Iowa congressional races see Democratic fields narrow

State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst exited the Democratic primary for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, while Democrat Taylor Wettach pivoted to a bid for state auditor. 

Iowa’s two most competitive congressional races saw significant shifts this week as Democratic candidates dropped out, setting up clearer general election matchups against two embattled Republican incumbents.

State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst (D-Windsor Heights) announced she is suspending her campaign for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District and endorsing State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D-West Des Moines) in the race to unseat Republican US Rep. Zach Nunn. 

Meanwhile, Taylor Wettach exited the primary for Iowa’s 1st District and immediately launched a bid for Iowa State Auditor, setting up a November showdown with Lieutenant Gov. Chris Cournoyer.

Konfrst cedes IA-03 Dem primary

Konfrst, who served as Iowa House Minority Leader from 2021 to 2025 and has represented Windsor Heights, Clive, and West Des Moines since 2019, said in a statement that her “primary mission has been to bring some balance back to our state.”

“I traveled the district, listened to Iowans, spent time in libraries and living rooms, earned endorsements, and spent the requisite hours endlessly calling donors to ask for money,” Konfrst said. 

Konfrst, a sixth-generation Iowan, educator, and union member, thanked her volunteers who collected signatures to get her on the ballot, as well as donors and endorsers who supported her bid.

“I’m deeply proud of the campaign we’ve run, and I’m looking forward to serving in the Iowa legislature and working for my constituents,” she said.

In her statement, Konfrst sharply criticized President Donald Trump and Nunn, saying Trump “has unleashed an armed mob on American citizens, increased prices for groceries and utilities and engaged in unprecedented levels of corruption.” 

She said Nunn has enabled these actions and pledged to work to elect Democrats “to stop the chaos, fear and economic destruction.”

Trone Garriott now sole Democrat running in IA-03

With Konfrst out, State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott becomes the clear Democratic frontrunner challenging Nunn in November. Trone Garriott, who flipped a Republican-held Iowa Senate seat in 2020 and defeated the sitting Senate President in 2022, thanked Konfrst for her campaign and service.

“I’m deeply grateful to Jennifer Konfrst for her leadership and for the work she’s done for Iowa families,” Trone Garriott said. “In a time when politics can feel loud and chaotic, Jennifer has stayed focused on what matters: protecting our public schools, doing right by Iowans, and standing up for our values.”

Trone Garriott is a minister, mother, and nonprofit leader who began her career in AmeriCorps supporting survivors of domestic violence. She emphasized her record of winning in Republican-leaning districts.

“I’m ready to work alongside her (Konfrst) to unify Democrats, earn the trust of voters across IA-03, and defeat Zach Nunn so we can lower costs and restore balance and accountability in Washington,” Trone Garriott said.

Konfrst’s announcement came after Trone Garriott reported raising $520,800, in the most recent filing period. Konfrst raised $251,045 in the same period.

Nunn has a significant warchest amassed to defend his seat. He raised more than $803,352 via his campaign committee in the most recent filing period. He ended the quarter with $1.3 million in reserves. Nunn also raised an additional $320,000 through his campaign joint fundraising committee. 

Wettach pivots to state auditor race

In a surprise move, Wettach announced Monday he is running for State Auditor rather than continuing his congressional campaign against US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Until this week, he’s been a vocal critic of Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, now the seat’s Democratic frontrunner.

Wettach is a seventh-generation Iowan from Muscatine. He framed his candidacy as a defense of government accountability at a time when Gov. Kim Reynolds has moved to weaken the independence and authority of the State Auditor’s office. Reynolds has endorsed her lieutenant governor, Chris Cournoyer for the seat.

“I’m running because public office should be about service and responsibility – not power and self-protection,” Wettach said. “The State Auditor is supposed to serve as an independent watchdog for the people, regardless of who is in power – not a lapdog for corrupt politicians.”

Wettach, a trade and national security attorney, positioned himself as uniquely qualified for the role based on his legal background analyzing complex records and evaluating evidence. He drew a direct contrast with what he described as efforts by Reynolds and Cournoyer to limit the auditor’s investigative authority.

“Rob Sand was doing the kind of independent oversight that the office is supposed to do,” Wettach said, referring to the current auditor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate. “When politicians try to muzzle the watchdog, it usually means they have something to hide and they don’t want taxpayers asking questions.”

Wettach’s announcement came with endorsements from former Gov. Tom Vilsack, former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, and Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. Wettach did not endorse Bohannan. 

“Iowans work hard for every dollar they send to the government, and they deserve to know those dollars are being spent honestly, responsibly, and in the public interest,” Vilsack said. “Taylor Wettach has the integrity, experience and commitment to stewardship that the office demands.”

Miller emphasized Wettach’s legal experience: “Taylor Wettach understands that accountability isn’t about press releases or politics – it’s about facts, records, and the law.”

In his announcement, Wettach highlighted his decision to quit his law firm after it agreed to do $125 million worth of legal work supporting Trump administration priorities following pressure from the president. He said he “refused to compromise his values and be complicit in this abuse of power.”

The moves from Trone Garriott and Wettach reshape Iowa’s 2026 electoral landscape. The 3rd District race, which includes Des Moines and its suburbs, has swung between parties in recent cycles. Nunn flipped the seat from Democratic US Rep. Cindy Axne in 2022. And now the 2026 IA-01 race is shaping up to be a rematch between Miller-Meeks and Bohannan.