It was a standing-room-only crowd in Cedar Rapids as former South Bend mayor and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeg spoke.

Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) has filed paperwork to run for Iowa governor in 2026, joining a crowded field of Republicans seeking to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and facing off against Democrat

Melton, who lives in Webster City, ran in 2022 and 2024 against Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, and lost by more than 30 percentage points each time. However, Melton has pointed out online and in campaign dispatches that his performance improved (by about 2.5 points) between the two cycles.

Sand attended his first public-facing interview since announcing his 2026 bid for Iowa governor earlier in the day May 12.

Democratic state auditor Rob Sand is officially running for governor. He says his campaign will focus on bipartisanship, accountability and bringing Iowans relief from rising costs.

A new member has joined the Iowa House of Representatives on what may be the last week of the 2025 legislative session. Angel Ramirez, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, won a special election two weeks ago for a vacancy in the Iowa House.