Northwest Iowa voters now have a complete picture of who will appear on the ballot for the June 2 primary, as the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office has finalized the list of candidates for federal and state legislative races.
The filing deadline closed March 13. Several contests in this year’s primary directly affect voters across Buena Vista County and the surrounding region.
One of the most closely watched races is Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. With Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull running for governor, the seat is open for the first time in six years. On the Republican side, Chris McGowan of Sioux City is the lone GOP candidate. McGowan is the former president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and has been active in regional economic development efforts for more than a decade. He will advance directly to the November ballot.
Three Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination. Dave Dawson of Lawton, a former state representative and Woodbury County prosecutor, is running on a platform focused on public safety and rural economic stability. Stephanie Steiner of Sutherland, a former educator and mental‑health advocate, has emphasized school funding and access to behavioral‑health services. And Ashley WolfTornabane of Storm Lake, a stay-at-home mother and former public school instructional assistant and director of Christian education, is campaigning on immigration reform, rural workforce needs, and housing affordability. The winner of the Democratic primary will face McGowan in the general election.
In the Iowa Senate, District 3—which includes all of Buena Vista, O’Brien, and Osceola counties, along with portions of Cherokee and Clay—features a contested Republican primary. Incumbent Lynn Evans of Aurelia, a retired school superintendent, is seeking a second term. He is being challenged by Shane Bellefy of Cherokee, a banking officer and Cherokee County Supervisor, who has focused his campaign on property‑tax reform and local control. The Democratic nominee is already set: Mike Frantz of Storm Lake, a retired college admissions, financial aid, and marketing consultant, is unopposed in his primary.
Several Iowa House races in the region will also appear on the June ballot.
In House District 5, which covers all of Osceola and O’Brien counties and parts of Buena Vista and Cherokee, incumbent Republican Zach Dieken did not file for re‑election. Two Republicans are seeking the open seat. Keith Glienke of Aurelia, a farmer and former school board member, is running on education and rural infrastructure issues. Michael Schnoes of Sutherland, a teacher, is emphasizing public safety and support for small towns. No Democrats filed in District 5, meaning the GOP primary will likely determine the district’s next representative.
In House District 6, covering portions of Buena Vista and Clay counties, Republican Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids is running unopposed. Jones, an attorney, has served in the Iowa House since 2013 and currently chairs the House Environmental Protection Committee. No Democratic candidates filed for the district.
In House District 7, which includes all of Pocahontas, Calhoun, and Sac counties and part of Webster County, incumbent Republican Wendy Larson of Odebolt is seeking another term. Larson, a former teacher and school administrator, is unopposed in the GOP primary. Democrat Rachel Burns of Odebolt, a speech‑language pathologist and volunteer firefighter, is unopposed on the Democratic side and will advance to the general election.
And in House District 12, covering Ida and Crawford counties and part of Shelby County, Republican Steven Holt of Denison is running for re‑election. Holt chairs the House Judiciary Committee and has served in the legislature since 2015. Two Democrats—Dustin Durbin of Dow City and Brady Meyer of Holstein—will compete for their party’s nomination.
Statewide, the June primary will also feature competitive races for governor and U.S. Senate. Five Republicans, including Congressman Feenstra, have qualified for the GOP gubernatorial ballot. State Auditor Rob Sand is the lone Democrat after Julie Stauch fell short of the required signature threshold. In the U.S. Senate race, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and former state senator Jim Carlin are competing in the Republican primary, while Democrats Zach Wahls and Josh Turek are seeking their party’s nomination.
Iowa’s primary election will be held Tuesday, June 2. Absentee ballot requests opened yesterday (March 23), and ballots may be mailed beginning May 13. Full candidate lists and district maps are available at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.
