A Democratic primary showdown is building for two former collaborators in the Quad Cities area, while central Iowa has three first-time candidates pursuing a seat that’s been a Democrat stronghold for 16 years.
Plus, another political newcomer is running to replace a key state legislator in the Dubuque area, and the first transgender member of the Iowa Legislature announced her re-election campaign.
The June 2 primary election starts to become official Feb. 23, when state and federal candidates can begin filing their nomination petitions with whatever number of signatures is required for the post they’re pursuing, ranging from 50 to 3,500. The last day to officially file is March 13.
Here’s a look at this news and more of what’s happening at the state level for Iowa’s primary elections.
Three newcomers now pursuing central Iowa seat Gaines is leaving
Iowa State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D-Des Moines), one of Iowa’s few state legislators that is female or a Person of Color, isn’t running for re-election after the current session. Her seat is now being pursued by three first-time candidates.
Those newcomers include two LGBTQ+ community members, environmentalist Cody Smith (above left) and Des Moines Symphony development coordinator Blake Clyde (above center); and Ivette Muhammad (above right), head of the anti-poverty nonprofit Creative Visions.
Gaines, 78, was first elected in 2011, and never faced a serious primary challenge during her eight terms. She handily defeated her Republican and Libertarian opponents in general elections over the years for the heavily diverse district.
Smith filed for the seat back in early October after meeting with Gaines and deciding his platform was more timely. Clyde filed in December, and Muhammad received Gaines’ general endorsement on the day Gaines retired, and a second time when she announced her candidacy in mid-January.
All three candidates are focused on education funding. Smith is also committed to tackling Iowa’s water quality problem and LGBTQ+ rights, while Clyde is focused on affordable housing, and cannabis legalization, and Muhammad’s focus is on safety and economic opportunity.
Smith has raised over $12,000 so far; Clyde and Muhammad will file their first fundraising reports in February.
Croken versus Peters showdown set for Quad Cities in eastern Iowa
A showdown is set in eastern Iowa’s Davenport for the District 97 House Democratic primary, between two-term incumbent Ken Croken (above right) and former collaborator, supporter and friend Adam Peters (above left).
Croken had previously said he was “inclined to run” but wanted to see how his grandson handled treatment for a life-threatening illness. In early January, Croken said he’s definitely pursuing a third term and has reorganized his PAC to begin raising funds. He’s reported several hundred in cash on hand, but hasn’t published fundraising numbers yet,
Croken has also been notably busy in his legislative role, proposing bills to ban masks on ICE agents, prohibit them from entering churches and schools.
Peters is the former operations director for the Clock Inc. LGBTQ+ Community Center in Rock Island, Ill., in the Quad Cities. He was also a national delegate for the Democratic Party in the 2024 presidential election. He left his Clock Inc. position in early October to pursue the District 97 nomination and posted on social media that he’d raised $24,000 within 24 hours of his announcement. His total fundraising tally during 2025 was over $35,000, with the majority of that money coming from outside of the district he’s seeking to represent.
Several of Peters’ local supporters have indicated they believe he is pursuing an “open seat” rather than one held by Croken, for whom Peters appeared as a surrogate at several campaign appearances in 2024.
Neither candidate has acknowledged each other as their opponent. When asked about Peters’ candidacy, Croken said Peters’ candidacy surprised him. Croken said the two had an informal agreement that Peters would run for Croken’s seat only after Croken’s third term or if he retired earlier.
Peters has not returned numerous requests for comment.
Iowa governor’s race in full swing with eight candidates
The race to replace retiring Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is ramping up with two Democrats, one independent and five Republicans.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand (above left) and political operative Julie Stauch (center) face each other for the Democratic nomination. The independent, Sondra Wilson (right), is a transgender pre-law student and originally ran as a Democrat. She’s a political newcomer.
Sand holds a massive fundraising advantage with over $13 million in his war chest. Stauch has raised about $30,000 while Wilson has raised around $1,000.
The Republican Candidates are State Rep. Eddie Andrews; U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra; former State Rep. Brad Sherman, who has proposed the end of same-sex marriage rights in Iowa; former Iowa Department of Administrative Services head Adam Steen; and farmer Zach Lahn.
Dubuque newcomer seeks Democratic primary nomination to replace James
DeLano Cain-Watson, a 24-year-old massage therapist from Dubuque, is running to replace outgoing District 71 State Rep. Lindsay James as she pursues higher office.
He says his experience and background as a young, working-class Person of Color raised in public housing allows him to better represent marginalized people.
Cain-Watson (above right), a massage therapist, has also focused on education funding, affordable housing, and health care access. He ran unsuccessfully last year for Dubuque City Council and the Dubuque Community School Board.
Democrat wins Iowa Special Election in central Iowa
Renee Hardman will be the first Black woman to serve in the Iowa Senate. She won a special election two days before New Year’s to replace the late Claire Celsi, who passed away in late 2025 from a long-term illness.
Hardman (above left) soundly defeated her Republican opponent to fill the Iowa Senate District 16 seat in central Iowa and prevented Iowa’s return to a Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate.
Hardman focused on funding for public schools. She also leads the religious social services nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa, and is a city councillor for West Des Moines.
Wichtendahl running for re-election
Aime Wichtendahl, the first transgender person elected to the Iowa General Assembly, announced in October she’s running for a second term for the District 80 state legislative seat outside of Cedar Rapids. She narrowly won election in 2024, defeating Republican John Thompson.
Wichtendahl (center) drew widespread attention when she passionately argued against a law that removed gender identity from Iowa’s civil rights code. She also lobbied on behalf of abortion rights and stronger education funding.
Wichtendahl was previously a Hiawatha City Councillor, serving for almost nine years.
Christine Hawes contributed to this report.
