Des Moines, Iowa sample ballot 2026

Lisa J. Chiodo has spent nine years in the Polk County Recorder's Office, rising from roles in vital records and real estate to her current position as deputy recorder overseeing daily operations, per her campaign website. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and earned an HR management certification with honors in 2024, per the same source.

Jonah Dyer is an attorney with 15 years of experience in the Polk County courthouse, per his campaign site.

Kimberly Graham has 26 years of legal experience in Iowa's criminal, juvenile and family court systems and has served as Polk County Attorney since January 2023, per her campaign site.

Abu Bakarr Sillah holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership and Healthcare Management from Waldorf University and a bachelor's degree in psychology, per the campaign site. He spent more than six years in supervisory roles with the U.S. Census Bureau, has worked in quality assurance and quality control, and is executive director of Fruitful Healthcare SL, a Des Moines-area nonprofit that supports rural clinics, computer training, education and agricultural projects in Sierra Leone, per the campaign site. He is a nonpartisan candidate for Polk County Hospital Trustee (Broadlawns Medical Center) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Polk County Auditor's certified candidate list.

John Forbes previously served six terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and ran Medicap Pharmacy in Urbandale for more than four decades before selling it with his wife in 2022, per Yahoo News. He also served on the Urbandale City Council and as president of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, per the same source.

Heather Jones-Brown works at Grinnell College as assistant chief diversity officer for staff equity, per WHO 13. She was born and raised in Des Moines and graduated from East High School, per her campaign site.

Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and a state legislator from his hometown of Council Bluffs, per the campaign site. The campaign site describes his platform as a prairie populist's platform to rebuild the American Dream.

Ashley Hinson is the congresswoman for Northeast Iowa, per the campaign site. She is an award-winning journalist who also served in the Iowa House, representing the 67th district, per the campaign site. The campaign site says she is running to be Iowa's next senator in 2026.

Thomas Laehn is the elected Greene County Attorney in Iowa and a former professor, and he is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, per the campaign site. The campaign site describes him as a Preacher's Kid, Professor, Prosecutor and Populist.

Sand is Iowa's State Auditor, first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, and previously served as an assistant Iowa attorney general prosecuting public corruption, per the campaign site. As auditor he has led investigations into misspent public funds and created a state program to identify government efficiencies later adopted by other states, per the campaign site. He is running with Dave Muhlbauer as his candidate for lieutenant governor, per Iowa's certified 2026 general election candidate list.

Zach Lahn is Iowa's Republican nominee for governor, a businessman and farmer. His campaign emphasizes an Iowa-first economic message, agriculture, water quality, health concerns, and a challenge to large agribusiness power. He is running with Derek Wulf as his candidate for lieutenant governor, per Iowa's certified 2026 general election candidate list.

Brenna Bird is Iowa's incumbent attorney general and a Republican candidate for re-election. Her office has emphasized criminal prosecution, litigation against federal policy, consumer protection, victim services, and conservative legal priorities.

Nate Willems is a Democratic candidate for Iowa attorney general, an attorney, and a former Iowa House member. His campaign emphasizes restoring independence to the office, protecting consumers, defending rights, and using legal experience for accountable public service.

Paul Pate is Iowa's incumbent secretary of state and a Republican candidate for another term. His office oversees elections, business filings, notary services, land-records coordination, and voter information across Iowa.

Ryan Peterman is a Democratic candidate for Iowa secretary of state, a Navy veteran, and a former legislative aide. His campaign emphasizes voting access, election administration, service experience, and rebuilding trust in the office that runs Iowa's elections and business filings.

Roby Smith is Iowa's incumbent state treasurer and a Republican candidate for re-election. His office manages state cash, investments, college savings programs, unclaimed property, and public-finance services.

Norwood has more than 30 years of experience in finance and public service and has served since 2019 as a Business Advisor with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, coaching Iowa entrepreneurs; he holds a BA from Williams College and an MBA in Finance and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, per the campaign site.

Taylor Wettach is a Democratic candidate for Iowa state auditor and an attorney. After Rob Sand chose to run for governor, Wettach entered the auditor race with a message focused on independent oversight, transparency, taxpayer accountability, and protecting the auditor's watchdog role.

Chris Cournoyer is Iowa's lieutenant governor and a Republican candidate for state auditor. A former state senator with technology and education experience, she has emphasized government efficiency, financial oversight, public accountability, and using management experience in the auditor's office.

Naig is the incumbent Iowa Secretary of Agriculture who grew up on his family's fourth-generation crop and livestock farm near Cylinder, Iowa, and is a graduate of Buena Vista University, per the campaign site. He has spent his entire career working in agriculture, per the campaign site.

Chris Jones is a Democratic candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture, an author, and a water-quality advocate. His campaign emphasizes nitrate pollution, rural health, accountability in agricultural policy, family farms, and a more independent approach to Iowa's agriculture department.