Republican Wendy Larson defeated Democrat Rachel Burns to win a special election for Iowa House District 7 in northwest Iowa.

A 27-year-old from Amana jumped into the 1st Congressional District race as a Republican. Tyler Hegewald said he wants to address the housing crisis, increase abortion access and reduce college tuition.

Republican Wendy Larson and Democrat Rachel Burns both live in Odebolt. They are running to replace Mike Sexton, a Republican from Rockwell City, who resigned his seat in September to take a job with the Trump administration as director of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Iowa.

A special election on Tuesday features two candidates from the same small town in northwest Iowa. The outcome could be an indicator of political sentiment in rural Iowa after recent contests in the state — and across the country — have favored Democratic candidates.

IOWA ( KCAU) — The race for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District seat in the 2026 election cycle now has one fewer candidate. Republican Douglas Jensen announced on Monday that he is withdrawing due to “Urgent family responsibilities.” Jensen said his wife is in the U.S. military and will be deployed overseas again.

As Republicans and Democrats look ahead to next year’s midterms, both parties are keeping an eye on a series of state and local special elections to close the year out. Democrats are seeking

National Democrats are adding the Iowa House and Senate to their 2026 target map, citing recent over-performance in special elections and new opportunities to cut into GOP control in Des Moines.

Republican Wendy Larson will keep Iowa House District 7 red following a special election on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.The Iowa House seat was vacated earlier this year by former Rep.