DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate today announced the results of the unscientific Iowa State Fair Straw Poll. The poll, which closed Sunday at 8pm, allowed fairgoers to cast their preference for candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional races. More than 2,000 fairgoers participated in the 2025 state fair straw poll, using tablets at the Iowa Secretary of State's booth in the Varied Industries Building to select their preferred candidates.
Fairgoers were asked to choose their preferred candidates for the 2026 Primary Election and to vote for their preferred candidate to represent their respective political party in the 2026 General Election. Secretary Pate emphasized that the poll serves a larger purpose beyond measuring candidate preferences.
“While historically, the straw poll has been a good indicator of where Iowa voters stand in terms of the upcoming election, the real goal of the straw poll is to encourage Iowans to participate in our election process,” said Secretary Pate. “We have a City-School election coming up on November 4. Local elections matter. This is the time to truly make your voices heard and have an impact on your local communities. November will be here before we know it – and it’s never too early to make your plan to vote.”
Below are percentage totals for gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional votes cast throughout the 11 days of the 2025 Iowa State Fair. Candidates featured on the straw poll ballots were identified by their respective political parties.
REPUBLICANS
Governor
- Eddie Andrews won with 38.93% and 647 votes
- Brad Sherman (28.7%), 477 votes
- Randy Feenstra (27.38%), 455 votes
- Mile Bousselot (4.99%), 83 votes
U.S. Senate
- Joni Ernst won with 61.37% and 977 votes
- Jim Carlin (33.04%), 526 votes
- Joshua Smith (5.59%), 89 votes
Congressional District 1:
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks won with 54.96% and 216 votes
- David Pautsch (45.04%), 177 votes
Congressional District 2
- Ashley Hinson won with 100% and 183 votes
Congressional District 3
- Zach Nunn won with 100% and 744 votes
Congressional District 4
- Matt Windschitl won with 37.56% and 80 votes
- Kyle Larsen (23.47%), 50 votes
- Chris McGowan (23%), 49 votes
- Ryan Rhodes (15.96%), 34 votes
DEMOCRATS
Governor
- Rob Sand won with 86.96% and 600 votes
- Julie Stauch (13.04%), 90 votes
U.S. Senate
- Zach Wahls won with 30.24% and 189 votes
- J.D. Scholten (29.76%), 186 votes
- Jackie Norris (23.84%), 149 votes
- Nathan Sage (15.2%), 95 votes
Congressional District 1:
- Christina Bohannan won with 64.89% and 85 votes
- Travis Terrell (21.37%), 28 votes
- Taylor Wettach (9.92%), 13 votes
- Bob Krause (3.82%), 5 votes
Congressional District 2
- Lindsay James won with 47.27% and 26 votes
- Kathryn Dolter (34.55%), 19 votes
- Clint Twedt-Ball (18.18%), 10 votes
Congressional District 3
- Jennifer Konfrst won with 51.12% and 182 votes
- Sarah Trone Garriot (39.33%), 140 votes
- Xavier Carrigan (9.55%), 34 votes
Congressional District 4
- Stephanie Steiner won with 66.67% and 48 votes
- Ashley WolfTornabane (33.33%), 24 votes
Secretary Pate also polled fairgoers on their favorite Iowa State Fair foods and rides and the most iconic part of the fair.
- The butter cow was named the most iconic part of the state fair, receiving 36% of votes (810 total).
- The corndog was the top choice for fair food, receiving 36% of votes (799 total). Pork chop on a stick closely followed, receiving 32% of votes (703 total).
- The Sky Glider easily took top place for favorite fair ride, receiving nearly 50% of votes (999 total).
All results are unscientific and unofficial. Fairgoers who visited the booth could also register to vote for the upcoming election and learn about various programs from Secretary Pate's Elections, Business Services, and Safe at Home Divisions.
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