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Who’s running for Iowa’s 2nd District?
Rep. Ashley Hinson announced she will not seek a fourth term in the U.S. House
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U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s announcement Sept. 2 that she will not seek re-election to her seat, and instead will run to replace Joni Ernst in the U.S. Senate, opened Iowa’s 2nd District congressional race up for competition.
The 22-county district includes the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, Decorah, Grinnell and Mason City. Republicans maintain a roughly 23,000 voter registration advantage, and former President Donald Trump carried it by 10 points in 2024.
Here’s what we know about who’s running for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, who’s not running, and who’s dropped out of the race.
Iowa’s primary election is June 2, 2026, and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
Here’s who’s running for Iowa’s 2nd District
The field of candidates who’ve announced they’re seeking their party’s nomination stands at eight — four Democrats and four Republicans.
Democrats:
- Kathy Dolter, of Asbury, a retired Army nurse and former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, launched her campaign in July.
- Lindsay James, a state lawmaker and ordained Presbyterian chaplain from Dubuque, announced her candidacy for Congress on Aug. 19.
- Don Primus, of Steamboat Rock, a former Iowa state park manager, announced his plan to run for the seat in August.
- Clint Twedt-Ball, of Cedar Rapids, who formerly led the nonprofit Matthew 25, which he started with his brother in 2006, announced his run for office on July 22.
Republican:
- Rod Blum, of Dubuque, a former congressman who represented Northeast Iowa, announced Sept. 18 he will run for the 2nd District seat. Blum won election to Congress in 2014 and he was reelected in 2016, but he lost in 2018 to Democrat Abby Finkenauer.
- Shannon Lundgren, a Republican state representative and small business owner from Peosta, announced Sept. 23 that she will run for the 2nd District seat.
- Charlie McClintock, a state senator from Alburnett and retired police officer and Iowa National Guardsman, announced Sept. 4 he will run for the congressional seat.
- Joe Mitchell, a property developer and former state lawmaker from Clear Lake, announced his candidacy Sept. 8.
Here’s who’s not running for Iowa’s 2nd District
Republicans:
- Ashley Hinson, of Marion, is the current representative of Iowa’s 2nd District. While she initially announced she would seek re-election, she announced Sept. 2 she will instead seek election to the U.S. Senate. Current Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is not seeking re-election.
- Carrie Koelker, a state senator from Dyersville, was rumored to be considering a run for Congress. She dismissed those rumors Aug. 29, when she told The Gazette she “can do more for Iowa in Iowa.”
- Tiffany O’Donnell, mayor of Cedar Rapids, posted to social media Sept. 7 that she will not seek the 2nd District seat. Instead, she intends to seek another term as mayor.
Here’s who has dropped out of the race for Iowa’s 2nd District
Democrat:
- Kevin Techau, of Cedar Rapids, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, announced his campaign for Iowa’s 2nd District on April 17. Two months later, on June 30, Techau announced he was suspending his run for Congress, saying his campaign lacked the adequate funds to continue.
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