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One year to 2022: Who’s running for governor and for Congress?
['Katie Akin', 'More From Author', '- November']
Date: 2021-11-02 00:00:00
Iowa voters went to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in local elections: city councils, school boards and other county-level business. But Tuesday also marked a major milestone in the march toward the 2022 election, which could have significant consequences for the balance of the U.S. House and Senate.
Both Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley are up for reelection in 2022, although Reynolds has not officially announced her bid. Democratic candidates have lined up to challenge Reynolds, who was elected governor in 2018, and Grassley, who was first elected to the Senate in 1980.
House incumbents also face fierce challengers in 2022, as Iowa’s newly-redistricted map shakes up the races. The new House map, approved last week by the Iowa Legislature, maintains three competitive districts and one GOP-leaning district.
Here’s where the race stands just over one year before Election Day.
Who’s running for Iowa governor in 2022?
Incumbent Reynolds has not officially announced her reelection plans. Several Democrats have already thrown their hats in the ring.
State Rep. Ras Smith was the first major Democrat to announce his candidacy. Smith, 33, has represented Waterloo in the Iowa House since 2017. He announced his run for governor on June 15.
Deidre DeJear, a Democratic activist and former candidate for secretary of state, officially kicked off her gubernatorial campaign on Aug. 14. She spoke to the Iowa Capital Dispatch on Aug. 20 about her campaign priorities and the future of the Democratic party in Iowa.
Who’s running for Iowa’s Senate seat in 2022?
Grassley announced in September that he will run for an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. If he wins in 2022, he will be 95 years old at the conclusion of that term.
Multiple Democrats have lined up to challenge Grassley.
Former 1st District representative Abby Finkenauer announced on July 22 that she would challenge Grassley in 2022. She’s the most prominent Democrat to announce so far. She outraised Grassley in the most recent quarter — but political analysts noted that Grassley announced late in the fundraising period and that he maintains impressive voter approval and recognition in the state.
The first Democrat to join the race was Dave Muhlbauer, a farmer and a former Crawford County supervisor. He published a campaign video in May that touted his family’s history in politics: both his father and grandfather served as Democrats in the Iowa House.
Doctor and Minden city council member Glenn Hurst, a Democrat, announced on July 29 he would run for Grassley’s seat.
Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Franken is the most recent Democrat to throw his hat in the ring, announcing his bid in mid-October. Franken ran for Senate in 2020, but lost the Democratic primary to Theresa Greenfield.
Grassley will also face a Republican primary challenge from state Sen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City. Carlin has aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump, frequently invoking misinformation about the 2020 election. However, Trump endorsed Grassley during an October visit to Des Moines.
Sen. Joni Ernst will not be up for reelection until 2026.
Who’s running for Iowa’s 1st District in 2022?
Redistricting made things a little trickier for Iowa’s House races. Right now, Rep. Ashley Hinson represents Iowa’s 1st District, but she will reside in and run for the 2nd District in 2022.
That leaves the 1st District, which now covers the southeast corner of Iowa, without an incumbent. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-02, resides in the soon-to-be 3rd District. She announced shortly after redistricting that she was considering her options for re-election: she could either challenge Rep. Cindy Axne for the 3rd District seat, or Miller-Meeks could move into the 1st District and run there.
State Rep. Christina Bohannan, a Democrat, announced her 2nd District candidacy on Aug. 24. Following the redistricting special session, Bohannan announced she will run in the new 1st District.
Who’s running for Iowa’s 2nd District in 2022?
State Sen. Liz Mathis, a Democrat, will challenge Hinson in the new 2nd District. Both Hinson and Mathis are former television journalists who were coworkers at a Cedar Rapids TV station.
Who’s running for Iowa’s 3rd District in 2022?
Rep. Cindy Axne is the only Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation. She hasn’t said yet whether she will seek reelection in 2022 or seek higher office.
Former Iowa Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa announced in April that she would seek Axne’s seat in 2022. The Council Bluffs resident served in the Iowa Statehouse for a decade.
State Sen. Zach Nunn entered the race in July. Nunn represents Bondurant and has highlighted his Air Force career in campaign ads.
Republican Nicole Hasso also announced her candidacy in July. The Johnston resident released a campaign video that emphasizes her opposition as a Black woman to Critical Race Theory. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas endorsed Hasso on Aug. 12.
Gary Leffler, a Republican activist best known for his patriotic tractor, has also filed with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Axne.
Who’s running for Iowa’s 4th District in 2022?
No Democrats have challenged first-term Rep. Randy Feenstra. He raised the least amount of money in the most recent quarter, but he also doesn’t have to compete with anyone just yet.
Read more: Here’s how much money Iowa House candidates raised
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