Summary
- Greene
County Attorney Dr. Thomas Laehn enters the Iowa Senate race. - Runs
as a Libertarian for Joni Ernst’s seat. - First
Libertarian elected to partisan office in Iowa.
As of right now, Laehn is the first Libertarian elected to
government in Iowa. In 2017 and 2021, he was elected again.
On Saturday morning, Laehn will formally kick off his
campaign at Des Moines’ State Historical Building.
“I am not running against the Republican candidate, nor
am I running against the Democratic candidate,”
Laehn said in a press
release.
“I am running against the two-party system itself. It is time to
take political power away from the two major parties and to restore it to the
people.”
Legislation to prevent the abuse of eminent domain, campaign
finance reform, and oversight of executive authority abuse are Laehn’s top
concerns.
Laehn, a professor and prosecutor, was born and reared in
Allison, Iowa. Before graduating from the University of Iowa with a law degree,
he received degrees from Drake University and Louisiana State.
The public is welcome to attend
the free Laehn campaign kickoff event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Among the Republican contenders for the U.S. Senate are
veteran Joshua Smith, former Iowa lawmaker Jim Carlin, and Congresswoman Ashley
Hinson.
Democratic contenders for the position include former Iowa
politician Bob Krause, former business magnate Nathan Sage, state lawmakers
Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, and Jackie Norris of the Des Moines School Board.
Election day is November 3, 2026, and Iowa primary elections
are scheduled on June 2, 2026.
How might a Libertarian candidacy affect the GOP and
Democratic vote?
Historically, Libertarian candidates tend to attract more
votes from Republicans than Democrats, particularly from fiscally conservative
voters who are unhappy with Republican leadership. This can dampen the voting
potential of Republican candidates, which could inadvertently help Democratic
candidates in a close race.
Libertarians tend to attract independent voters and voters
who are dissatisfied with both parties. In other words, they also help change
the course of swing voters and raise the percentage of votes from both parties,
but they tend to slightly draw from Republicans more.
When there is a Libertarian candidate, it forces Republicans
and Democrats to address some libertarian issues. Examples of libertarian
issues include government size, individual liberties, and fiscal
responsibility.
