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The following is information on races CCI Action Fund is following closely:
Guide to Scorecard Ratings on the Candidates
CCI Action Fund is not endorsing state or federal candidates in the 2026 midterms. However, we are tracking certain races and candidates closely. CCI Action developed a simple rating system to provide insight into stated policy positions of candidates we’re following closely. If elected, these candidates will have the ability to impact key issues that are at the heart of our work.
We want to emphasize that these ratings are CCI Action Fund’s best understanding of candidates’ positions based on what candidates are saying as of mid-September 2026, their past votes, work history, and other key considerations.
We rank candidates on the degree to which they are aligned with the policy goals of CCI Action Fund’s members on these core issues: Public Schools, Water Protection, Data Centers, and Healthcare.
Key: based on CCI Action Fund's policy goals identified below:
✓ Stated support of policy goals
X Not in agreement with our positions on this issue
N/A Not applicable
POLICY GOALS ON KEY ISSUES:
Public Schools:
- Supports fully funding public education at a rate that keeps up with inflation
- Does not support using taxpayer money to fund private schools
- Believes public schools should provide a robust and complete education
Water Protection:
- Supports funding Iowa's state-of-the-art water quality monitoring system
- Believes polluters should be held accountable with tough fines and penalties for the pollution they create
- Supports mandatory measures for corporate agriculture to reduce nitrates flowing into our waterways
- Supports research to determine the current volume and condition of our groundwater and surface water
Healthcare:
- Supports efforts to expand healthcare access to all Iowans
- Opposes efforts to privatize Medicaid and Medicare
- Supports efforts to hold health insurance companies and Big Pharma accountable
Data Centers:
- Supports a statewide moratorium/pause on new data center construction until Iowa has adopted strong rules and regulations that protect Iowa’s land, water, and air quality
- Opposes using taxpayer money to subsidize the construction and/or operation of data centers
- Supports caps on utility rate increases
- Supports regulations that ensure that approved data centers are powered by clean energy paid for by the permitted corporation rather than taxpayers
- Supports the rights of local control by communities and counties to decide whether or not to allow the building of data centers in their communities
CANDIDATES FOR IOWA GOVERNOR
Rob Sand (D)
RobSand.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
United Auto Workers (UAW), SEIU, Iowa State Education Association, Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, Iowa Laborers’ Union, End Citizens United, more than 100 Republicans (dubbed Rob-publicans), Public Safety Leaders for Rob
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Assistant Iowa Attorney General – uncovered and prosecuted the largest lottery rigging scheme in American history
- Elected as Iowa State Auditor in 2018, reelected in 2022
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
✓ Public Schools
✓ Healthcare
Photo: Raydo, CC0
Zach lahn (R)
ZachLahn.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
President Donald Trump, Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Former Iowa Congressman Steve King, MAHA Action
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Worked for Montana and Colorado congressmen
- Was the Montana Director for Americans for Prosperity
- Launched Homeplace Ventures, an investment firm
- Started a private school in Wichita, Kansas, which was funded by Chase Koch
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
X Public Schools
CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
Chris Jones (D)
ChrisJones
forIowa.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
Former U.S. Senator for Iowa Tom Harkin, Friends of the Earth Action
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Managed the water quality testing laboratory at Des Moines Water Works for eight years
- Worked as an environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association for four years, deploying some of Iowa’s first independent water quality monitoring systems
- Was a research engineer at the University of Iowa helping to develop Iowa’s public water quality sensor network
- Is the author of The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
N/A Public Schools
✓ Water Protection
✓ Data Centers
N/A Healthcare
Photo: Public Domain
Mike Naig,
Incumbent (R)
MikeNaig.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC), Iowa Innovation, Information and Pharmaceutical Association (IIPAC), Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Served as Manager of Government Affairs for Monsanto from 2008-2013
- Was Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for Iowa from 2012-2018
- Was appointed Iowa Secretary of Agriculture by Kim Reynolds in 2018 to fill the vacant position
