Iowa’s 2026 congressional races heat up with millions raised, crowded fields

Iowa’s congressional races are shaping up to be among the nation’s most competitive, as new fundraising reports reveal crowded fields and millions raised over the summer.

Iowa’s incumbent Republicans hold the cash edge heading into 2026, but new reports show Democratic challengers posted strong third-quarter fundraising.

The next congressional election may be a year away, but Iowa’s political money race is already well underway — and it’s setting up rematches, rivalries and open-seat showdowns that will test both parties’ strength in the heartland.

It comes as congressional Republicans gear up for competitive races and push to protect their narrow U.S. House majority against a full-court press from Democrats attacking them over health care costs, the economic fallout of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and cuts to social safety net programs.

Iowa’s 1st Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks raised $806,731 during the third quarter, bringing her total this cycle to $3.46 million. Her campaign reported $2.6 million in cash on hand.

“I’m grateful for the support of so many Iowans,” Miller-Meeks said in a statement. “Together we are delivering the most secure border in our history, historic tax cuts for working and middle class Iowans, protecting Iowa farmland from the Chinese Communist Party, and bringing jobs back where they belong, the heartland.”

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Her campaign touted more than 72,000 individual donations.

Miller-Meeks has survived two close elections and national Democrats have once again targeted Iowa's 1st Congressional District as a potential pickup in the 2026 midterm elections.

The 20-county district includes the cities of Davenport, Iowa City, Burlington and Indianola.

The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Inside Elections all categorize the 1st District race as a “toss-up.”

While Miller-Meeks leads fundraising among Iowa's House incumbents, Democrats believe her slim victory margins in past elections make her vulnerable.

She earned a first term in Congress when she defeated Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in 2020. Last year, she defeated Democrat Christina Bohannan by fewer than 800 votes of about 427,000 cast — less than a quarter of a percentage point.

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Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor and former state representative, is seeking to challenge Miller-Meeks for a third time in what’s expected to be one of the nation’s most expensive and hotly contested House races.

Bohannan reported an even stronger quarter — raising $1.06 million — and ending with $1.6 million cash on hand.

“Thanks to each and every one of you who contributed to our campaign to flip this seat and put Iowa first,” Bohannan said in a statement.

“We’re showing that we can win this race the right way and for the right reasons — with the support of hardworking people who are ready to get costs down, defend the middle class, and actually put Iowa first,” she continued. “And we’re just getting started.”

Fellow Democrat Taylor Wettach, a Muscatine native and lawyer, reported $429,099 raised in his first quarter as a candidate.

“The support we’ve seen tells me people are hungry for something different,” Wettach said in a statement. “Not a dime of our fundraising came from corporate PACs — this campaign is powered by people who want to restore trust in government and end the chaos coming out of Washington.”

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Wettach’s campaign said nearly 80 percent of contributions were amounts less than $200, and two-thirds were under $100, a sign of grassroots enthusiasm. His team said the strong early showing underscores how closely watched Iowa’s 1st District has become and positions Wettach as a competitive challenger to Miller-Meeks heading into 2026.

Travis Terrell, a health care worker from Tiffin, and David Pautsch, a Davenport Republican and founder of the Annual Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast, each raised modest sums.

Pautsch ran against Miller-Meeks in the 2024 Iowa GOP primary, where he took 44 percent of the vote.

Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District

With U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson running for U.S. Senate, the open-seat race for Iowa’s 2nd District is drawing intense interest — and the fundraising numbers reflect it.

Republican Joe Mitchell, a former state representative from Clear Lake, reported $407,555 raised in just three weeks, calling it a “record-breaking quarter for any Iowa nonincumbent congressional campaign.”

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“Make no mistake, the far-Left wants to undo President Trump’s tenure, presidency, and they will use this congressional seat to do it,” Mitchell said in a statement. “We can’t let that happen.”

Fellow Republican Rod Blum, a former congressman from Dubuque who briefly entered the race before suspending his campaign on Monday, reported $250,181 raised — nearly all from a personal loan. Blum maintains fundraising was not a factor in his decision to exit the race.

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“We chose to focus on other priorities in September given my initial seed money contribution, with a plan to begin our fundraising in Q4,” he said in a statement. “I thank all the donors who had pledged their support to our campaign."

