Julie Stauch
Iowa Democratic Governor nominee?
$6.5K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current rolePolitical consultant
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationIowa
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BackgroundPolitical consultant
Notable personal detailsJulie Stauch is an Iowa Democratic political operative and small business owner who ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Iowa in the 2026 cycle. She has worked on multiple Iowa and presidential campaigns, including serving as Iowa political director for Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign, and has worked in public affairs roles including with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. In March 2026, she ended her gubernatorial campaign after her nominating petitions did not meet Iowa ballot-access requirements.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Opposes flat/single-rate tax cuts and argues wealthier individuals and corporations should pay more to fund government services; supports reducing property taxes only if alternative funding is identified and criticizes recent tax moves that shift burdens or favor large businesses.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to health care and addressing gaps in services across Iowa, with particular emphasis on cancer care, women’s health (including OB‑GYN access), and nursing home quality. Focuses on state-level actions to improve access and address rising health needs rather than advocating for single‑payer or full privatization.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate criticizes current ICE enforcement practices in Iowa, emphasizing due process and calling for limits on federal immigration agents’ operations in the state. She has urged removal of ICE personnel from states pending comprehensive retraining and said agents who refuse retraining should be fired. Her statements focus on restricting certain enforcement practices rather than advocating large-scale deportation or border militarization.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Julie Stauch has a background with Planned Parenthood and says she will prioritize women’s reproductive health as governor; she has criticized near-total abortion bans for their impact on OB/GYN availability. Her public statements emphasize protecting reproductive care while framing policy development around listening to Iowans.
Climate & Energy
The candidate emphasizes restoring and strengthening environmental protections in Iowa, prioritizing clean water by reinstating water quality standards, tougher enforcement and penalties, and updating manure-management rules. She supports a moratorium on construction of new large-scale animal feeding operations until environmental protections are updated and would appoint an environmentalist to lead the Department of Natural Resources. The campaign messaging focuses on water, soil, and clean air as priorities rather than detailed national climate or energy plans.
News
Julie Stauch is in the news as a Democratic candidate in Iowa, where Democrats are being viewed as more competitive in the 2026 governor race. Recent coverage also notes that Iowa Republicans have already picked their nominee, setting up a contested general election. Separately, Iowa Democrats are upset that the DNC again left Iowa out of the early 2028 presidential calendar, a move that could affect the state party’s strategy.
Iowa Objection Panel will review five candidates' 2026 paperwork
Who won Iowa’s primary elections for Senate and governor? : NPR
There's a major shift toward Democrats in 4 of 5 governor races: Cook Political Report
Reynolds brings MAHA to Iowa
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising