Iowa Republican Governor nominee?
$860.8K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age43 years old (Nov 2, 1982)
GenderMale
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LocationIowa
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Iowa — undergraduate degree in accounting
Notable personal detailsMichael Robert Bousselot is an American attorney, business owner, and Republican politician serving in the Iowa Senate (District 21) since January 2023; he previously served in the Iowa House (District 37) after winning a 2021 special election. He worked in Iowa state government under Gov. Terry Branstad and Gov. Kim Reynolds, including as Branstad-Reynolds chief of staff (2015–2017), and later was appointed director of the Iowa Department of Management. He is a University of Iowa accounting graduate and a Drake University Law School graduate, and is based in Ankeny, Iowa.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering taxes, including property-tax relief and reducing income, sales, and business tax burdens; emphasizes protecting property owners and reducing costs for Iowans. Positions favor tax cuts and reduced tax burden rather than expanding taxes or redistributive measures.
Healthcare
Mike Bousselot has supported policies to require work or job-search activities for many Medicaid recipients and has been involved in efforts to privatize aspects of Iowa’s Medicaid program. His public statements and record show a preference for limiting entitlement expansion and shifting Medicaid toward private/waiver-based approaches.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the U.S. border while also backing legal pathways for immigrants to enter and work. Emphasizes enforcement-first measures alongside measures to permit legal immigration to fill jobs.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has supported and voted for Iowa’s 2023 law banning abortion once cardiac activity is detectable and has said he would take steps to “protect life” and defund Planned Parenthood; he has also advocated addressing medication abortion. The candidate’s public record shows support for significant restrictions on abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Supports policies that facilitate energy infrastructure and carbon-capture pipeline projects while opposing legislation that would restrict those projects; frames legislative changes as protecting property rights and enabling investment in energy infrastructure. Has professional ties to Summit Agricultural Group/Summit Carbon Solutions and has led Senate amendments that removed limits on CO2 pipelines and eased restrictions on projects.
News
Scott County Republicans held caucuses that included a gubernatorial straw poll as part of the local political process ahead of the 2026 Iowa governor’s race. The event is relevant to candidates like Mike Bousselot as party activists begin signaling preferences and organizing early for the election.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising