Who is running for State Senate District 21 in Iowa in 2026?

John Hollinrake (R), Heather Matson (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 21

State Senate District 21 — 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

BJohn HollinrakeRepublican

Candidate for State Senator, District 21 (Republican).

LifeBFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tBFiscalB

Non-incumbent Republican; NRA-PVF AQ-rated and endorsed. iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Life: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Family: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
2nd Amendment: Rated AQ and endorsed by NRA-PVF (2026).
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Republican; iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

FHeather MatsonDemocratic

State representative (House District 42) running for State Senate, District 21; Democratic.

LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Voted no on the HF 732 heartbeat law, voted against gender/parental-rights bills and rated F by NRA-PVF (2026). iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: Voted no on HF 732 (2023 heartbeat law); endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa PAC (2026).
Family: Voted no 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 position found on religious liberty.
2nd Amendment: Rated F by NRA-PVF (2026); designated a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026); Iowa Firearms Coalition vote index 29.2%.
Limited gov’t: Voted no on HF 68 (2023 Students First school-choice accounts) and HF 856 (2025 DEI ban).
Fiscal: No explicit positions found; Democratic platform suggests support for higher spending and opposition to tax cuts.

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

Ballotpedia

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