Hancock County, Iowa

Iowa House District 56

Thompson and Kruse are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Hancock County election filings.

About this race

Mark I. Thompson (Republican), Kyle Kruse (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Iowa House District 56; Mark I. Thompson is the sitting member, per the legis.iowa.gov legislator roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the June 2 primary; No Party candidates qualify by nominating petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list, as read September 11, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Mark I. Thompson, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Iowa › Hancock County › Iowa House District 56

Mark I. Thompson

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Pro-life
Second Amendment rights
Family farms

Biography

Thompson grew up on an Iowa farm, graduated from Eagle Grove High School and Buena Vista College, and was commissioned a Marine in 1977, serving a 20-year Marine Corps career as an infantry officer, per the campaign site. Thompson then worked in the U.S. Department of State's counter-terrorism bureau until 2016, rising to the Senior Executive Service in 2008, per the campaign site. Thompson now substitute teaches and works part time during harvest with local farmers, and lives outside Belmond in Wright County, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Kyle Kruse

Democratic

Biography

Kyle Kruse is the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 56 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 21, 2026.

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Iowa House District 56 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa House District 56 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mark I. Thompson and Kyle Kruse. Candidate information follows official Hancock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Iowa House District 56 election in Iowa?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Iowa are on the Iowa election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Hancock County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Hancock County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Iowa election office, or see the full Hancock County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Hancock County ballot

1 tracked race in Hancock County, Iowa. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

See all 1 Hancock County race

Candidate profiles

Mark I. Thompson, full profile Kyle Kruse, full profile Official Iowa election office