The Ballot Brief
Linn County, Iowa

Iowa Senate District 37

Marzen and Donahue are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Linn County election filings.

About this race

Randy Marzen (Republican), Molly Donahue (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Iowa Senate District 37; Molly Donahue 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, Molly Donahue, is on the ballot.

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

Iowa › Linn County › Iowa Senate District 37

Randy Marzen

Randy Marzen

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Affordability, including property taxes, housing and health care costs
  • Strong schools and parental rights in education
  • Public safety and support for first responders
Biography

Marzen is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and command pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours, who served as Chief of Combat Operations for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, per the campaign site. Marzen spent 14 years at Collins Aerospace and now works as a test director and program manager at the University of Iowa Institute of Technology, per the campaign site. Marzen grew up on his family's farm, attended Iowa State University on a pilot scholarship and holds a master's degree in international relations, per the campaign site.

Molly Donahue

Molly Donahue

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Protecting landowners from the misuse of eminent domain
  • Supporting Iowa's working families
  • Revitalizing small towns and rural communities
Biography

Donahue has dedicated over 33 years to teaching in Iowa's public schools, per the campaign site. Donahue describes serving as a State Representative for Marion, Bertram, Ely, parts of Cedar Rapids and Mount Vernon, and now as a State Senator, per the campaign site.

Next on your ballotIowa Senate District 39

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Iowa Senate District 37 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa Senate District 37 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Randy Marzen and Molly Donahue. Candidate information follows official Linn County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Iowa Senate District 37 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 Linn 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 Linn County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Linn County ballot

15 tracked races in Linn County, Iowa. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Iowa House District 73Iowa House District 74Iowa House District 77See all 15 Linn County races
Candidate profiles
Randy Marzen, full profileMolly Donahue, full profileOfficial Iowa election office