- Was elected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2018 and again in 2022
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
N/A Public Schools
X Water Protection
N/A Healthcare
CANDIDATES FOR U.S. Senate
Photo: Iowa General Assembly
Josh Turek (D)
Turek4iowa.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
Former U.S. Senator from Iowa Tom Harkin, Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator from Illinois Tammy Duckworth, Iowa Federation of Labor, Iowa State Education Association, United Auto Workers (UAW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators Local #39, NE & SW Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2022 by 6 votes, reelected in 2024 by a 5-point margin
- Was a Volunteer Director for the Ryan Martin Foundation (provides disabled children an opportunity to play sports for free)
- Worked at a wheelchair mobility assistance company
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
✓ Public Schools
✓ Water Protection
✓ Healthcare
Photo: Public Domain
Ashley Hinson (R)
Ashley
Hinson.com
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
President Donald Trump, U.S. Senator from Iowa Chuck Grassley, U.S. Senator from Iowa Joni Ernst, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds
ELECTORAL/WORK
HISTORY:
- News anchor for KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids
- Elected to the Iowa House of Representatives for District 67 in 2016 and 2018
- Elected to U.S. Congress in 2020 representing Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
- Reelected to U.S. Congress in 2022 and 2024 in the redrawn 2nd Congressional District
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
X Public Schools
X Water Protection
X Healthcare
Thomas Laehn (L)
Laeh4iowa.org
PROMINENT ENDORSERS:
None identified on his website
ELECTORAL/WORK HISTORY:
- Intern in Senator Chuck Grassley’s office
- Professor at McNeese State University in Louisiana
- Elected Greene County Attorney in 2018 and again in 2022
SCORECARD ON CCI ACTION ISSUES:
? Public Schools
? Water Protection
? Data Centers
X Healthcare
UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES:
CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE
U.S. SENATE:
The following candidates will be on all Iowa ballots.
Photo: IOWA General Assembly
Josh Turek (D)
Turek4Iowa.com
Photo: Public Domain
Ashley Hinson (R)
AshleyHinson.com
Photo: McConnell Center,
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Thomas Laehn (L)
Laeh4Iowa.org
U.S. House of
Representatives:
The following candidates will appear only on ballots specific to the appropriate voter districts. Look at the map below to determine what District you’re in, or go to your County Auditor’s website.
Christina
Bohannan (D)
BohannanFor
Congress.com
Mariannette
Miller-Meeks,
Incumbent (R)
AshleyHinson.com
Michael
Bridgford (I)
BridgefordFor
Iowa.com
Lindsay
James (D)
Lindsay
ForIowa.com
Joe
Mitchell (R)
Joe
Mitchell.com
Dave
Bushaw (I)
Dave
Bushaw.com
Rick
Stewart (L)
Rick
Stewart.com
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Amendment 1
The following will be on all Iowa ballots.
Amendment Summary:
Amendment 1 would add a new article, Article XIII, to the Iowa Constitution. The Amendment requires that any bill that increases the corporate tax rate or the individual income tax rate would have to be adopted by at least two-thirds of the members of Iowa’s General Assembly.
Amendment Impact:
- A minority of the General Assembly would have the power to prevent tax increases that Iowa voters favor.
- It would be very difficult to increase funding for essential public services that need additional funding like public schools, water protection, health care, and public safety.
- It would change the Iowa Constitution and would be extremely difficult to rescind (invalidate) if voters find the Amendment is a mistake.
- This amendment will largely benefit people with wealth. The vast majority of the public will suffer from the effects of additional cuts to services we depend on.
This Voter Guide was developed by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund to help Iowa voters prepare for voting in the 2026 Midterm election.
CI Action brings people together to push for a government and an economy that work for people and the planet. We’re thousands of members strong across the state – from Iowa’s rural areas, small towns, and big cities.
- We do grassroots issue organizing and work in elections.
- We’re about changing “business as usual” politics and taking on the corrosive influence of big money special interests.
- We’re about energizing, engaging, and bringing real people into the center of our political system.
We want to thank the following for their part in developing this Voter Guide:
Created and written by Christina Roessler
Designed by Ming Yuen
This voter guide is provided and paid for by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund. Not authorized by any candidates or candidate's committee. Lisa Whelan, Executive Director. 2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311. cciaction.org