Iowans in all 99 counties began casting ballots on Oct. 14, kicking off early voting for a Nov. 3 general election that includes an open governor's race, a contested U.S. Senate seat, and all four U.S. House districts, three of which are now rated as competitive by national forecasters.
The Cook Political Report recently shifted several Iowa races in a direction that should get Republican voters' attention. The governor's race and the 1st and 3rd Congressional District contests moved from Toss-Up to Lean Democrat, while the U.S. Senate race and the 2nd Congressional District dropped from Lean Republican to Toss-Up, according to www.theepochtimes.com.
What's on the ballot
Early in-person absentee voting started Wednesday, Oct. 14, and mail ballots went out the same day to voters who requested them, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Iowans will choose a new governor, a U.S. senator, four U.S. House members, and state and local offices.
The governor's race pits Republican newcomer Lahn, a farmer and businessman, against Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand. Lahn won a hard-fought GOP primary in June, defeating four Republicans including Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra. Sand ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Two and a half months after the primary, the Cook Political Report rated the race Lean Democrat.
Hinson and Turek clash in Senate debate
Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, held by retiring Republican Joni Ernst, is a genuine toss-up this fall. Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who has President Donald Trump's backing, faces Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek and Libertarian Thomas Laehn. Cook rated the seat Lean Republican until shifting it to Toss-Up on Aug. 20.
The two major-party candidates met for a televised debate on WHO 13 in Des Moines on Oct. 14, the same day early voting began, and the exchanges got personal fast.
„I've done hundreds of in-person town halls, meanwhile, Ashley Hinson, since she's running for the U.S. Senate, has not done a single in-person town hall,” Turek alleged.
Hinson fired back with Turek's attendance record in the state House.
„I've done more town halls than the percentage of time he showed up to work this year,” Hinson said. „Forty-two percent of the time is all [that] Rep. Turek showed up to work this year.”
The Trump-backed Republican added that a worker with that kind of attendance record would be fired from any job. Turek missed 261 of the 445 votes, roughly 58 percent, held on the state House floor during Iowa's legislative session from Jan. 12 to April 2, 2026.
Billy Fuerst, the Hinson campaign's communications director, told The Epoch Times that since Hinson was elected to Congress in 2020, she has held 47 in-person town halls and more than 30 telephone town halls. A Turek campaign spokesperson countered that Hinson „doesn't want to face Iowans” about her Republican voting record.
Polling has shown a tight contest. A recent YouGov poll put Turek slightly ahead of Hinson, a warning sign for Republicans who have counted on the seat staying in GOP hands.
Three of four House races now competitive
Iowa's four U.S. House seats are all on the ballot, and three of them are drawing national attention.
In the 1st District, which covers southeast Iowa including Iowa City and Davenport, incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces former state Rep. Christina Bohannan and independent candidate Michael Bridgford. Cook moved that race from Toss-Up to Lean Democrat on Oct. 9, just days before early voting began.
In the 3rd District, which covers southwest Iowa including Des Moines, incumbent Republican Zach Nunn is working to hold off state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott. Cook also shifted that contest to Lean Democrat on Oct. 9.
The 2nd District, long a safe Republican seat, features former state Rep. Joe Mitchell against Democratic state Rep. Lindsay James and independents Dave Bushaw and Rick Stewart. Cook moved it from Lean Republican to Toss-Up on Oct. 9.
Only the 4th District looks settled. Cook rates it Solid Republican and predicts Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan will defeat Democratic former state Rep. David Dawson. Incumbent Randy Feenstra gave up the seat to run for governor but lost the GOP primary to Lahn in June.
What voters at the polls are saying
A handful of voters who cast ballots at the Polk County Election Office in Des Moines on Wednesday told The Epoch Times their top concerns included water quality, cancer rates, and the rising cost of living.
Mima Keco, 29, a Des Moines Democrat, said runoff from fertilizer and manure on farms brought her to the polls. „I haven't been able to go to like, Gray's Lake or Easter Lake or any of them because of how disgusting the water is,” Keco said, adding that her dog got sick after contact with water at Gray's Lake.
Fellow Democrat Maisie Stilwell said she installed a reverse osmosis system at home so her family would avoid tap water. „Our water is disgusting,” Stilwell said. „I don't let my kids touch it.”
Both Senate candidates agree the state has a water quality problem and have proposed solutions that include infrastructure investment and partnerships with farmers to keep the water supply clean. State-funded research at the University of Iowa found that most of the state's above-normal rates for five cancers are tied to demographic and behavioral factors such as smoking and binge drinking.
One independent voter, who gave only her first name, Janan, said she was leaning Democratic this year because she believes Republican lawmakers are too „scared” to stand up to President Trump. No Republican voter agreed to comment on record outside the Des Moines polling location on Wednesday.
How to vote early in Iowa
Iowans can vote early in person at their county auditor's office or request an absentee ballot by mail. Mail ballots began going out Oct. 14 to voters who had requested them, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Election Day is Nov. 3.
With the Senate race and three House districts now rated as toss-ups or leaning Democratic, turnout over the next three weeks will decide whether Republicans hold the ground they've carried in recent cycles or whether Democrats make gains in a state Trump has won twice.
FAQ
When does early voting end in Iowa?
In-person absentee voting runs through the Monday before the Nov. 3 general election, and voters can return mailed ballots by mail or in person ahead of Election Day.
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Iowa?
Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, and Libertarian Thomas Laehn are competing for the seat currently held by Republican Joni Ernst.
Which Iowa House races are competitive?
The Cook Political Report rates the 1st and 3rd districts as Lean Democrat, the 2nd District as Toss-Up, and the 4th District as Solid Republican.