Though there have been many shake-ups in Iowa heading into the 2026 campaign season, Republican candidates have largely kept their fundraising leads in Iowa’s U.S. Senate and House races, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports.
Iowa will have open races for two U.S. House seats, as well as for governor and U.S. Senate in 2026 — a large change from previous recent election cycles, in which Republican incumbents were largely able to hold on to their seats. Democrats hope the shifting campaign landscape, alongside discontent among voters over Trump administration actions and GOP-led bills like the budget reconciliation measure, will allow their party’s candidates to break the full GOP hold of Iowa’s federal delegation.
Still, Republican candidates outraised Democrats in most of Iowa’s races for federal office in the most recent FEC filing period from July 1 through Sept. 30.
There was one exception — Democrat Christina Bohannan outraised incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District, according to the October reports, as she aims for a rematch in 2026.
Bohannan, who unsuccessfully ran against Miller-Meeks in the 2022 and 2024 elections, raised nearly $1.06 million in the most recent reporting period, ending with $1.6 million cash on hand. In comparison, her opponents for the Democratic nomination, Travis Terrell and Taylor Wettach, raised $12,940 and $429,099 respectively.
In a recent statement, Bohannan thanked her supporters for helping her campaign work to flip Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
“Miller-Meeks’ campaign is well-funded by big corporations, billionaires, and party bosses because she does their bidding in Washington DC,” Bohannan said. “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. And we’re just getting started.”
Though Bohannan raised more than Miller-Meeks, who reported $806,731 in fundraising during the period, the incumbent Republican retains a lead in reserve funds with $2.62 million in cash on hand.
Miller-Meeks’ campaign said in a statement Democrats are targeting the seat in vain, as her numbers show she has the “best-funded campaign IA-01 has ever seen.”
“In 2024, Democrats outspent me by millions and still lost because Iowans know I fight for them, not for D.C. elites or the establishment,” Miller-Meeks said. “With the resources we have built, we are ready to share our record, and WIN again for Iowa and American workers, farmers, and families.”
Nunn outraises Democratic challengers in 3rd District
Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, is also a seat targeted by national Democrats as a potential pick-up. His campaign reported raising $524,657 in the most recent reporting period, ending with $1.6 million in reserve funding.
Though Nunn raised less than the leading candidates in Iowa’s 1st District, he still raised more than the two Democrats competing to take him on in the 2026 election: state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, and former House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst. Nunn’s Campaign Manager Brendan Duffy said in a statement the fundraising numbers send “a clear message,” that Nunn is “battle-tested, well-prepared, and ready to defend the seat from far-left activists pushing an out-of-touch, radical agenda.”
“Iowans trust Zach Nunn, and as one of the top ten most bipartisan members of Congress, he will continue to build a safer, more prosperous future for every hardworking Iowa family,” Duffy said in a statement.
Trone Garriott was the closest to Nunn’s fundraising totals, ending the third quarter having raised $437,684 and keeping $598,212 cash on hand. Konfrst’s fundraising totals were lower this period at $175,556 — less than half of Trone Garriott — and ending with $195,333 in cash on hand. Trone Garriott’s campaign stated the recent FEC filing “clearly demonstrates that Trone Garriott is the frontrunner to take on Zach Nunn.”
Former state lawmaker Joe Mitchell emerges as top fundraiser in 2nd District
In September, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced she will not seek a third term in the Senate. The news was followed shortly by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican who currently represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, stating she will run for the Senate seat.
Political forecasters have predicted some Iowa congressional races, particularly in the 1st and 3rd districts, may be among the most competitive in the nation. Hinson’s move to run for U.S. Senate also led Cook Political Report to move its rating for Iowa’s 2nd District from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican.”
Though there is not an incumbent Republican competing in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after Hinson’s exit, Republican candidate Joe Mitchell, a former state legislator, raised more than both Democratic and Republican competitors. Mitchell reported fundraising $407,555 during the period and having $405,883 cash on hand. More than $307,000 of this funding came from outside contributors, in addition to Mitchell loaning his campaign $100,000.
Mitchell’s campaign called the fundraising figures “record-breaking,” covering three weeks between when he announced his campaign and the reporting period ended.
“The campaign has several fundraising events scheduled this year to continue building the resources necessary to win in November,” Mitchell said in a statement.
Other Republican candidates in the 2nd District race include Iowa Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, who reported raising $14,307. Former U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, who dropped out of the race Monday, reported raising $250,181, with most funding coming from a personal loan. Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, who entered the race on Sept. 23, did not file a report.
The 2nd District Democratic primary field saw more competitive fundraising numbers. Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, led among Democrats in the most recent reporting period with $273,649 raised and $226,300 in cash on hand. Clint Twedt-Ball, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25, raised a similar amount at $218,815, and ended the period with $152,398 in reserves.
Twedt-Ball thanked his supporters in a statement, saying 90 percent of contributions came from Iowans.
