Following incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s Senate campaign launch, some Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, have hinted they are planning to run for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in 2026.
Hinson, who has represented the northeast Iowa district for three terms, announced Tuesday she would run for Senate, shortly after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said she would not run for a third term. Hinson quickly became the frontrunner for the GOP nomination following her entrance into the race, getting endorsements from Republican senators and House GOP leadership.
Hinson’s pivot to the Senate race means Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District will not have an incumbent in the 2026 elections. There are currently no Republicans who have announced campaigns for the seat, but in the wake of the Tuesday campaign shake-up, Blum, who previously represented the area in Congress, teased a 2026 run.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Blum thanked supporters for encouraging him to launch another run for Congress.
“The outpouring of support has been humbling — it was the honor of my lifetime to represent our district for four years, standing squarely with President Trump and backing his America First agenda,” Blum wrote. “Stay tuned!”
Blum, 70, served two terms representing Iowa’s 1st Congressional District — the northeast area of the state that largely became the 2nd District during the 2020 redistricting process. He was first elected in 2014, defeating former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy, the Democratic candidate, and won a second term in 2016. Blum lost the seat in 2018 to former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, a Democrat.
The Republican was also previously the CEO of Eagle Point Software, and currently owns the construction software company Digital Canal.
In addition to Blum, Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, also wrote on social media Tuesday she is weighing a run for the 2nd District. Lundgren, who has served in the state legislature since 2018, wrote that the district “must continue to be represented by an America first conservative, whose roots run deep in our community.”
“Serving Iowa continues to be a calling, and that’s why I’m seriously considering jumping into this congressional race,” Lundgren wrote. “I endorsed President Trump long before the caucuses, and I’d be with him every day in Congress. My family and I will continue to discuss our next steps with friends and neighbors and pray for wisdom in our decision. We will announce our plans in the days ahead.”
Though political forecasters still predict Republicans will likely keep the seat in the midterms, the race may be more contentious than previously considered. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has listed the 2nd District as a potential pick-up, and recent special election wins have fueled hope for some Iowa Democrats aiming to break conservatives’ hold on state and federal elected positions.
There are three Democrats competing to become the party nominee for the 2nd District race in 2026. Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, Clint Twedt-Ball, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25 and Kathy Dolter, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, have all announced campaigns.
After Hinson left the race, the Democratic candidates emphasized that their campaigns were not focused on Hinson, but on providing better representation for the district.
“I decided to run for Congress not to oppose any candidate but to be a fierce advocate for Iowans,” James said in a statement. “As Republicans search for a new candidate, our campaign’s momentum continues to grow. Too many Iowans face impossible choices when it comes to building the lives they want and deserve, and I am dedicated to listening to them and being their voice in Washington D.C.”
Twedt-Ball said in a statement following Hinson’s announcement that northeast Iowans have spent too long watching “career politicians like Ashley Hinson put their political ambitions over the needs of Iowans.”
“It’s time for a fresh, positive start in Iowa’s second district,” Twedt-Ball said.
Robin Opsahl covers the Iowa Legislature and politics for Iowa Capital Dispatch, where this story first appeared.
