Iowa

Welcome to the portal for Ballotpedia's coverage of Iowa politics! Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage of Iowa politics includes information on the local, state and federal levels, as well as state policies.

Iowa, a Midwestern state, is landlocked by the Mississippi River, the Missouri River,Wisconsin,Illinois,South Dakota,Missouri,Nebraska andMinnesota. It is nicknamed "the Hawkeye State” and is the 30th most populous of the 50 United States. Iowa's capital and largest city isDes Moines.

Iowa has two members of theU.S. Senate, a total of four members of theU.S. House of Representatives, 50 members of theState Senate and 100 members of theIowa House of Representatives.

State Leadership

Governor

R

Kim Reynolds

Secretary of State

R

Paul Pate

Speaker of the House

R

Pat Grassley

Capital:

Des Moines

Motto:

Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

Population:

3,192,406

Land Area of State:

55,853 square miles

Admitted to U.S.:

1846

Cities and counties in Iowa

Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage in the100 largest U.S. cities by population and also covers mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections in every state capital. Additionally, Ballotpedia covers school board elections in the200 largest U.S. school districts by enrollment.Des MoinesHowever, Ballotpedia is providing expanded, comprehensive local election coverage in Iowa in 2025.Click here to find your county.

Iowa fact checks

Policy issues in Iowa

Budget:Budget and finances •Taxes‎
Civil liberties:Affirmative action •Campaign finance •Nonprofit regulation‎
Education:Charter schools •Higher education •Public education •School choice‎
Election:Ballot access requirements •Redistricting •Voting‎
Energy:Energy information •Fracking‎
Environment:Environmental information •Endangered species‎
Finance:Financial regulation information‎
Healthcare:Healthcare information •Medicaid spending •Effect of the Affordable Care Act‎
Immigration:Immigration information‎
Pensions:Public pensions‎