There are 125 state legislative seats up for election this year in Iowa. Sixteen incumbents (three in the Senate and 13 in the House) did not file to run for re-election. From 2010 to 2022, the average number of retirements per cycle was 22. In 2022, 40 incumbents (11 in the Senate and 29 in the House) did not run for re-election.
The total number of contested primaries also declined in 2024 compared to the previous cycle. In 2024, there are five Democratic primaries (one in the Senate and four in the House) and 17 Republican primaries (three in the Senate and 14 in the House). In 2022, there were 13 Democratic primaries (five in the Senate and eight in the House) and 31 Republican primaries (six in the Senate and 25 in the House).
Iowa has been a Republican trifecta since 2017. Republicans have held the governorship and a majority in the House since 2011. Republicans gained control of the Senate in 2017.
Iowa’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for June 4.
