Special election slated to fill Iowa House District 78 seat

Residents of southeast Cedar Rapids will soon vote for a new state representative, according to the governor’s office.

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday announced that an April 29 special election will be held to replace former House District 78 Rep. Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids. Scheetz resigned from the Legislature on April 1 to assume a role on the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

District 78 largely encompasses the southeast portion of Cedar Rapids. Scheetz was first elected to represent the area in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. Whoever wins the special election will finish out the remainder of his unexpired term through 2026.

Candidates wanting to run for the seat have until 5 p.m. Monday, April 15, to file their paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office, said Linn County Auditor Todd Taylor. Candidates may be nominated by a special convention of a political party or collect signatures and file as a no-party candidate.

Taylor said District 78 voters will be able to vote by mail — although the timeline to do so will be condensed given the short time frame between the filing date and election — vote absentee in person at the Auditor’s Office or in person on Election Day.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com