Polk County, Iowa

Iowa Senate District 21

2 candidates are tracked for Iowa Senate District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: John Hollinrake and Heather Matson. Candidate information follows official Polk County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

John Hollinrake (Republican), Heather Matson (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Iowa Senate District 21. Not on the November ballot: Mike Bousselot, the sitting member per the 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.

Iowa › Polk County › Iowa Senate District 21

John Hollinrake

Republican

Top priorities

Fiscal conservatism
A back-to-basics approach to education
Workforce development programs

Per the AOL (Iowa Senate District 21 candidates).

Biography

John Hollinrake is the Republican candidate for Iowa Senate District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. Hollinrake is deputy state director for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and founder of Hollinrake Properties, per AOL (Iowa Senate District 21 candidates). Hollinrake is pursuing an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds a bachelor's degree in government and international politics from George Mason University, per AOL (Iowa Senate District 21 candidates). No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Secretary of State's certified candidate list is the only verifiable source for John Hollinrake.

Heather Matson

Democratic

Top priorities

Support strong public schools
Protect reproductive freedom and maternal health care
Expand affordable and accessible child care

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Heather Matson has spent the past 25 years working and volunteering as an advocate, community leader and state legislator, per her campaign site. She is running for the Iowa Senate to represent Ankeny, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Iowa Senate District 21 in 2026?

When is the Iowa Senate District 21 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 Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Polk County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Iowa House District 29 Iowa House District 30 Iowa House District 31 See all 27 Polk County races

Candidate profiles

John Hollinrake, full profile Heather Matson, full profile Official Iowa election office