There was big news Monday in the 2026 race for Iowa governor, as a sitting Republican Congressman may run and a Democrat expected to become a candidate announced he will indeed do that.
Paperwork filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Monday indicates that Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra could run for governor. Feenstra represents the 4th Congressional District in Northwest Iowa.
Last month, Governor Kim Reynolds said she wasn’t going to seek re-election, setting up a potential competition for the Republican nomination.
Other potential Republican candidates include state Attorney General Brenna Bird, state Senator Mike Bousselot, state Representative Bobby Kaufmann, and Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley.
In the morning, State Auditor Rob Sand entered the race, becoming the first major Democrat to announce his candidacy for governor.
Sand says if he’s elected, one of his top priorities will be getting the state budget back on track. Another priority would be making sure there’s more accountability for how tax dollars are spent, such as with the state’s voucher style education savings accounts for students in private schools.
Representatives for Feenstra haven’t returned a request for comment.
*The Iowa Legislature is into a second week of overtime, as Republicans leading the two chambers seek to finalize the terms of a budget for 2026.
Last week, the Iowa Senate advanced a proposal to ban state entities, such as cities and counties, from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and staff.
The bill defines DEI as efforts to promote policies encouraging preferential treatment of people based on race, color or ethnicity.
Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom said he disagrees with another senator’s comments claiming the opposite of DEI is inequity and exclusion. Rozenboom said the opposite of “diversity, equity and inclusion is MEI, merit, excellence and intelligence.”
In a related move in their package, the state senators also voted to remove a section that would have prevented the state’s private colleges from having DEI offices.
*In other news, Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller on Monday noted the arrival of National Police Week, which was began with a noon memorial event downtown to remember local law enforcement officers who died while on duty.
“This is a somber time of reflection as we recognize the heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mueller said.
Mueller said he was proud of the officers who work to keep the community safe. National Police Week has been observed since 1962.
