Joni Ernst

Iowa is in the center of the action this election season as voters head to the polls June 2 to select their nominees in heated primary races for governor, the U.S. Senate, Congress and more.

“Here in Iowa, we’re in the bullseye,” said Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition and Iowa's Republican National Committeeman.

Scheffler hyped up the Republican base at an April 25 event in Osceola by highlighting a heap of wide-open primary contests.

“Open governor’s race, open Senate race, two open congressional races,” he said. “… We have to keep these seats red."

Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, both Republicans, each announced they would not run for re-election in 2026.

Two sitting members of Congress — U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra and Ashley Hinson — are running to replace Reynolds and Ernst, respectively. Those decisions leave open seats in the 2nd and 4th districts. Meanwhile, the 1st and 3rd districts remain perennially competitive, with political analysts calling them toss-ups.

Iowa Democrats are especially motivated to turn out to vote as polling shows President Donald Trump's favorability rating slumping over high prices and the Iran war.

“We are sick and tired of the Republican culture wars being waged by the governor and the legislative majority here in our Capitol," Polk County Democratic Party Chair Bill Brauch said during an April 7 event. "We can change that.”

Iowa's most-watched primaries: GOP governor and Democratic U.S. Senate

Both the governor's and Senate contests are drawing national interest as Democrats look to make inroads up and down the ballot.

Five Republicans are vying to replace Reynolds: Feenstra, state Rep. Eddie Andrews, businessman Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former state administrator Adam Steen.

The winner will face Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand in a general election matchup that national elections analysts are calling a toss up.

Hinson is the heavy favorite in a primary race against former state Sen. Jim Carlin to earn the party's nomination.

The U.S. Senate's Democratic primary race, which features state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls, is far more contested.

Other primary races to watch: state auditor, 2nd Congressional District

A competitive primary race also is underway for state auditor, with two Republicans facing off: Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Iowa County Supervisor Abigail Maas. The winner will take on Democrat Taylor Wettach.

And in the 2nd Congressional District, three Democrats are running for the seat Hinson is vacating. Former Kirkwood Community College nursing dean Kathy Dolter, state Rep. Lindsay James and former nonprofit director Clint Twedt-Ball will be on the June 2 ballot.

Republicans also face a primary in that race. Former State Rep. Joe Mitchell is heavily favored to defeat state Sen. Charlie McClintock.

Reporting where the candidates stand on key issues

With early voting open on May 13, the Register is publishing information on all the primary races.

The newsroom sent questionnaires to 137 federal, statewide and Des Moines-area candidates, asking them to share their most important issue if they are elected.

And we also asked them about issues specific to their races, including on eminent domain, the high cost of living, water quality, health care access, property tax reform, tariffs and Iowa's high cancer rates.

Starting in April and throughout the first weeks of May, we're publishing their responses in the newspaper.

But you can also find out what they said on our website at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/news/elections/.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.