State Sen. Charlie McClintock, a Republican from Alburnett, reported $14,307 raised, while state Rep. Shannon Lundgren, a Republican from of Peosta, did not file a report.

Lundgren announced her campaign Sept. 23, just one week before the reporting period ended Sept. 30. If she did not raise or spend at least $5,000 during that time, she was not required to file. Her campaign may have deliberately held off on major fundraising until the start of the fourth quarter.

On the Democratic side, Lindsay James, a state representative from Dubuque, reported $273,649 raised in just six weeks, saying the support shows Iowans are ready for a leader who will tackle housing costs, inflation and affordable health care.

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“This outpouring of support sends a clear message that our campaign has the momentum to win in November,” James said in a statement. “We’re building a well resourced campaign that will listen to voters in every community in the 2nd district and go fight on their behalf in Washington, D.C.”

Clint Twedt-Ball, of Cedar Rapids, a former leader and cofounder of nonprofit Matthew 25, raised $218,815, saying 90 percent of contributions came from Iowans.

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“As I've traveled the district, I've heard from countless Iowans that it's time for new leaders, instead of career politicians, to address the rising costs of health care, housing and other basics,” he said in a statement. “Our campaign is about building a new kind of politics: lighting the way to a stronger, more affordable future for our state.”

Kathy Dolter, of Asbury, a retired Army nurse and former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, raised $39,109, while Guy Morgan, a first-time candidate from Boone, reported $2,413 raised.

Don Primus, of Steamboat Rock, a former Iowa state park manager, did not file a report.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating of Iowa’s 2nd District from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” citing increased Democratic opportunities in the open-seat contest following Hinson’s decision to seek a Senate seat. Analyst Erin Covey wrote that while Hinson built a strong fundraising base and outperformed Donald Trump by six points in 2024, no GOP successor is likely to replicate her personal brand or “prodigious” fundraising — leaving the district more competitive heading into 2026.

The 22-county district includes the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, Decorah, Grinnell and Mason City.

Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, reported raising $524,657 during the third quarter — bringing his total for the election cycle to $2.16 million and leaving him with $1.61 million in cash on hand.

Democratic challengers — Sarah Trone Garriott and Jennifer Konfrst — each posted strong fundraising hauls, signaling a competitive race ahead in the Des Moines-based district.

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Trone Garriott, a state senator from West Des Moines, raised $437,684 in Q3 and now has $598,211 cash on hand, while Konfrst, the Iowa House minority leader, raised $175,556 and ended the quarter with $195,333 in cash.

Xavier Carrigan, a Democrat from Waukee, did not file a report.

The 3rd District, which stretches across central and southern Iowa, has historically been one of the state’s most competitive. Nunn flipped the seat in 2022 after defeating incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne and won re-election narrowly in 2024. Both national parties have already signaled plans to heavily invest in the district again in 2026.

Iowa’s 4th Congressional District

Since U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, launched an exploratory campaign for governor in May after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she will not seek re-election next year, the field of candidates vying for his seat has continued to grow.

The 4th District is the largest congressional district in Iowa and also the reddest. It encompasses 36 counties in the Western and North-Central parts of the state.

There are currently five Republicans running, including Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan of Sioux City, Iowa state Rep. 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.

Farmer and land appraiser Kyle Larsen of Humboldt ended his campaign last month due to financial headwinds and quickly endorsed McGowan.

McGowan had a significant fundraising edge over the other Republican candidates, raising $372,284.85 this quarter ending with $336,354.89 in cash on hand. His campaign also saw a boost Thursday when Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio endorsed his run.

Rhodes, who launched his campaign in July, raised $183,204.85 during this period, $100,000 of which came from a loan. He reported $170,536.45 in cash on hand.

Windschitl, who stepped down from his position as House Majority leader in July to run for Congress, raised $67,424.69 this quarter and has $66,474.42 in cash on hand.

Jensen, who formally announced his campaign earlier this month, raised $7,050 this quarter and reported $1,528.10 in cash on hand.

Former Democratic State Rep. Dave Dawson of Lawton, Storm Lake stay-at-home mom and former education assistant Ashley WolfTornabane and Sutherland nurse Stephanie Steiner are running as Democrats.

