(ABC 6 News) – The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial race has officially begun.

Brad Sherman, a pastor and former representative in the Iowa House for the 91st district announced on Monday that he would run as a Republican for governor of Iowa in 2026.

Sherman addressed a crowd of supporters at a campaign donor’s private hangar at the Mason City Airport on Saturday, saying he was “following a calling, truly.”

“I can tell you that my decision to run has nothing to do with who’s running or who is or not,” Sherman said.

The announcement came one week before the Feb 24 filing deadline, and sets up an early potential primary challenge for incumbent Kim Reynolds, who has not made her re-election campaign official yet.

Alexander Schmidt KAALTV
February 23, 2025 – 11:42 PM