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Campaign Almanac: Democrat Bob Krause switches to run for U.S. Senate
Also, state legislator Dave Jacoby endorses Zach Wahls in Democratic U.S. Senate race
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Democrat and Veterans National Recovery Center president Bob Krause announced Monday that he is dropping his bid for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat and instead running for U.S. Senate.
Krause said he decided to switch races after reports last week said incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst was planning to announce her decision to not run for reelection. Ernst officially announced her plans to not seek reelection Tuesday.
“(Ernst’s) withdrawal from the Republican Senate Race was a card that was not previously on the table, and I now endorse Christina Bohannan to be the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s First District,” Krause said in a statement. “I have run for the U.S. Senate before and have many friends across the state and believe this will be a better fit for an ultimate victory.”
Krause served three terms in the Iowa House in the 1970s before running in the Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016.
He ended his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 2022 U.S. Senate race ahead of the primary, citing the pandemic as the reason he had trouble gathering the 3,500 signatures needed to get on the ballot. He also briefly ran in the 2014 Democratic gubernatorial primary before withdrawing and endorsing eventual nominee Jack Hatch.
Krause will join a handful of other Democrats running for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat including Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls from Coralville, Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce leader Nathan Sage and Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris.
Republican Jim Carlin, a former state senator from Sergeant Bluff, also is running. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson announced Tuesday afternoon she too would run for the Republican nomination.
Dave Jacoby endorses Wahls for U.S. Senate
Democratic state Rep. Dave Jacoby, of Coralville, is endorsing state Sen. Zach Wahls, a Democrat from Coralville, in the race for U.S. Senate. The endorsement came ahead of incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s announcement Tuesday that she will not seek reelection in 2026.
“I’ve met with many community members, friends, and neighbors over the last month. They are excited to vote for Zach Wahls, saying it's a ‘no brainer,’ as he is the best person to represent Iowa. I couldn’t agree more, but I think supporting Zach is a ‘brainer!’ It’s the smart choice to make,” Jacoby said in a statement Tuesday. “Working alongside Senator Wahls, I've watched his dedication to Iowans and our families. I’ve seen his strength in standing up to special interests. And his track record of courage and leadership will benefit all Iowans in the U.S. Senate.”
Other Democrats running for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat include Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce leader Nathan Sage, Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris and former state lawmaker Bob Krause.
Republican Jim Carlin, a former state senator from Sergeant Bluff, also is running. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson announced Tuesday afternoon she too would run for the Republican nomination.
Sandy Salmon endorses Jim Carlin for U.S. Senate
Republican Iowa state Sen. Sandy Salmon, of Janesville, endorsed Republican Jim Carlin for U.S. Senate last week ahead of incumbent Republican Sen. Joni Ernst’s announcement Tuesday that she will not seek reelection in 2026.
Carlin, a former state senator and founder of the Iowa Liberty Network, launched his campaign in June. He has been a vocal critic of Ernst since launching his campaign, including denouncing her vote for the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022.
"Jim Carlin is an outstanding choice for the new leader we need for the new challenges America faces,” Salmon said. "He led the fight in the Iowa Senate for the protection of children in our schools against the indoctrination and promotion of sexual orientation and gender identity confusion. Sen. Carlin would not have voted for the ‘Dis’-Respect for Marriage Act, which strengthened LGBT confusion as Sen. Ernst did.”
Salmon and Carlin served in the Iowa Senate together from 2017 through 2022.
"I am deeply honored to receive Senator Salmon’s endorsement," Carlin said in a statement. "As a fellow veteran and steadfast conservative, Sandy has been a tireless advocate for Iowa values, from protecting life and liberties to supporting our veterans. Together, we will fight government overreach, secure our borders, and put America First.”
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