“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 healthcare, housing and other basics,” Twedt-Ball said. “Our campaign is about building a new kind of politics: lighting the way to a stronger, more affordable future for our state.”
Kathy Dolter, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, reported raising $39,109 during the third quarter, and Guy Morgan, a Democrat from Boone, raised $2,413.
James emphasized in a news release that Hinson’s exit from the race gives Democrats a solid opportunity to flip Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
“This outpouring of support sends a clear message that our campaign has the momentum to win in November,” James said in a statement about her fundraising. “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.”
Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president leads GOP field in fundraising for 4th District
In Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, a longtime Republican stronghold, is another open race in 2026, as U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra considers a bid for governor following Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision not to seek reelection in 2026.
Feenstra has not officially announced a gubernatorial campaign but is not expected to run for reelection in the 4th District. He reported raising $24,854 during the FEC reporting period and having $1.32 million in cash reserves.
In the campaign to replace Feenstra, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan led the GOP primary field with $372,285 in fundraising.
In a news release from McGowan’s campaign, Katie Delzell, who serves as the campaign’s fundraising strategist, said the FEC filings show he is the strongest candidate to take over from Feenstra in 2026.
“Chris McGowan’s early success signals an extraordinarily strong show of support for his candidacy from across the 4th District, and this has sent a powerful message, not only to Iowans, but to the political leadership in our nation’s capital,” Delzell said. “This significant accomplishment has solidified Chris as the clear front-runner in the race to represent Iowa’s 4th congressional district.”
Ryan Rhodes, the founder of the Iowa Tea Party, reported raising $183,205 in the third quarter with $100,000 coming from a loan. Former House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl reported raising $67,425. Republican Christian Schlaefer, a software consultant who launched his campaign in September, did not file an FEC report.
Among Democrats, former state Rep. Dave Dawson raised $36,194 during the reporting period, and Ashley WolfTornabane, a stay-at-home mother from Storm Lake, reported raising $6,122. Democrat Stephanie Steiner, a retired nurse running for the 4th District seat, did not file a fundraising report.
Hinson leads in U.S. Senate race fundraising
Hinson quickly gained sizable financial and structural support in her campaign to follow Ernst in representing Iowa in the Senate. Shortly after entering the race, the Republican representative was endorsed by President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott, alongside many other Senate and Iowa GOP leaders, quickly solidifying her place as the likely GOP nominee for the seat.
Her fundraising totals show a similar base of support. Hinson raised $1.72 million during the reporting period, outpacing her opponents from both parties. She also ends the period with $4.05 million in reserves — a total that includes funding transferred from her U.S. House campaign.
Hinson’s campaign celebrated the fundraising totals, with Campaign Director Addie Lavis saying in a statement the FEC reports show “Iowans are fired up to elect Ashley as their next senator.”
“Ashley’s commonsense message — cutting taxes for working families, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare, securing our border and keeping our communities safe, and ensuring China can’t buy up Iowa farmland — is resonating with Iowans in every corner of this state,” Lavis said. “This will be a fight, but Ashley Hinson is putting in the work to be Iowa’s next U.S. Senator and keep all of Iowa red.”
There are two other Republicans running for the Senate seat — former state lawmaker Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith. Carlin reported raising $45,492 during the filing period, while Smith did not file a report.
There is a more competitive primary field among Democrats for the 2026 race. Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, reported raising more than $1 million since launching his campaign in August — outraising the other Democrats in the field. He ends the quarter with $651,981 in cash on hand.
Turek’s campaign said they achieved the “record for the most money raised by a first-time Democratic Senate candidate in their opening quarter in the race,” and shows his campaign has strong support from Iowans.
“This campaign isn’t powered by corporate PACs — it’s powered by teachers, nurses, farmers, and working families from every corner of Iowa who are ready for a leader who will fight for them,” Campaign Manager Brendan Koch said in a statement. “Josh is building a movement, and this milestone proves Iowans are ready for something different.”
Though Turek raised the most during the reporting period, his overall fundraising falls short of state Sen. Zach Wahls’ total for the election cycle at $1.3 million. Turek raised more than Wahls, who reported $646,658 in fundraising and an ending balance for $585,045 for the FEC filing period.
Wahls called attention to the fact he received contributions from Iowans in all 99 state counties, alongside endorsements from six Iowa labor unions, in a news release on the fundraising totals.
“Our campaign’s strength comes from the people of Iowa—not corporate PACs or Washington insiders,” Wahls said in a statement. “Iowans are responding to our message of taking on the corrupt political establishment—of both parties—and standing up for the working families who make this state great. That’s how we’ll build the campaign to defeat Ashley Hinson and deliver real change for Iowa.”
Former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage reported raising $410,501 during the most recent period, bringing his total for the election cycle to $1.12 million. Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris, who ended her campaign Thursday, reported raising $345,621 in the most recent FEC filing and ending the period with $227,320 cash on hand.
Robin Opsahl covers the Iowa Legislature and politics for Iowa Capital Dispatch, where this story first appeared.
