By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Dakota City, IA – Humboldt County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, November 3, for the 2026 Midterm Election, with federal, state, county and township races, judicial retention questions and a proposed constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot.
Polls throughout Humboldt County will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters must provide an approved form of photo identification at their polling location before receiving a regular ballot.
Several federal and statewide offices will be decided in Tuesday’s election.
The candidates for United States Senate are Democrat Josh Turek, Republican Ashley Hinson and Libertarian Thomas Laehn.
In the Fourth Congressional District race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Dave Dawson faces Republican Chris McGowan.
The gubernatorial race features Democrat Rob Sand and running mate Dave Muhlbauer against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
Other statewide races include:
- Secretary of State: Democrat Ryan Peterman and Republican Paul D. Pate.
- Auditor of State: Democrat Taylor Wettach and Republican Chris Cournoyer.
- Treasurer of State: Democrat John Norwood and Republican Roby Smith.
- Secretary of Agriculture: Democrat Chris Jones and Republican Mike Naig.
- Attorney General: Democrat Nate Willems and Republican Brenna Bird.
For Iowa House District 56, Democrat Kyle Kruse faces Republican Mark I. Thompson.
Three seats on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors are included on the ballot.
Bruce Reimers is the Republican candidate in District 1, Dennis Thompson is the Republican candidate in District 2, and Rick Pedersen is the Republican candidate in District 3. Write-in votes are also permitted in each race.
Other county offices include:
- County Treasurer: Republican Jana Pettinger.
- County Recorder: Republican Nicole Niemeyer.
- County Attorney: Republican Jon Beaty.
Each of those races also allows write-in candidates.
Several township trustee and clerk positions will also be decided.
Candidates listed in the Notice of Election include:
- Avery Township Clerk: James Day.
- Beaver Township Trustee: Adam Parle.
- Beaver Township Clerk: Pat Hill.
- Humboldt Township Trustee: Ryan Foth.
- Humboldt Township Clerk: Shawna Crahan.
- Lake Township Trustee: Matthew Nervig (to fill a vacancy) and Mark Hansen.
- Lake Township Clerk: Robert A. Rasmussen.
- Norway Township Trustee: Gordy Mersch.
- Norway Township Clerk: Nick Torkelson.
- Rutland Township Trustee: Joel Tille (to fill a vacancy) and Gary D. Jensen.
- Rutland Township Clerk: Brett Kampen.
- Vernon Township Trustee: Daniel J. Anliker.
- Wacousta Township Trustee: Blaine Thompson.
Additional township trustee and clerk positions in Avery, Corinth, Delana, Grove, Humboldt, Lake, Vernon, Wacousta and Weaver townships include write-in opportunities. The notice also lists vacancies to be filled in Delana Township.
Four candidates are listed for the County Hospital Board of Trustees, where voters may select up to four: David Boswell, Karen Berte, Scott Curran and Kevin Bornhoft.
For the Humboldt County Soil and Water Conservation District, voters may select two commissioners. The listed candidates are James Sayers and Jeff Helvick.
The Agricultural Extension Council includes two separate positions. Joel Rasmussen is listed for a vacancy, while Ethan Murrow, Chelsea Nostrom, Brad Frerk and Robert Abens are listed for the four-member council election.
Write-in candidates are permitted in these races.
Voters will also be asked whether several Iowa judges should be retained in office.
The Court of Appeals judges on the ballot are Julie A. Schumacher, Sharon Soorholtz Greer and John M. Sandy.
District 2B judges include Angela L. Doyle, Amy Moore, Christopher Polking, Ashley Sparks and Bethany J. Currie.
District 2B Associate Judges Stephen A. Owen and Joseph L. Tofilon are also included. Voters will select yes or no for each judge.
A proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution will also appear on the ballot.
The amendment would require at least a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each chamber of the Iowa Legislature to pass legislation increasing individual income tax rates, corporate income tax rates or other state taxes based on income or legal and special reserves. It would also require a two-thirds vote to establish a new state tax on those types of income or reserves.
The requirement would not apply to taxes imposed at the option of a local government. The proposal also establishes a one-year deadline for lawsuits challenging whether covered legislation was properly enacted.
Voters will decide whether to adopt the amendment by voting yes or no.
Humboldt County has six designated precinct polling locations:
- Precinct 1 – H1: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1212 Sumner Avenue, Humboldt.
- Precinct 2 – H2: Humboldt Community Center, 607 First Avenue South, Humboldt.
- Precinct 3 – H3: Humboldt County Fairgrounds, 311 Sixth Avenue North, Humboldt.
- Precinct 4: Faith United Methodist Church, 111 Southeast Second Street, Gilmore City.
- Precinct 5: American Legion, Otto Field Post 415, 308 Fourth Avenue, Livermore.
- Precinct 6: VFW Dakota City, 412 Main Street, Dakota City.
Voters who are uncertain of their assigned precinct or polling location can use the Iowa Secretary of State’s polling place search at:
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx
Voters may also contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.
All six polling locations are fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. Each location has ballot-marking devices that allow individuals with physical, sight or hearing disabilities to vote independently.
Voters who are physically unable to enter a polling location may request curbside voting by calling the Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.
All voters must provide an approved form of photo identification at their polling location before receiving a regular ballot.
Voters who were not pre-registered by the October 19 deadline must provide both an approved form of photo identification and current proof of residence.
If a voter cannot provide proof of identity or residence, another registered voter in the same precinct may attest to the voter’s identity and/or residence. Voters may also cast a provisional ballot and provide the necessary documentation to the County Auditor’s Office by noon on Tuesday, November 9, for their ballot to be counted.
Humboldt County residents who are not registered can find voter registration information through the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or contact the County Auditor’s Office.
The absentee voting process began August 25, the first day voters could submit an absentee ballot request form.
Absentee ballots became available for mailing and in-office voting began Wednesday, October 14.
Monday, October 19, was the deadline to submit an absentee ballot request form for a mailed ballot and the pre-voter registration deadline.
The final day for in-office absentee voting is Monday, November 2. The Humboldt County Auditor’s Office will remain open until **5 p.m.** for the final opportunity to vote absentee in person.
There will be no voting available at the Auditor’s Office on Election Day. All voters must report to their designated polling location on Tuesday.
For additional election information, voters can contact the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office at 515-332-1571.
The 2026 General Election is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.