Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA and a State Legislator who represents the reddest seat held by a Democrat in the state of Iowa. Born with spina bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Josh overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12 to eventually represent the U.S. at four Paralympics.

After his basketball career ended with a gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, Josh ran to represent his hometown of Council Bluffs in the legislature. Running in a seat that Donald Trump had already won twice, Josh pushed his chair up hills and crawled up stairs to talk to Iowans of all political stripes, eventually winning by six votes. He was re-elected by a five-point margin at the same time Trump was winning the seat by eight points, not only because of his work ethic but because he’s developed a reputation as a common-sense, bipartisan legislator.

Lindsay James’ journey to public service began long before she decided to run for Congress. As a chaplain, she sat beside people in their hardest hours—listening without judgment, offering hope, and finding common ground where none seemed possible. Those moments taught her that each person matters, and their struggles deserve attention.

As a state representative, Lindsay James has been a voice that refuses to be drowned out—a dynamic force with a ready smile and the unshakable conviction: that government should serve the people, not the powerful, and that no one—no child, no farmer, no working family—should be pushed aside.

Rooted in Iowa values and guided by a deep moral compass, she leads with the kind of fire that speaks truth to power, painting a vision of Iowa where opportunity is not a privilege for the few but a promise to us all.

Rob Sand has served as Iowa State Auditor since 2019, earning a reputation for independence, accountability, and protecting taxpayer dollars. A native Iowan and former prosecutor, Rob has dedicated his career to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse while making state government more transparent and effective.

As governor, Rob is focused on building an Iowa where families can thrive—strengthening public schools, supporting rural communities, expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring government works for the people it serves. He believes leadership starts with listening, solving problems, and putting Iowans ahead of politics.

Rob and his wife, Christine, are raising their two sons in Iowa, where they remain deeply committed to the state’s future.

Dave Muhlbauer is a fifth-generation Iowa farmer, cattle producer, and Crawford County Supervisor from western Iowa. A lifelong advocate for rural communities, he has focused on strengthening local government, supporting family farms, and creating opportunities for working Iowans. Dave brings decades of experience in agriculture, public service, and community leadership to the Democratic ticket.

Nate Willems has spent his career protecting Iowans and fighting for their rights. That’s exactly what he’ll do as Iowa’s next attorney general.

As an attorney, he has helped tens of thousands of Iowans who have had crimes committed against them and who have been ripped off by corporations.

Now, as attorney general, he will work with prosecutors and local law enforcement to secure convictions for violent crimes, put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Iowans, and hold corporations accountable when they break the law.

Ryan is running for Secretary of State because he believes in public service—and he believes we need more leaders who treat that responsibility with honesty, humility, and a sense of duty.

For over a decade, he served our country as a Naval Officer. He led sailors overseas, worked on defense policy in the Senate, and helped develop future officers at the Naval Academy. In each of those roles, trust mattered. Integrity mattered. And he learned that institutions only work when people believe the people in charge are worthy of that belief.

John Norwood is a lifelong public servant and financial leader committed to protecting Iowa’s fiscal future and strengthening opportunity for families across the state. ​​He has lived in West Des Moines for more than twenty years, where his two children graduated from West Des Moines Valley High School.

John holds a BA from Williams College and holds both an MBA in Finance and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University. He is a long-standing member of the CFA Society of Iowa, reflecting his commitment to ethical, disciplined financial stewardship.

Taylor Wettach is running for Iowa State Auditor because he believes Iowans deserve transparent, accountable government that works for everyday people. An attorney and former federal prosecutor, Wettach has focused his career on public integrity, consumer protection, and holding powerful institutions accountable. He says the Auditor’s office should serve taxpayers by increasing transparency, preventing waste, and rebuilding trust in government.

Chris Jones is a research scientist, author, and one of Iowa’s leading water quality experts who has spent more than 40 years advocating for clean water and sustainable agricultural practices across the state.

During his career, Jones managed the water quality testing laboratory at Des Moines Water Works for eight years, helping oversee operations at one of the world’s largest nitrate removal facilities built to address Iowa’s agricultural runoff crisis. He also spent four years as an environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association, where he helped deploy some of the state’s first independent water quality monitoring systems.

Mary believes that Iowa can do better. As state senator, Marypledges to listen. She wants to understand various sides of an issue, then work to help Iowa families. She believes in balance in government, representing all points of view. As a former area newspaper publisher, Mary considers input before making conclusions. She has seen real consequences for rural Iowa families and communities with public decisions regarding water quality, health care, child care, schools, roads, local businesses, family farms, public safety, local budgets and more. She grew up in Luxemburg. She and her husband, Jens, raised three children in Dyersville.

Brian Bruening is a small business owner, community leader, and advocate for rural Iowa. He’s running to strengthen public schools, expand opportunity for working families, and help build communities where people can live, work, and succeed for generations to come.

Carolyn Wiezorek, former teacher, elementary school principal, and associate professor of education, pursues District 65, Iowa House seat as a vehicle for improving Dubuque County, Iowa, and the U.S. Carolyn, and husband Bill, have three adult children and two grandchildren. The Wiezoreks own a small farm near Bankston and are part-owners of a sawmill in Sand Springs, Iowa. Carolyn volunteers weekly at the Lantern Center, Prescott Elementary School, and Convivium Urban Farmstead. In addition, she has served on the Dubuque Archdiocesan School Board, Pay it Foreward Connolly board, and Fountain of Youth board. She is a member of 100 Women who Care, Indivisible Dubuque County, Dubuque NAACP, and League of Women Voters. She helps at the Epworth Food Pantry and supports many Dubuque County fundraisers.

Issues topping Carolyn’s list include:

• Affordability, including combatting predatory practices of private equity firms and big out-of-state corporations.

• Quality Affordable Healthcare, reversing the privatization of Medicaid, obtaining nonprofit health insurance and health care options.

• Cancer Rates in Iowa, fast tracking research and applying findings to reduce growing cancers in our state.

• Water Quality, determining and mitigating causes of water contamination.

• Quality Education, ensuring that public schools are adequately funded, teachers are supported, and research and best practices are implemented.

Carolyn believes that the best way to combat many of the issues facing Dubuque County residents is to pull together and support one another by purchasing locally and supporting businesses that invest in the community.