Iowa Republican Governor nominee?
$2.2M
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age43 years old (Nov 2, 1982)
GenderMale
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LocationIowa
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Iowa — BBA (Accounting)
Notable personal detailsMichael Robert Bousselot is a Republican attorney, business owner, and Iowa state legislator. He has served in the Iowa Senate (first elected in 2022; began service in January 2023) after previously serving in the Iowa House following a 2021 special election. He has also worked in Iowa state government, including as director of the Iowa Department of Management and as chief of staff to Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering taxes, including property-tax relief and reducing income, sales, and business tax burdens; emphasizes protecting property owners and reducing costs for Iowans. Positions favor tax cuts and reduced tax burden rather than expanding taxes or redistributive measures.
Healthcare
Mike Bousselot has supported policies to require work or job-search activities for many Medicaid recipients and has been involved in efforts to privatize aspects of Iowa’s Medicaid program. His public statements and record show a preference for limiting entitlement expansion and shifting Medicaid toward private/waiver-based approaches.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the U.S. border while also backing legal pathways for immigrants to enter and work. Emphasizes enforcement-first measures alongside measures to permit legal immigration to fill jobs.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has supported and voted for Iowa’s 2023 law banning abortion once cardiac activity is detectable and has said he would take steps to “protect life” and defund Planned Parenthood; he has also advocated addressing medication abortion. The candidate’s public record shows support for significant restrictions on abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Supports policies that facilitate energy infrastructure and carbon-capture pipeline projects while opposing legislation that would restrict those projects; frames legislative changes as protecting property rights and enabling investment in energy infrastructure. Has professional ties to Summit Agricultural Group/Summit Carbon Solutions and has led Senate amendments that removed limits on CO2 pipelines and eased restrictions on projects.
News
Mike Bousselot is in the news as one of the Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidates heading into the June 2 primary. The race is drawing scrutiny over water quality, rising cancer rates, and agricultural chemicals, which have become major voter concerns. The winner will go on to face Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand in the general election.
MAHA movement fuels cancer, water debate in Iowa governor contest
Scott County GOP hold caucuses with gubernatorial straw poll
Iowa bill advances that would allow ivermectin over-the-counter access
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising