The Ballot Brief
Scott County, Iowa

Iowa Senate District 49

See where Mensendick and Winckler stand on schools and health care. Names follow official Scott County election filings.

About this race

Cynthia Mensendick (Republican), Cindy Winckler (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Iowa Senate District 49; Cindy Winckler 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, Cindy Winckler, is on the ballot.

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

Iowa › Scott County › Iowa Senate District 49

Cynthia Mensendick

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Healthcare reform
  • Protecting families
  • Efficient education
Biography

Mensendick is a registered nurse and certified project manager (ASN, BSBA, MSN, PMP) with about twenty years of experience improving nursing and healthcare practice as a clinical project manager and bedside nurse, per the campaign site. Mensendick has served as chief nursing informatics officer, nursing director and program manager, led more than 75 projects including electronic medical record implementations, and now works as a contract project manager and travel nurse in the Midwest, per the campaign site. Mensendick joined the Air Force Reserves, has lived in Blue Grass since 2016, and is a member of the Scott County Republican Women of Iowa, per the campaign site.

Cindy Winckler

Cindy Winckler

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Make health care and housing more affordable and accessible
  • Reinvest in quality public education
  • Ensure safe drinking water
Biography

Cindy Winckler taught family and consumer science in several eastern Iowa school districts and retired as a Quality Learning Consultant with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, per her campaign site. She has represented the Davenport and Buffalo area in the Iowa Legislature since 2001 and serves as Assistant Democratic Leader, per the same source.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Iowa Senate District 49 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa Senate District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Cynthia Mensendick and Cindy Winckler. Candidate information follows official Scott County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools and health care.

When is the Iowa Senate District 49 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 Scott 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 Scott County and state election office filings, last verified October 6, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Scott County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Iowa House District 81Iowa House District 82Iowa House District 93See all 15 Scott County races
Candidate profiles
Cynthia Mensendick, full profileCindy Winckler, full profileOfficial Iowa election office