Dubuque County, Iowa

Dubuque County Attorney

2 candidates are tracked for Dubuque County Attorney on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Scott J. Nelson and Steve Drahozal. Candidate information follows official Dubuque County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Incumbent Republican Scott J. Nelson faces Democrat Steve Drahozal; both filed unopposed within their own parties for the June 2, 2026 primary and advanced directly to the November ballot, per the county auditor's candidate listing.

What this office does

District attorney or prosecutor. The district attorney is the chief prosecutor for the county or judicial district. The office decides which criminal charges to file, negotiates pleas, tries cases and, in many states, advises county government or handles child support and juvenile matters. The office sets local charging and diversion policies within state law.

This race. Every voter in Dubuque County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Scott J. Nelson, is on the ballot.

Iowa › Dubuque County › Dubuque County Attorney

Scott J. Nelson

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Prosecuting violent crime and holding offenders accountable
Interdicting heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking
Addressing gaps in mental health treatment within the criminal justice system

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nelson has practiced criminal law for 35 years, in private practice since 2005 and previously with a Dubuque firm from 1991 to 2005, per his campaign site. He is a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1977 to 1983 and later served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1986 to 1992, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Steve Drahozal

Democratic

Top priorities

A smart-on-crime approach aimed at safer communities
Centering victim rights in prosecutions
Fiscal responsibility in the county attorney's office

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Drahozal has practiced criminal law in Dubuque for more than 24 years and is a past president of the Dubuque County Bar Association, per his campaign site. He served on the board of the Iowa State Bar Association and chaired its Criminal Law Section for six years, and he teaches criminal law and trial skills, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotDubuque County Recorder

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Dubuque County Attorney in 2026?

When is the Dubuque County Attorney election in Iowa?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Iowa are on the Iowa election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Dubuque County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Dubuque County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Iowa election office, or see the full Dubuque County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Dubuque County ballot

10 tracked races in Dubuque County, Iowa. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Dubuque County Treasurer Iowa Senate District 33 Iowa House District 64 See all 10 Dubuque County races

Candidate profiles

Scott J. Nelson, full profile Steve Drahozal, full profile Official Iowa election office