Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner announced she’s running for reelection in Senate District 45.

IOWA FALLS – Rural Buckeye native Annette Sweeney has announced her re-election candidacy for Iowa Senate District #27, which encompasses all of Hardin, Grundy, Poweshiek, much of Tama, and a portion of Black Hawk counties.

The majority whip position has been vacant since Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, left the role to become majority leader in September.

National Democrats are adding the Iowa House and Senate to their 2026 target map, citing recent over-performance in special elections and new opportunities to cut into GOP control in Des Moines.

Iowa Sen. Janice Weiner announced Tuesday that she is running for re-election, saying she wants to continue pushing back against one-party control.

Iowa, a candidate for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and represents Iowa’s 20th District, which is the reddest Democratic-held district in Iowa.

Josh Turek, a state representative from Council Bluffs, is one of several Democrats seeking the nomination for the seat held by Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who will not seek reelection in 2026. Turek spoke to the Tribune when he was in Ames on Dec. 5 for the Farmers Union Candidate Forum.

State Sen. Mike Bousselot will not run for governor, he announced. He will instead run for retiring Sen. Jack Whitver's open Senate seat.

Tiffin Democrat Travis Terrell calls for a $20-an-hour federal minimum wage and tougher corporate accountability in his campaign for Congress, and Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner seeks another term after helping Democrats break GOP super majority.

National Democrats are targeting Iowa statehouse races ahead of the 2026 midterm election, hoping to capitalize on recent special election gains for Democrats across the country — including a handful of Iowa races that have far outperformed Democrats in 2024.