The Ballot Brief
Linn County, Iowa

Iowa Senate District 39

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa Senate District 39 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Edward Bernie Hayes and Liz Bennett. Candidate information follows official Linn County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Edward Bernie Hayes (Republican), Liz Bennett (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Iowa Senate District 39; Liz Bennett is the sitting member, per the legis.iowa.gov legislator roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the June 2 primary; No Party candidates qualify by nominating petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list, as read September 11, 2026. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Liz Bennett, is on the ballot.

Iowa › Linn County › Iowa Senate District 39

Edward Bernie Hayes

Republican

Biography

Edward Bernie Hayes, the Republican nominee for Iowa Senate District 39, is a retired Collins Aerospace systems engineer who has lived in Cedar Rapids for 44 years, according to The Gazette. He has been active with the Republican Party of Iowa's central committee and previously ran for the seat in 2022. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Secretary of State's certified candidate list is the only verifiable source for Edward Bernie Hayes.

Liz Bennett

Liz Bennett

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Liz Bennett served four terms in the Iowa House before being elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022, per her campaign site. She previously worked as a trainer in Iowa's technology industry for 11 years and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, per the same source.

Next on your ballotIowa House District 73

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Iowa Senate District 39 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa Senate District 39 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Edward Bernie Hayes and Liz Bennett. Candidate information follows official Linn County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Iowa Senate District 39 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 Linn 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 Linn County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Linn County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Iowa House District 74Iowa House District 77Iowa House District 78See all 15 Linn County races
Candidate profiles
Edward Bernie Hayes, full profileLiz Bennett, full profileOfficial Iowa election office