Dawson, who is the latest Democrat to announce a bid for the seat, raised $36,194.04 this quarter and had $29,545.90 in cash on hand.

WolfTornabane was the first Democrat to enter the race in July after Democrat Ryan Melton suspended his campaign in June, citing finances and time away from family. WolfTornabane raised $6,122 this quarter, ending with $3,171.31 in cash on hand.

Schlaefer and Steiner did not file their fundraising numbers for this quarter.

Q3 2025 Fundraising Snapshot

IA-01

• Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R): Raised (Q3) $806,731 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $3,458,647 | Spent (Q3) $305,100 | Cash on Hand $2,618,040
• Christina Bohannan (D): Raised (Q3) $1,059,732 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $1,986,608 | Spent (Q3) $278,633 | Cash on Hand $1,600,687
• Taylor Wettach (D): Raised (Q3) $429,099 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $429,099 | Spent (Q3) $82,056 | Cash on Hand $347,043
• Travis Terrell (D): Raised (Q3) $12,940 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $12,990 | Spent (Q3) $6,894 | Cash on Hand $6,143
• David Pautsch (R): Raised (Q3) $7,895 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $25,315 | Spent (Q3) $12,016 | Cash on Hand $8,825

IA-02

• Joe Mitchell (R): Raised (Q3) $407,555 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $407,555 | Spent (Q3) $1,672 | Cash on Hand $405,883
• Lindsay James (D): Raised (Q3) $273,649 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $273,649 | Spent (Q3) $47,349 | Cash on Hand $226,300
• Clint Twedt-Ball (D): Raised (Q3) $218,815 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $218,815 | Spent (Q3) $66,416 | Cash on Hand $152,398
• Rod Blum (R, suspended campaign): Raised (Q3) $250,181 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $250,181 | Spent (Q3) $44 | Cash on Hand $250,137
• Kathy Dolter (D): Raised (Q3) $39,109 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $39,109 | Spent (Q3) $18,355 | Cash on Hand $20,754
• Charlie McClintock (R): Raised (Q3) $14,307 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $14,307 | Spent (Q3) $156 | Cash on Hand $14,151
• Guy Morgan (D): Raised (Q3) $2,413 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $2,413 | Spent (Q3) $413 | Cash on Hand $2,000
• Shannon Lundgren (R): No report filed (announced Sept. 23)
• Don Primus (D): No report filed
• Kevin Techau (D, suspended campaign): Raised (Q3) $13 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $142,354 | Spent (Q3) $29,065 | Cash on Hand $39,147

IA-03

• Zach Nunn (R): Raised (Q3) $524,657 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $2,163,808 | Spent (Q3) $213,845 | Cash on Hand $1,610,410
• Jennifer Konfrst (D): Raised (Q3) $175,556 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $426,602 | Spent (Q3) $150,302 | Cash on Hand $195,333
• Sarah Trone Garriott (D): Raised (Q3) $437,684 | Raised Cycle-to-Date $958,484 | Spent (Q3) $216,180 | Cash on Hand $598,211
• Xavier Carrigan (D): No report filed

IA-04

• Douglas Jensen (R): Raised (Q3) $7,050 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $7,050 • Spent (Q3) $5,521.90 • Cash on Hand $1,528.10
• Chris McGowan (R): Raised (Q3) $372,284.85 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $372,284.85 • Spent (Q3) $35,929.96 • Cash on Hand $336,354.89
• Ryan Rhodes (R): Raised (Q3) $183,204.85 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $183,204.85 • Spent (Q3) $12,583.34 • Cash on Hand $170,536.45
• Matt Windschitl (R): Raised (Q3) $67,424.69 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $67,424.69 • Spent (Q3) $950.27 • Cash on Hand $66,474.42
• Christian Schlaefer (R): No report filed
• Dave Dawson (D): Raised (Q3) $36,194.04 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $36,194.04 • Spent (Q3) $6,648.14 • Cash on Hand $29,545.90
• Ashley WolfTornabane (D): Raised (Q3) $6,122 • Raised Cycle-to-Date $6,122 • Spent (Q3) $2,950.69 • Cash on Hand $3,171.31
• Stephanie Steiner (D): No report filed

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