Who is running for State Senate District 19 in Iowa in 2026?

Barb Kniff McCulla (R), Zachary Mecham (D)

When is the Iowa 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Iowa › Races › State Senate District 19

State Senate District 19 — Iowa 2026

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Iowa Secretary of State list, as of October 29, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

ABarb Kniff McCullaRepublican

State representative (House District 37) running for State Senate, District 19; Republican.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted yes on gender/parental-rights bills, HF 68 school choice and flat-tax legislation; NRA-PVF A-rated and endorsed. On the Iowa Right to Life 2026 A+ questionnaire list.

Life: On Iowa Right to Life's 2026 questionnaire A+ list (all pro-life answers; IRTL notes this is not an endorsement); was absent for the HF 732 vote.
Family: Voted yes on SF 538 (2023 ban on gender-transition procedures for minors), SF 496 (2023 parental rights/curriculum) and SF 418 (2025 removing gender identity from the Civil Rights Act).
Religious liberty: No specific religious-liberty vote captured; consistent socially conservative voting record.
2nd Amendment: Rated A and endorsed by NRA-PVF (2026); Iowa Firearms Coalition vote index 96.8%.
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on HF 68 (2023 Students First school-choice accounts) and HF 856 (2025 DEI ban).
Fiscal: Voted yes on SF 2442 (2024 flat income tax).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ballotpedia

DZachary MechamDemocratic

Candidate for State Senator, District 19 (Democratic).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentCLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Running as a Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Life: No explicit pro-life positions found; running as Democrat suggests pro-choice alignment.
Family: No explicit positions found; Democratic platform suggests opposition to traditional-marriage and parental-rights priorities.
Religious liberty: No position found on religious liberty.
2nd Amendment: No position found on gun rights.
Limited gov’t: No explicit positions found; Democratic platform suggests support for expanded government programs and opposition to school choice.
Fiscal: No explicit positions found; Democratic platform suggests support for higher spending and opposition to tax cuts.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

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