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Republican trifecta
Iowa
Iowa is testing vouchers, school censorship, Guard support for ICE, abortion pill limits, and DOGE-style cuts. What to watch and what to do.
Updated October 3, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 5
- Iowa guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- U.S. Senate Not yet certified Josh Turek (D), Ashley Hinson (R), Thomas Laehn (L)
- Governor Not yet certified Zach Lahn (R), Rob Sand (D)
Who Runs Iowa
The Legislature meets next on January 11, 2027.
- Governor Kim Reynolds Not running in 2026; the seat is open
- Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer On the ballot for state auditor
- Attorney General Brenna Bird On the ballot for re-election
- Secretary of State Paul Pate On the ballot for re-election
- Majority Leader of the Iowa Senate Mike Klimesh
- Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley On the ballot for his House seat
Who Votes in Iowa
An estimated 71.8% of Iowa's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 4.4 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 3.2 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 2.5 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 2.3 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 1.9 million Registered to vote (estimated)
- 1.7 million Voted (estimated)
- 1,663,506 Ballots counted for president
Iowa
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Iowa 8.8%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Iowa's turnout is plus or minus 4.4 points and for its registration 3.7 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Iowa by 13.2 points in the certified count, 927,019 votes to 707,278.
Your Iowa Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Iowa? ID with or without a photo, strict Without ID: Show another document that proves who you are and where you live. Since 2026 (HB 2501), another voter can no longer vouch for you.
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? 6 weeks Banned after 6 to 12 weeks
- Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise? 3% a year on all residential and farm values combined, 8% on utilities Yes, on homes only
- Is marijuana legal in Iowa? Illegal, low-THC oil only Illegal, no full medical program
- Can a person with a felony conviction vote in Iowa? Some lose it indefinitely or need extra steps The state constitution bars anyone convicted of a felony. A 2020 executive order restores the vote after the sentence, except for homicide and related crimes, which require the governor.
- Has Iowa restricted DEI at public colleges? State law Bans DEI offices at state colleges and universities.
How Iowa Ranks
Iowa homeowners paid an effective property tax rate of 1.33% of their home's value in 2024, the 9th highest of the 50 states, according to the Tax Foundation.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | 1.44% |
| Texas | 1.4% |
| Ohio | 1.36% |
| Iowa | 1.33% |
| Wisconsin | 1.32% |
| New York | 1.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 1.26% |
Iowa and the states ranked nearest it. Source: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026. Read September 28, 2026.
Every Iowa Guide
5 guides to Iowa law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Iowa Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Iowa guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Illegal, low-THC oil only
Illegal, no full medical program
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
Register through Election Day; in person by Monday, October 19 to skip same-day rules
Can register on Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
No clear statewide ban
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
Banned by state law
Who draws the congressional map?
Nonpartisan agency
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
No new map for 2026
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Not covered
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Not a battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
6 electoral votes
3 to 9 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
No change
Can voters recall state officials?
No recall of state officials
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Iowa
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified July 2, 1919
Before Tennessee, 1919-1920
Who can vote in a party primary?
Partially open
Partially open: choice is public
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Some lose it indefinitely or need extra steps
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
ID with or without a photo, strict
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 71.8% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 4.4 points)
An estimated 70% or more of adult citizens voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
Care ban in effect
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
No full ban
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
Yes, when a student discloses or asks
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Never had a constitutional ban
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
State law
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Expanded Medicaid
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour (the federal minimum)
$7.25, the federal floor
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
Blocked by state law
Can cities require paid sick leave?
Blocked by state law
Is the state a right-to-work state?
Has a right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $462 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
33.1% federal money
30% to 40% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
Flat 3.8%
Flat rate
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
1.33% of home value, 9th highest of 50
Among the 10 highest rates
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
Meaningful spending disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
6 weeks
Banned after 6 to 12 weeks
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Abolished in 1965
Abolished
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade D-
D range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
1 law enacted since 2017
At least one law enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act
Law in force
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
32% support
30% to 37%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Yes, and local laws are blocked
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
No statewide law identified
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
3 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Yes, a statewide program
Yes, a statewide program for most homeowners
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
3% a year on all residential and farm values combined, 8% on utilities
Yes, on homes only
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
No statewide red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
No permit needed (permitless carry)
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
No, only the federal dealer check
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
Iowa has one-party Republican control and an open governor’s race in 2026. Gov. Kim Reynolds is not seeking another term, but her final year is still moving the state toward private school subsidies, immigration enforcement support, and DOGE-style government cuts.
On November 3, 2026, Iowa elects a new governor and fills an open U.S. Senate seat. The sections below cover the state laws and programs the next governor and Legislature will inherit.
Iowa’s Education Savings Accounts and Accountability
Iowa’s Education Savings Account program, created by the Students First Act, became universal for the 2025-26 school year. More than 41,000 students used vouchers, and the state cost was roughly $330 million.
Common Good Iowa found that 44 school districts had no students use vouchers because many rural communities have no nearby private school. The public money still leaves the state budget, but the practical choice is not available to every family.
