ELECTION: Dates for primary, general election approaching

Those interested in running for a county, state or federal office have deadlines that are upcoming they should pay attention to.

Those wanting to run for state or federal office could formally begin circulating their petition to be a candidate starting Monday, Feb. 26.

Candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions with the county auditor for county offices or with the Secretary of State office for federal and state offices. Nomination petitions are due 5 p.m. March 15.

County filing for the June 6 primary election begins Monday, March 4 with the deadline being March 22.

The first day to submit absentee ballot requests is March 26 with the absentee and pre-registration deadline being May 20.

Zach Nunn, Iowa’s Representative in the Third District, is running for re-election. The district includes Adair County. Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, is in his first term he won in 2022.

Nunn has Democratic challengers, all from Des Moines.

Lanon Baccam announced last year he will run. Baccam is a military veteran and worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Baccam’s position at the USDA was deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of Agriculture. He resigned to run for the seat.

Melissa Vine, is a small business owner and executive director of a Des Moines nonprofit that assists women in need who are working to overcome trauma. She announced her candidacy in November.

Ray “Bubba” Sorensen is the Republican incumbent for Iowa House District 23. From Greenfield, Sorensen works as an artist painting Freedom Rocks around the nation saluting veterans.

Challenging Sorensen will be Karen Varley, a Democrat who is a partner at Varley Law Office in Stuart.

Amy Sinclair of Allerton is the Republican incumbent in Senate District 12. A family farmer, Sinclair serves as the Senate President.

Sinclair will be challenged by Democatic candidate Nicole Loew of Chariton, who is a nurse.

Candidates must be a resident of the respective district. For the U.S. Representative seat, the candidate needs 1,726 signatures including at least 47 each of half of the counties in the district. The term is for two years. The winning candidate must be 25 when sworn in.

For the state representative seat, also a two-year term, 50 signatures are needed from the district. The winning candidate must be 21 when sworn in.

County offices on the ballot this year in the primary will be sheriff, currently held by Jeff Vandewater; recorder, currently held by Janelle Schneider, who is retiring in April (to fill a vacancy); auditor, which is currently held by Mandy Berg; and three supervisor seats: 1NW, 3SW and 5GF, held by Matt Wedemeyer, Jerry Walker and John Twombly, respectively.

Other county positions will be on the General Election ballot in November.