Iowa general election: November 3, 2026

Who is running for District 5C Associate Judge Retention: Kimberly Ayotte in 2026?

Here are the candidates for District 5C Associate Judge Retention: Kimberly Ayotte on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Judicial Election District 5C.

This is a retention vote: voters decide yes or no on keeping this judge for another term. Judges may not promise how they would rule, so we show experience and record instead of issue positions.

Kimberly Ayotte

· Incumbent

District Associate Judge, Judicial Election District 5C (Polk County)

Kimberly Ayotte serves as District Associate Judge, Judicial Election District 5C (Polk County). Kimberly Ayotte is up for a retention vote on November 3, 2026: voters decide yes or no on keeping the judge in office, and the judge serves another term if a majority votes yes¹³. The Iowa Judicial Branch says the judge was appointed to the bench in February 2019².

District Associate Judge (Polk County), appointed February 2019²
Before appointment: staff attorney at the Youth Law Center for 23 years²
Iowa State University, 1993; University of Iowa Law School, 1996, with Distinction²
Certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist²
The Iowa Judicial Branch says this judge was appointed to the bench in February 2019². Iowa district judges and district associate judges are chosen by the governor from two names sent by a district judicial nominating commission, and then stand in retention elections³.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.