IOWA ELECTIONS 2026
Debates, interviews, campaign developments and polling updates in one place.
Dates are the original article, survey-release or campaign-event dates. Linked coverage explains the context. The coverage listed here also remains on the homepage.
Polling archive · October 15–19 fieldwork; full ballots and separate statewide generic House question
Polling archive · October 8–12 fieldwork; sponsor not identified
Voting guide · official deadlines and registration requirements; in-person absentee voting through November 2
Polling archive · October 13–15 fieldwork; recorded publication October 17 at 8:15 p.m. CDT (October 18 UTC)
Iowa PBS · October 16 episode; recorded October 9
Campaign event · first reported October 15; venue and organizer details checked October 19
Debate schedule · KCCI announcement; channel 8.1 and online
Iowa Decides · October 14 KTIV governor debate · Expanded October 17
Iowa Decides · October 14 Iowa PBS IA-04 debate · debate recap
Polling archive · Marist October 8–11 fieldwork; October 15 release
Iowa Decides · official debate recordings
Voting guide · October 14 start; October 19 request deadline
Polling archive · YouGov October 6–12 fieldwork; October 14 official index
Iowa Decides · October 13 WHO 13 debate recap
Iowa Decides · debate article
Statewide guide · October 9 candidate interview
Polling archive · October 9 survey release
Iowa Decides · debate article
Campaign coverage · original source
Campaign coverage · original source
Campaign coverage · original source
Campaign coverage · original source
Campaign coverage · original source
OCTOBER 14 DEBATE · GOVERNOR
Their competing plans for schools, property taxes and the workforce, plus school meals, data centers and accountability.
· Updated October 17 · 8 min read
OCTOBER 14 DEBATE · IA-04
Trade, data-center costs and farmland.
· 1 min read
PAST DEBATE · U.S. SENATE
Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek · Nexstar / WHO 13 · Des Moines · October 13, 9–10 p.m. Central.
In-person absentee voting and ballot mailing began October 14. Mailed-ballot requests must reach county auditors by October 19 at 5 p.m. Central. Find your county auditor · Check official deadlines and make a voting plan.
Rob Sand and Zach Lahn debated on KTIV; Dave Dawson and Chris McGowan debated on Iowa PBS. Official recordings are available.
Governor viewing details · IA-04 viewing details
Official recordings: KTIV recording · Iowa PBS recording and transcript.
October 17 · Senate polling: Trafalgar’s October Senate poll: Hinson 45.9%, Turek 44.2%. See the full ballot and methodological limits. Fieldwork October 13–15; 1,094 likely voters.
October 16 · Treasurer candidates: Watch John Norwood and Roby Smith on Iowa Press and read the transcript.
October 22 · Sioux City campaign event: The GOP’s official listing schedules a rally featuring President Donald Trump. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., the program begins at 4:30 p.m., and remarks begin at 6 p.m. CDT. The venue is Sioux Gateway Airport, 2403 Aviation Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51111. Official event details.
October 15 · IA-03 debate announced: Zach Nunn and Sarah Trone Garriott will debate October 27 at 9 p.m. CDT on KCCI.
DEBATE RECAP · IA–02
DEBATE RECAP · U.S. SENATE
October 9 · Attorney General: Bird and Willems outline competing priorities on Iowa Press.
October 15 polling: Marist’s Iowa results: Sand 52–45; Turek 48–45 among likelihood-weighted voters. Read the sample and methodology caveats.
October 14 polling: YouGov’s new Iowa results: Sand 50–44; Turek 47–46. Read the methods and limitations.
October 9 polling: See the new Emerson / Nexstar Iowa results and compare surveys.
· Governor debate
Rob Sand and Zach Lahn met at St. Ambrose University for a KWQC-hosted gubernatorial debate.
Watch the full broadcastPolitiFact’s debate review· Campaign priorities
A campaign statement outlined support for farm conservation tax credits, local food programs and additional farm revenue sources.
Read the campaign statement· Campaign interview
Lahn discussed agricultural competition and farm costs on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Read the CBS interview· Campaign activity
Sand completed his statewide town-hall tour, while Lahn held a rally in Grimes.
Read KCCI’s report· Health policy
At the MAHA Summit, Lahn outlined a role for biotechnology companies in cancer prevention and earlier detection. These remarks describe a policy direction, not an enacted state program.
Read the Washington Examiner’s report