2026 Candidate Conversations
The Iowa Food System Coalition’s 2026 Candidate Conversations give Iowans a nonpartisan way to hear directly from candidates about the food, farm, health, land, water, and rural community issues shaping Iowa’s food system.
IFSC’s Voter Engagement Guide helps Iowans ask informed questions and engage candidates on the food and farm issues shaping Iowa’s future.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Chris Jones
Candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Mike Naig
Candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
▶ No Response
Governor
Zach Lahn
Gubernatorial Candidate
Rob Sand
Gubernatorial Candidate
U.S. HOUSE
2nd District
Dave Bushaw
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
Lindsay James
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
Joe Mitchell
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
Rick Stewart
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
4th District
Dave Dawson
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
Chris McGowan
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
▶ No Response
Jermaine Decker
Candidate for U.S. House, Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
▶ No Response
3rd District - No Responses
1st District - No Responses
U.S. SENTATE - NO RESPONSES
STATE LEGISLATURE CANDIDATES
In addition to our statewide and federal Candidate Engagement work, we invited state legislative candidates across Iowa to share where they stand on food and farm issues affecting Iowa’s food system.
We’re excited to see responses from Iowa House and Senate candidates starting to come in, and even more excited about the opportunity to work alongside policymakers across the state who are thinking seriously about the future of food and agriculture in Iowa.
Iowa State Senate Candidates
Coming soon!
The Iowa Food System Coalition is a statewide, nonpartisan coalition working to strengthen Iowa’s food system through research, collaboration, policy development, and public engagement. IFSC does not endorse candidates. All candidates for the offices included in this series were invited to participate.
Candidates who have not yet accepted may do so by contacting Tommy Hexter at director@iowafoodsystemcoalition.org.