Voters will choose the legislative candidates to represent their respective political parties during the June 4 primary election. The winners of the primary will face opposing party candidates during the November general election.

Candidates who filed the necessary paperwork before the Friday deadline and will have their names on the ballot include:

Senate District 26

Republican candidate Gannon Hendrick of McCallsburg will face Kara Warme of Ames in the primary. The lone Democratic candidate is Mike Wolfe of Maxwell. Incumbent Jeff Edler (R-State Center) chose not to seek re-election in 2024. He was first elected in 2016, and sought re-election in 2020. Edler said he looks forward to spending more time with his family. District 26 encompasses Marshall County and a large section of Story County outside of Ames.

House District 52

Democrat Sue Cahill of Marshalltown is the lone candidate. She first won the seat over Tony Reed in 2020 after Mark Smith retired from the position. Cahill ran unopposed for re-election in 2022. District 52 includes Marshalltown, Haverhill, Laurel, Gilman, Le Grand and Ferguson.

House District 51

Republican candidates Brett Barker and Martin Chitty, both of Nevada, met the filing deadline. Barker is also the mayor of Nevada. Whoever triumphs in June will face Democratic candidate Ryan Condon, also of Nevada. Incumbent Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada) did not choose to seek re-election. He was elected for the first time in 2007. District 51 includes western and northeastern Marshall County outside of the city of Marshalltown and a large chunk of Story County outside of Ames.

House District 53

Incumbent Dean Fisher (R-Montour) is the sole Republican candidate. Fisher was first elected in 2012. Three Democrats will be on the June 4 ballot — John Anderson of Tama, Tommy Hexter of Grinnell and Jennifer Wrage of Gladbrook. District 53 includes Poweshiek County and most of Tama County.

House District 54

The two Republican candidates on the ballot include incumbent Joshua Meggers of Grundy Center and Jody Anderson of Iowa Falls. Meggers was first elected in 2022. District 54 includes Grundy and Hardin counties and part of Black Hawk County.

Cahill said she wants to continue representing constituents in Marshalltown and Marshall County, especially since she had so many people reach out to her regarding the Area Education Agencies (AEA). She said she has had more messages about the AEA than any other subject during her time in the legislature.

Cahill said it was interesting to discover three Democratic candidates in House District 53 filed to run against Fisher, and two Republican candidates seek to fill Edler’s seat.

“I think issues in this last year have caused people to say they are tired of complaining,” she said. “They want to step up and put their action where their mouths are. Whether it is the AEAs, vouchers, human rights, I think people are starting to take notice, and say this is not where they stand in Iowa.”