Primary Elections

Iowa Primary Elections 2026

Primary date, filing deadlines, key contested races, and what to watch in Iowa ahead of the 2026 general election.

June 2, 2026
Primary Date
None
Runoff / RCV
March 2026
Filing Deadline
High — Senate and governor bot
Competitiveness

Key 2026 Primary Races

U.S. Senate Joni Ernst (R) up 2026
Governor Kim Reynolds (R) not up until 2026 — up for re-election
U.S. House IA-1 and IA-3 competitive

2026 Primary Overview

Iowa holds competitive elections in 2026. Joni Ernst faces re-election and may face a primary challenge. IA-1 and IA-3 are among the most competitive House districts nationally. Governor Reynolds is up for a third term.

LIVE
Generic Ballot Democrats48.1% Republicans41.1% D+7 Trump Approval Approve39% Disapprove58% Senate D47 R53 House D213 R222 Generic Ballot Tracker Trump Approval Senate 2026 House 2026 Latest Analysis