There are indications that incumbent Republican Julian B. Garrett will not seek reelection to the Iowa Senate. This would create an open seat in District 11, which includes Warren County.
Learn who the current candidates are and what to expect from this election.
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Julian Garrett has served in the Iowa Senate since 2013. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives before winning a special election to secure his Senate seat.
Warren’s Voice wants to express our appreciation of Sen. Garrett’s years of service and our prayers for this new season of life.
As of now, there are two Republicans and one Democrat running to represent the people of District 11.
Mandee Shivers and Jon Thorup are both running in the Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 11 on June 2, 2026.
On her campaign website, Shivers describes herself as “wife, mother, and homesteader”. She claims to advocate for parental rights, life, marriage, and the Second Amendment. She says she supports property tax reform, saying,
Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream and the foundation of family stability. Yet rising property taxes place a heavy burden on families and threaten the very idea of true ownership. Policies must protect homeowners, prevent unjust increases, and ensure no one is taxed out of their home. Ownership should be honored—not penalized.
Jon Thorup was in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. He lost his last primary race because Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed his opponent in response to Thorup’s opposition to the governor’s school choice legislation.
Thorup’s campaign website is still under construction but it describes him as a former state lawmaker and states, “A state police officer for almost 30 years, Thorup is a lifelong Iowan and has called Warren and Marion Counties home nearly all of it.”
On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate is Sinikka Waugh, whose husband Spencer is running for Iowa House District 21.
The primary will be held on June 2, 2026. The general election will be held on November 3, 2026. Please make plans to vote!
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