Primary Elections in Iowa and New Jersey Set the Stage for November Contests
In a major upset, businessman Zach Lahn defeated Trump-endorsed Representative Randy Feenstra in the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary, marking the first loss for a Trump-backed candidate in a 2026 statewide race.
IOWA PRIMARY RESULTS
Primary elections held on Tuesday in Iowa determined nominees for several competitive statewide and federal races, including the governor's race, a U.S. Senate seat, and multiple U.S. House districts. The general election in November is expected to feature competitive contests across the state.
Governor's Race
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, businessman Zach Lahn defeated Representative Randy Feenstra, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump. With 99% of the expected vote counted, Lahn received 37.8% of the vote to Feenstra's 37%. Feenstra conceded the race on Tuesday night.
This marked the first time in the 2026 midterm election cycle that a candidate endorsed by Trump for a gubernatorial, Senate, or House race lost a primary.
Lahn, a farmer and former conservative political director, campaigned on a platform including a total ban on abortion, opposition to corporate consolidation in agriculture, reducing nitrate pollution in water, and opposing legal protections for pesticide companies. He aligned himself with the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
State Auditor Rob Sand secured the Democratic nomination for governor after running unopposed in the primary.
U.S. Senate Race
Democratic voters nominated State Representative Josh Turek for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Joni Ernst. Turek defeated State Senator Zach Wahls in the Democratic primary. Turek highlighted his personal background, including being born with spina bifida from his father's Agent Orange exposure and a history of poverty.
Republican Representative Ashley Hinson secured her party's nomination for the Senate seat after running unchallenged in the primary.
U.S. House Races
Primary results determined candidates in several competitive U.S. House districts:
- 1st Congressional District: Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks will face Democratic former state Representative Christina Bohannan in a rematch from a previous election.
- 3rd Congressional District: Republican Representative Zach Nunn will face Democratic state Senator Sarah Trone Garriott.
- 2nd Congressional District (Open): Republican former state Representative Joe Mitchell will face Democratic state Representative Lindsay James.
The 4th Congressional District was not described as competitive.
State Political Context
The Republican gubernatorial primary included five candidates seeking to replace outgoing Governor Kim Reynolds. Former state government official Adam Steen placed third with approximately 15% of the vote.
Democratic candidate Rob Sand has focused on the general election after running unopposed. He has amassed an $18 million campaign fund and campaigned with an anti-establishment message criticizing both major parties. Democrats have not won a top-of-the-ticket race in Iowa since Barack Obama in 2012.
Presidential Visit
President Trump held a rally in Clive, Iowa, which focused on the economy and energy. The visit occurred amid public opinion polls indicating decreased support for the administration's agenda. Trump previously visited Iowa on July 4, 2025, when he highlighted the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which enacted cuts to taxes and social safety net programs. The president received 55% of the statewide vote in Iowa in 2024.
Farming industry groups have raised concerns that the Republican-led House did not include a provision allowing year-round sales of higher-ethanol E15 fuel in a recent spending plan.
New Jersey Primaries
In New Jersey, Democratic voters selected candidates for two House seats:
- 7th Congressional District: Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic nomination and will face incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr. Kean has been absent from Congress since early March due to an undisclosed medical condition.
- 12th Congressional District: Adam Hamawy, a plastic surgeon and army veteran, won the Democratic nomination in this safely Democratic seat.