On Monday, Iowa State Representative Shannon Lundgren (R), who identifies herself as an “America First Wife, Mom and Grandma,” announced that she is suspending her campaign for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, the seat currently held by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA). Hinson is running to replace retiring Republican incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, with an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Also on Monday, Iowa State Representative Jennifer Konfrst, Democrat, announced that she has suspended her Congressional campaign to unseat MAGA-aligned incumbent U.S. Representative Zach Nunn.
After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to suspend my campaign for Congress. Thank you to all the friends and supporters who believed in this campaign along the way- I’m so grateful.
Ready my full statement here: pic.twitter.com/k5btMQKmuB
— Jennifer Konfrst (@KonfrstForIowa) January 26, 2026
Konfrst wrote in her announcement: “I no longer believe it’s in the best interest of Iowans for me to stay in this race,” and said she is endorsing Iowa State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott as the Democratic candidate in the race against Nunn. (Trone Garriott has been more successful than Konfrst at fundraising.)
According to an optimistic Andrew Mamo of Majority Democrats, Trone Garriott “is a powerhouse in Iowa and the majority will run through her when she flips IA-03. Huge numbers at $425K for the quarter and $1.4M for 2025.”
Sarah Trone-Garriott is a powerhouse in Iowa and the majority will run through her when she flips IA-03.
Huge numbers at $425K for the quarter and $1.4M for 2025. @SarahforIowa pic.twitter.com/sBpe11tBtC
— Andrew Mamo (@AndrewMamo5) January 5, 2026
Note: Also on Monday, Democratic attorney Taylor Wettach ended his campaign in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District election, paving the way for Democratic former state representative Christina Bohannan to try to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Wettach will instead run for Iowa Auditor of State. The current auditor, Democrat Rob Sand, is running for governor this year.