The 2026 election will be unlike any Iowa has seen in modern history. An open governor’s office, an open U.S. Senate seat, and two open congressional seats will put our state squarely at the center of the nation’s political map. For Republicans, this is not a time for complacency. It is a time for humility, accountability, and hard work. Nothing is promised.
In recent years, Republicans have benefitted from favorable political tides, strong candidates, and a base of loyal supporters. But even the strongest tide eventually recedes. The truth is that our hold on Iowa politics is not guaranteed, and if we forget that, we risk losing it. I remain deeply troubled that the governor and many of my colleagues in the Senate voted against the wishes of a majority of Iowans on the issue of private property rights. For a party that has long claimed to defend individual liberty, that vote felt like a betrayal, and I fear it cost us the trust of some of our most faithful supporters.
We also must not forget the lessons of history. Midterm elections traditionally cut against the party that controls the White House. That reality makes it even more important that Iowa Republicans take responsibility for our own setbacks. Losing our supermajority in the Senate was not the result of national headwinds or outside interference. It was the direct consequence of choices we made here at home. If we want to avoid further losses, we must face that fact honestly.
Still, there is reason for hope. With new majority leaders in both chambers, Republicans have an opportunity to reset, to prove that we can govern effectively, and to show Iowans that we deserve to stay in charge. That requires listening to our constituents, honoring their rights, and putting aside the temptation to use power for short-term political gain. Iowans are pragmatic people; they reward those who respect them and punish those who take them for granted.
As we look toward 2026, Iowa Republicans must make a simple choice: earn the trust of the people we serve or watch that trust slip away. The stakes could not be higher, and the responsibility rests squarely on our shoulders.
