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Campaign Almanac: Nathan Sage goes on TV in Iowa Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary
Also in the almanac, another U.S. House leader endorses Chris McGowan in western Iowa Republican congressional primary
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DES MOINES — Nathan Sage’s campaign for U.S. Senate is headed to Iowa’s airwaves, his campaign says.
The Democrat’s first television campaign ad will air on New Year’s Eve during the Iowa Hawkeyes football team’s appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
The game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 31 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Sage, who is a former sports radio host, chose to air his first TV ad during the bowl game to introduce himself to voters who may not otherwise be paying attention to politics, his campaign said.
In the ad, titled “Football,” Sage is shown speaking into a studio microphone and describing himself as someone who doesn’t look, think or talk like a politician. Sage says in the ad that only 2 percent of Congress comes from the working class, and that “it’s time for change.”
Sage says Congress should “block bad trade deals, stop the run of corporate greed, and put some points on the board for Iowa farmers and small businesses.”
Sage is one of four Demorats seeking the party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election. The other Democrats running are state legislators Zach Wahls of Coralville and Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, and veterans advocate Bob Krause of Burlington.
Two Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination: Eastern Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion and former state legislator Jim Carlin of Sioux City.
Iowa’s 2026 U.S. Senate election is an open-seat campaign; Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced earlier this year that she will not seek a third, six-year term.
State Rep. Dean Fisher endorses Adam Steen for Iowa governor
State Rep. Dean Fisher, R-Montour, has endorsed Adam Steen in the race for Iowa governor, citing Steen’s conservative values and experience in state government.
“I am endorsing Adam Steen because he has good, strong conservative and Christian values that are in complete alignment with Iowa values,” Fisher said in a statement released by Steen’s campaign. “He also has strong state management experience in his role as the Director of Administrative Services, and he is fully equipped to be our next governor.”
Steen, a former state agency director from Runnells, thanked Fisher for the support and praised his record in the Legislature.
“Dean has been a consistent conservative voice for Iowa families and taxpayers, and I’m grateful for his confidence as we work to lead Iowa with purpose, integrity, and common sense,” Steen said in a statement.
His campaign said the endorsement adds to growing support from conservative leaders and grassroots activists as he seeks the Republican nomination for governor.
Steen is one of five Republicans running for the 2026 GOP nomination. The others are western Iowa U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra of Hull, state legislator Eddie Andrews of Johnston, business owner Zach Lahn of Belle Plaine, and pastor and former state legislator Brad Sherman of Williamsburg.
Iowa will elect a new governor next year after Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has held the post since 2017, announced she will not seek another four-year term.
U.S. House majority leader endorses Chris McGowan in 4th District GOP primary
Chris McGowan’s campaign in western Iowa’s 4th Congressional District has been endorsed by U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the McGowan campaign said.
McGowan, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president from Sioux City, is one of five Republicans seeking the party’s nomination in next year’s open-seat election. He previously was endorsed by U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
“Chris McGowan has spent decades advocating for his community,” Scalise said in a McGowan campaign press release. “He’s a veteran and a business leader who understands what Iowa’s farmers, job creators, and working families need. Chris will be an effective advocate for Iowa’s 4th District, our veterans, and our farmers — and a strong supporter of the America First agenda in Congress.”
Also running as Republicans in Iowa’s 4th District are 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.
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is running for Iowa governor.
Three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination in the heavily conservative congressional district.
Council Bluffs mayor-elect endorses Trone Garriott in 3rd District primary
Incoming Council Bluffs Mayor Jill Shudak has endorsed state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, of West Des Moines, in the Democratic primary for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, calling her the strongest candidate to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn.
“As we just proved in Council Bluffs, Democrats can win tough, competitive races when we show up, listen, and earn trust beyond the usual political lines,” Shudak said in a statement announcing the endorsement. “Sarah Trone Garriott has done that again and again, winning the kinds of hard races it takes to build a majority. If we’re serious about changing the direction of Washington and electing a champion who will work to lower costs for Iowa families, we need to unite behind a proven candidate, and that’s Sarah.”
Trone Garriott, in a statement, said she was honored to have Shudak’s support, and she is “building a coalition to defeat Zach Nunn and deliver real results for Iowa families by lowering costs, protecting affordable health care, and creating good-paying jobs.”
An ordained Lutheran minister, Trone Garriott flipped a Republican-held Iowa Senate seat in 2020 and in 2022 defeated then-Senate President Jake Chapman to represent Senate District 14 after redistricting. Last fall, she narrowly won re-election by 29 votes (out of roughly 41,000 cast) against Republican challenger Mark Hanson, of Waukee, after a recount in the Dallas County district.
The endorsement adds to Trone Garriott’s momentum as Democrats look to reclaim the competitive 3rd District seat, which covers 21 counties in the south-central and central parts of the state, including Des Moines and its suburbs.
Iowa state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights and Xavier Carrigan of Waukee also are running for the Democratic nomination.
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