Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot will not run for governor, seeking new state Senate seat instead

DES MOINES — Republican Iowa state Sen. Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny, is dropping his exploratory campaign for governor and will instead run for a different seat in the state Senate, the lawmaker announced Wednesday morning.

Bousselot, who was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 2021, initially launched an exploratory bid for next year’s Iowa gubernatorial election after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April that she would not run for reelection. He was one of many Iowa Republicans who considered running for the office.

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However, on Wednesday, Bousselot announced that he had decided to run again for a seat in the Iowa Legislature after spending the last few months visiting counties and speaking with Iowans.

"I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and encouragement from Iowans regarding my potential campaign for governor,” Bousselot said in a statement. “Ultimately, after prayer and reflection with my family, it is not the right time for me to pursue a run for governor.

Bousselot has represented Senate District 21 since 2023 after serving one term in the Iowa House. He is now running for Iowa Senate District 23, currently held by former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, which covers Bondurant, Runnells, Mitchellville, Grimes and Polk City.

In September, Whitver, who has been battling a brain tumor since 2024, stepped down from his leadership position and said he would not seek reelection in 2026 when his seat will be up for election. Republican Iowa Senate lawmakers chose Sen. Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, to take over the leadership position later that month.

Whitver expressed his support for Bousselot’s run in a statement Wednesday.

“I am proud to support Mike Bousselot. He is a humble, hard-working legislator who listens to his constituents and serves his district and the state well,” Whitver said.

A spokesperson for the Iowa Senate GOP Caucus confirmed that Bousselot will move to Senate District 23 from his current home in Ankeny to run for the seat.

The remaining Republicans in the gubernatorial race are Iowa U.S. Rep Randy Feenstra of Hull, state lawmaker Eddie Andrews of Johnston, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen of Runnells, business owner Zach Lahn of Belle Plaine and pastor Brad Sherman of Williamsburg.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand and political consultant Julie Stauch of West Des Moines are seeking the Democratic nomination in the race.