Who is running for State Senate District 29 in Iowa in 2026?

Sandy Salmon (R), Jim Vowels (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 29

State Senate District 29 — 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

ASandy SalmonRepublican

Incumbent state senator, District 29; Republican.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted yes on the HF 732 heartbeat law, gender/parental-rights bills, HF 68 school choice and flat-tax legislation; NRA-PVF A-rated and endorsed.

Life: Voted yes on HF 732 (2023 heartbeat law) and answered all-yes on Iowa Right to Life's 2026 questionnaire (A+ list).
Family: Voted yes on SF 538 (2023 ban on gender-transition procedures for minors), SF 496 (2023 parental rights/curriculum), HF 2416 (2022 girls' sports) 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 100.0%; voted yes on HF 756 (2021 permitless carry).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on HF 68 (2023 Students First school-choice accounts) and HF 856 (2025 DEI ban).
Fiscal: Voted yes on HF 2317 (2022 flat income tax) and SF 2442 (2024 flat income tax).

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

Ballotpedia

DJim VowelsDemocratic

Candidate for State Senator, District 29 (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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