Iowa Republican Senate nominee?
$28.0K
JUN 3, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age63 years old (Oct 19, 1962)
GenderMale
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LocationIowa
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst (B.A., Economics)
Notable personal detailsJim Carlin is an American attorney and Republican politician from Sioux City/Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2017 and in the Iowa Senate (District 3) from 2017 to 2023. He is a U.S. Army veteran and has run for U.S. Senate in Iowa, including the 2022 Republican primary and the 2026 race.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports major tax reductions and limiting tax increases, including lowering or eliminating corporate and income taxes, prioritizing balanced budgets and sound money (including consideration of a gold standard).
Healthcare
Supports limiting federal involvement in health care and emphasizes individual choice and medical freedom (including opposition to vaccine mandates). Has sponsored state-level bills to protect physicians who prescribe contested COVID-19 treatments and has called for reducing government role in healthcare costs.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes securing the U.S. border and stronger border enforcement, supports enforcing visa laws, and links stricter border security to combating drug trafficking. He indicates that border security should precede discussions of eligibility for citizenship or guest-worker programs. The campaign calls for tougher laws and increased enforcement to address illegal migration and fentanyl/drug flows.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports defining life at conception and strongly restricts abortion access, including backing heartbeat (approximately six-week) and 20-week abortion bans and opposing taxpayer-funded abortion. Has led and promoted pro-life legislation while serving in the Iowa Senate and in his campaign materials.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports expanding domestic energy production and lower energy costs while also saying farmers should have opportunities to profit from biofuels, wind, solar, and carbon credits. Public materials and interviews emphasize market-based approaches and limited government intervention rather than endorsement of aggressive emissions targets or Green New Deal–style policies.
Public Safety & Guns
Jim Carlin strongly supports Second Amendment rights, including Iowa’s constitutional-carry approach and national concealed-carry reciprocity. He opposes red-flag-style laws and federal incentives that he says undermine due process and gun owners’ rights. His campaign materials commit to standing against efforts to weaken gun ownership protections.
News
Jim Carlin is in the news because he is running in Iowa’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, where he is set to face Ashley Hinson in the June 2 election. Recent reports say Hinson is the heavy favorite, backed by major GOP spending and endorsements from Joni Ernst and Donald Trump. Carlin also appeared in recent fundraising reports, but the coverage suggests he is trailing Hinson in money and momentum.
Woodbury County Auditor & Recorder - Ad from 2026-05-16
GOP group to spend $29 million to support Ashley Hinson's Senate bid
Ashley Hinson launches first TV ad in 2026 US Senate race
Former US Sen. Tom Harkin endorses Josh Turek in Iowa Senate primary
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements