Attorney General 2026 — Iowa Voter Guide

About the Office

The Iowa Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, elected to a four-year term. The AG enforces consumer protection laws, prosecutes complex criminal cases, represents Iowa in lawsuits, and can join multi-state legal actions.

In plain terms: the AG decides which lawsuits the state pursues or joins (often against the federal government or large corporations), how aggressively to enforce consumer protection, and which cases to prosecute. The office shapes how state laws on civil rights, antitrust, and criminal justice are actually applied.

Race at a Glance

Incumbent

Bird (R)

Term Length

4 Years

Bird Took Office

2023

Election Day

Nov 3, 2026

Brenna Bird became the first Republican Iowa Attorney General since 1979 when she defeated Tom Miller in 2022. Nate Willems, a labor attorney and former state representative, is the Democratic nominee.

The Candidates

Each candidate's positions are drawn from primary sources: campaign communications, voting records, debates, and direct interviews.

Brenna Bird (R)

Republican incumbent · Iowa Attorney General since 2023

Bio

Native of Dexter, Iowa. Graduated from the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago Law School. Married to Brian Bird; one daughter. First Republican to hold the Iowa Attorney General office since 1979.

Career

Served as Guthrie County Attorney for nearly a decade. Defeated 10-term Democratic incumbent Tom Miller in 2022. Has filed or joined more than 24 federal lawsuits against the Biden administration on issues ranging from immigration to environmental regulation.

Primary Issues

Federal Lawsuits & Immigration

Has filed or joined 24+ federal lawsuits against the Biden administration. Strong supporter of state-level immigration enforcement and challenging federal policies on sanctuary cities and asylum.

Election Integrity

Has prioritized investigating election fraud claims and supports stricter voter ID and citizenship verification requirements.

Anti-ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

Strong opponent of ESG investing standards; has joined multi-state coalitions challenging federal ESG rules.

Position on Willems's Priority Issues

Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims

Paused state-funded emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors during her first year in office, citing review of the program. Drew significant controversy.

Wage Theft Enforcement

Has not prioritized creating a dedicated wage theft enforcement unit; office focus is primarily on criminal prosecution and federal lawsuits.

Endorsements

Republican Party of Iowa

Nate Willems (D)

Democratic nominee · Labor attorney · Former Iowa state representative

Bio

Lives in Lisbon, Iowa. Graduated from Cornell College and the University of Iowa College of Law. Married; has children. AFSCME union member.

Career

Labor attorney representing workers in employment disputes. Served in the Iowa House from 2008-2012 representing the Cedar Rapids area. Has practiced law in Iowa for over 15 years focusing on workers' rights and employment law.

Primary Issues

Wage Theft Enforcement

Top campaign priority. Wants to establish a dedicated wage theft enforcement unit in the AG's office to recover stolen wages for Iowa workers.

Consumer Protection

Wants to aggressively prosecute consumer fraud, predatory lending, and elder financial abuse rather than focus the office on political lawsuits.

Restoring Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims

Strongly supports restoring state-funded emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors.

Position on Bird's Priority Issues

Federal Lawsuits

Opposes what he calls "political grandstanding" lawsuits; would refocus office resources on Iowa-specific consumer and criminal cases.

ESG Investing

Has not made anti-ESG litigation a campaign priority; favors letting state agencies make investment decisions based on financial merits.