and Roy Porterfield, recognized by organizers for contributions ranging from party-building and campaign work to union leadership, board service and community volunteerism.

Tickets can be reserved online at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2025hof or by contacting Sarah at linncountydemocratsia@gmail.com.