Libertarian Jake Heard Vows to Fight for Spot on Iowa November Ballot
Libertarian congressional candidate Jake Heard is accusing Iowa Republicans of systematically removing Libertarian candidates from the November ballot, even as his own candidacy hangs in the balance. Heard, running for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District covering Des Moines and south-central Iowa, made the charge Saturday at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox.
Heard told Iowans that Republicans are intentionally targeting Libertarians because they believe third-party candidates siphon votes away from the GOP.
Republicans believe that Libertarians take votes away from them. So they don't want us on the ballot, Heard said.
What is the status of Heard's ballot access?
Iowa Libertarians nominated Heard on Aug. 12 to replace Marco Battaglia, who ended his campaign due to an unspecified medical emergency. Battaglia had already been removed from the Nov. 3 ballot by the Republican-dominated State Objections Panel and lost his court appeal.
A Polk County judge ruled July 29 that the panel was correct to remove Battaglia for failing to run under his legal name, Mark T. Andersen, despite having appeared on previous Iowa ballots as Marco Battaglia.
Secretary of State Paul Pate's office issued a letter Aug. 18 stating Heard has not met the requirements to appear on the November ballot. The office maintains Libertarians did not use the proper filing procedure in a timely fashion. The letter also contends gubernatorial candidate Nick Gluba cannot be placed on the ballot with new lieutenant governor nominee Charles Aldrich. Libertarians are suing over Pate's decision.
Heard argued the secretary of state is incorrectly interpreting election law to bar replacement candidates. He acknowledged his fate for November is unclear at this point.
This is now the second cycle in a row that the governor candidate and congressional candidates for Libertarian parties have been removed from the ballot based on technicalities, he said. And if this continues, I fear for our democratic republic and for our freedom here in Iowa.
Why does Heard criticize the two-party system?
Heard, a Des Moines criminal defense attorney who entered private practice in 2023, previously worked in the Iowa Legislature, including as chief of staff to the state Senate president. He ran unsuccessfully for the Urbandale-based Iowa House District 44 seat in 2024.
He said behind closed doors in the Legislature, Democrats and Republicans make sure their interests are taken care of. He argued the two-party system disturbs the checks and balances intended to preserve American democracy.
One of the biggest risks and problems that are posed by only a two-party system is that nothing gets done when there's a policy issue that has to be decided when there's split control, Heard said. And when one party does control, you get their policy preference. And then when, as nature happens, the parties shift, then you get a huge policy pendulum, a big rubber band effect.
If elected, Heard said he would oppose eminent domain for private purposes, holds a non-interventionalist foreign policy philosophy, and would advocate to legalize marijuana.
Could a Libertarian candidate affect the 3rd District race?
The 3rd District race is one of the nation's most targeted battleground contests, with elections observers calling it a toss-up. Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott are set to face off in the general election. A third-party candidate's presence could influence the outcome of a race potentially pivotal to control of Congress.
Heard said he does not believe Libertarians by default take away more Republican votes. He also said he has not been contacted by national Republicans pressuring him to drop out, unlike Battaglia and 2nd District candidate Rick Stewart, who say they faced calls from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Heard vowed to keep fighting until Republicans abandon their tactics of removing Libertarians from the ballot.
When we go to the ballot box, all Iowans are given a false choice right now, Heard said. It's either Democrat or Republican. If you vote for a Libertarian, you're wasting a vote. If you vote for an independent, you're wasting a vote. That is a false choice. There are other options out there.
This article is based on reporting from the Des Moines Register.