Who is running for Iowa House, District 40 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Iowa House, District 40 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Iowa House District 40.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Heather SieversDemocrat | Bill GustoffRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Keep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsVoted · medium |
| Abortion | No public position | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| School choice | Yes, but focused on low-income and special-needs studentsQuestionnaire answer · low | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toSaid · low |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Kids online | No public position | Require age checks only for adult content sitesOfficial action · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium |
Heather Sievers
DemocratRegistered nurse; Heartland Area Education Agency board member
Heather Sievers is the Democratic nominee for Iowa House District 40 and ran for the seat in 2024, a race she says she lost by about 2 percent12. She is a registered nurse in care navigation, is serving her second term on the Heartland Area Education Agency board, and founded Advocates for Iowa's Children2.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, but focused on low-income and special-needs studentslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Said she wants accountability for the voucher program, and said the program, now without income limits, is not sustainable. (2026-05) source
Paid leaveNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Listed paid family leave among the economic policies she would pursue. (2026-05) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Bill Gustoff
Republican · IncumbentState Representative, Iowa House District 40
Bill Gustoff is the Republican incumbent in Iowa House District 401, first elected in 2022 and seeking a third term in a rematch with Heather Sievers3. He is an attorney, chairs the House Ethics Committee, and served on the RPI State Central Committee, including eight years as RPI treasurer23.
Where they stand 9 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on H.F. 68, which created universal education savings accounts (55 to 45). (2023-01-23) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on H.F. 732, the 2023 heartbeat abortion ban with exceptions for rape and incest if reported in time, fetal abnormality and medical emergency (56 to 34). (2023-07-11) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on S.F. 538, which bans gender transition procedures for minors (58 to 39). (2023-03-08) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on S.F. 2340, which made illegal reentry a state crime and let judges order people to leave the country (64 to 30). (2024-03-19) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on S.F. 615, which adds work requirements to the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan and public assistance programs (61 to 35). (2025-03-26) source
Kids onlineRequire age checks only for adult content sitesmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Sponsored H.F. 2274, which requires age verification for internet sites with material pornographic for minors. (2026-02) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tolow
Said · low confidence- Said he worked to pass bills that give parents more control over their children's education and ensure students receive education over indoctrination. (2026-05) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Official action · low confidence- Sponsored H.F. 99, which requires voter ID cards and driver's licenses to indicate U.S. citizenship and requires a voter whose ID lacks that indication to present citizenship documentation. (2025) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Energy and climate, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.