41,000+ Iowa students used vouchers in the first year with no income limits
Private schools also raised tuition after the program began. Research cited by Iowa Capital Dispatch and Bleeding Heartland found increases of 21%-25% for incoming kindergarten students at schools with high voucher eligibility.
Iowa Guard Troops Are Supporting ICE Through 2026
Gov. Reynolds directed the Iowa National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a federal request from the Department of Homeland Security. The mission began September 8, 2025.
The original authorization ran through November 15, 2025. It was extended to September 30, 2026. The mission started with 20 service members and later dropped to 16, including 14 soldiers and two airmen.
16 service members supporting Iowa-based ICE officials after the extension
September 30, 2026 end date set by the 2025 extension
Title 32 state control with federal pay
No arrest authority administrative, clerical, and logistics support only
The service members work under state control with federal pay, in administrative, clerical and logistics roles, and do not make arrests.
Iowa’s School Book Law Back in Effect
The Eighth Circuit vacated injunctions that had blocked key parts of SF 496. Iowa can now enforce the law’s library restrictions and K-6 LGBTQ classroom limits. Schools must also get written parental permission before using a student’s name or pronouns when they differ from school records.
The court treated school libraries as curriculum, giving local officials broad discretion over what students can access at school. The cases filed by Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Iowa, and other plaintiffs continue in lower court.
If the law stays in force
- Districts remove books with sexual content under threat of state enforcement
- K-6 classrooms avoid LGBTQ topics even when students and families are directly affected
- Students lose access to books while lawsuits continue
If courts narrow the law
- Schools regain discretion to keep age-appropriate books available
- Teachers get clearer rules on names, pronouns, and family discussions
- Students and parents have a stronger path to challenge removals
Iowa also moved fetal development instruction into grades 5-12. The law requires video or computer-generated material depicting prenatal development starting at fertilization and bars materials from organizations that perform or promote abortions. Implementation begins in the 2026-27 school year.
Medication Abortion Now Requires an In-Person Visit
Iowa lawmakers passed HF 2788 in the final hours of the 2026 legislative session. Gov. Reynolds signed it on May 19, 2026. The law requires abortion medications such as mifepristone to be prescribed in person and provided directly in a healthcare setting.
The law also requires an in-person exam before an abortion. Anyone who dispenses abortion pills outside those rules can be sued by “any interested party,” but licensed physicians and pharmacists are immune from those suits and face license discipline instead (HF 2788, enrolled text).
The law follows Iowa’s fetal heartbeat law, in effect since July 29, 2024, which bans most abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy.
The Iowa DOGE Report and Proposed Cuts
Gov. Reynolds launched the Iowa DOGE Task Force in February 2025. The business-led group released 45 recommendations in October, including studies of public employee benefits, merit-based teacher pay, and property tax changes.
The report’s recommendations are not law. Each one would need its own bill in the Legislature.
45 recommendations released by the Iowa DOGE Task Force
Teacher pay proposal to study achievement-based compensation
Public benefits proposal to study employee benefit costs
Property taxes expected to shape 2026 legislation
Iowa residents can compare each new bill on schools, local government or public employment with the task force report.
The 2026 Governor’s Race
Reynolds announced on April 11, 2025 that she would not seek another term. Iowa governors have no term limit, so the decision was hers. Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, and Republican Zach Lahn won their June 2 primaries and face each other on November 3, 2026.
Our Iowa governor race guide covers the candidates and primary results, and our Iowa Senate race guide covers the open Senate seat.
What You Can Do in Iowa
-
Check your voter registration. Use the Secretary of State’s voter search. Pre-registration closes at 5 p.m. on October 19, 2026, and you can also register at your polling place on Election Day.
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Ask school board candidates about vouchers and book removals. State laws land locally. Your district decides how aggressive implementation gets.
-
Track the DOGE recommendations. When a 2026 bill mentions property taxes, teacher pay, benefits, or consolidation, compare it with the task force report.
-
Know your rights during an ICE encounter. You can remain silent. You do not have to open the door without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
-
Make candidates answer specifics. Ask governor candidates whether they support the Guard mission, the voucher expansion, medication abortion restrictions, and SF 496.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Kim Reynolds (R) 515-281-5211
Your State Legislators
Every address in Iowa sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Chamber leaders
- Mike Klimesh, Majority Leader of the Iowa Senate
- Pat Grassley, Speaker of the Iowa House
Events
Show Up Locally
Bondurant Area Democrats Monthly Meeting
Community Event · Iowa Democratic Party
104 2nd St NE, Bondurant, IA, 50035
Tip O’Neill, the legendary 47th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, once said that “all politics is local.” Democrats in Polk County understand that message and the importance of connecting.
Southeast Dallas County Democrats Monthly Meeting
Community Event · Iowa Democratic Party
655 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA, 50263
We represent Democrats and progressives in the Southeast Suburbs of Dallas County, Iowa. We connect neighbors, activate supporters, educate on issues, and empower voters. Meetings are divided into.
Urbandale Area Democrats
Community Event · Iowa Democratic Party
4050 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA, 50310
Urbandale Area Democrats is an inclusive group advancing the principles of the Democratic Party and working to elect candidates for local, state and federal office.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
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