Iowa Democratic Governor nominee?
$6.5K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current rolePolitical consultant
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationIowa
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BackgroundPolitical consultant
Notable personal detailsJulie Stauch is an Iowa Democratic political consultant and nonprofit/public affairs professional who launched a campaign for Governor of Iowa in 2025. She has worked on multiple political campaigns, including serving as Iowa political director for Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential caucus effort and as campaign manager for Mike Franken’s 2022 U.S. Senate campaign. She previously served as chief public affairs officer for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and later founded/ran Julie Stauch & Associates, providing leadership and organizational development services.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Opposes flat/single-rate tax cuts and argues wealthier individuals and corporations should pay more to fund government services; supports reducing property taxes only if alternative funding is identified and criticizes recent tax moves that shift burdens or favor large businesses.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to health care and addressing gaps in services across Iowa, with particular emphasis on cancer care, women’s health (including OB‑GYN access), and nursing home quality. Focuses on state-level actions to improve access and address rising health needs rather than advocating for single‑payer or full privatization.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate criticizes current ICE enforcement practices in Iowa, emphasizing due process and calling for limits on federal immigration agents’ operations in the state. She has urged removal of ICE personnel from states pending comprehensive retraining and said agents who refuse retraining should be fired. Her statements focus on restricting certain enforcement practices rather than advocating large-scale deportation or border militarization.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Julie Stauch has a background with Planned Parenthood and says she will prioritize women’s reproductive health as governor; she has criticized near-total abortion bans for their impact on OB/GYN availability. Her public statements emphasize protecting reproductive care while framing policy development around listening to Iowans.
Climate & Energy
The candidate emphasizes restoring and strengthening environmental protections in Iowa, prioritizing clean water by reinstating water quality standards, tougher enforcement and penalties, and updating manure-management rules. She supports a moratorium on construction of new large-scale animal feeding operations until environmental protections are updated and would appoint an environmentalist to lead the Department of Natural Resources. The campaign messaging focuses on water, soil, and clean air as priorities rather than detailed national climate or energy plans.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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