Who is running for Iowa Senate, District 21 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Iowa Senate, District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Iowa Senate District 21.
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 MatsonDemocrat | John HollinrakeRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Raise it to around $15Official action · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Official action · medium | No public position |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · high | No public position |
| Marijuana | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · low | No public position |
| Paid leave | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysOfficial action · medium | No public position |
Heather Matson
DemocratState Representative, Iowa House District 42
Heather Matson is the Democratic nominee for Iowa Senate District 21 and a current Iowa House member from Ankeny, serving in the 88th, 90th and 91st General Assemblies12. She is a former board chair of Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa3. She is leaving her House seat to run for the open Senate seat3.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh
Said · high confidence- Said she supports ending the voucher experiment and called private school vouchers a strain on the state budget. (2026-04) source
- Lead sponsor of H.F. 2737, which would limit education savings accounts by income and repeal the program on July 1, 2029. (2026) source
- Lead sponsor of H.F. 2152, which would repeal the school tuition organization tax credit. (2026) source
- Voted no on H.F. 68, which created universal education savings accounts (55 to 45). (2023-01-23) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored H.J.R. 10, a state constitutional amendment protecting reproductive freedom, with a viability limit and a life and health exception. (2025) source
- Cosponsored H.F. 2455, which would repeal the 2023 heartbeat abortion law. (2026-02) source
- Her campaign site lists reproductive freedom and maternal health care among the things she has fought for. (2026) source
- Voted no on H.F. 732, the 2023 heartbeat abortion ban (56 to 34). (2023-07-11) source
Minimum wageRaise it to around $15medium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored H.F. 283, which would raise the Iowa minimum wage to $10 in 2025, $12.50 in 2026 and $15 in 2027, then index it. (2025) source
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Cosponsored H.F. 2631, a state family and medical leave insurance program with 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave. (2026) source
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcohollow
Said · low confidence- Said Iowa should have a real debate on regulating and taxing adult use of cannabis. (2026-04) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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.
John Hollinrake
RepublicanDeputy State Director for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst; founder, Hollinrake Properties
John Hollinrake is the Republican nominee for Iowa Senate District 21, an open seat in Ankeny12. He is deputy state director for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, founder of a real estate development company, and a former legislative secretary in the Iowa Senate23.
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, 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, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, 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.