Iowa general election: November 3, 2026

Who is running for District 5C Judge Retention: Samantha J. Gronewald in 2026?

Here are the candidates for District 5C Judge Retention: Samantha J. Gronewald 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.

Samantha J. Gronewald

· Incumbent

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

Samantha J. Gronewald serves as District Court Judge, Judicial Election District 5C (Polk County). Samantha J. Gronewald 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 December 2017².

District Court Judge, District 5C (Polk County), appointed December 2017²
Before appointment: private practice²
University of Iowa, 2000; Drake University Law School, 2003²
The Iowa Judicial Branch says this judge was appointed to the bench in December 2017². 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.