Who is running for Iowa Senate, District 33 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Iowa Senate, District 33 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Iowa Senate District 33.
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 | Carrie KoelkerRepublican | Mary Ungs-SogaardDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | Keep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Minimum wage | No public position | Raise it modestlyQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · high | No public position |
| Guns | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium | No public position |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium | No public position |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesQuestionnaire answer · low |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium | No public position |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium | No public position |
| Drug prices | No public position | Set legal price limits on all prescription drugs for every buyerQuestionnaire answer · low |
| Childcare and pre-K | No public position | Target free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| E-Verify mandate | Require it for all employersOfficial action · medium | No public position |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium | No public position |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium | No public position |
Carrie Koelker
Republican · IncumbentState Senator, Iowa Senate District 33
Carrie Koelker is the Republican incumbent in Iowa Senate District 331, serving in the Iowa Senate since 2019 and running against Democrat Mary Ungs-Sogaard12. She is vice chair of the Senate Commerce Committee and chairs an appropriations subcommittee, and she spent almost 30 years in the tourism industry before and during her time in office23.
Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incesthigh
Voted · high confidence- In a 2018 candidate questionnaire, said she is a pro-life candidate and would support legislation to protect the life of the unborn. (2018-10-18) source
- 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 (Senate 32 to 17). (2023-07-11) source
- Was listed as a sponsor of S.J.R. 2, a proposed amendment saying the Iowa Constitution does not recognize or secure a right to abortion or require public funding of abortion. (2021) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on H.F. 68, which created universal education savings accounts (Senate 31 to 18). (2023-01-23) 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 (Senate 33 to 16). (2023-03-07) 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 (Senate 34 to 16). (2024-03-05) source
E-Verify mandateRequire it for all employersmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 108, which bars employers from knowingly employing unauthorized workers and also requires employers to verify new hires through E-Verify and certify it to the state, and requires E-Verify for employers that receive government economic development incentives. (2023) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on H.F. 856, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and officers at public entities (Senate 34 to 16). (2025-05-09) source
Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on H.F. 2416, which bars transgender girls and women from girls and women's school sports teams (Senate 31 to 17). (2022-03-02) source
MarijuanaNo single answer fitslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In a 2018 questionnaire, called medical cannabis for serious ailments a reasonable approach and said she does not support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. (2018-10-18) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, 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, Religion in schools, China policy.
Mary Ungs-Sogaard
DemocratPart-time staff at a nonprofit news organization; former community newspaper publisher
Mary Ungs-Sogaard is the Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 33, challenging Republican incumbent Carrie Koelker1. She was a community newspaper publisher for about a dozen Eastern Iowa papers, was appointed by the governor to the Iowa Public Information Board for a four-year term (two years as chair), and now works part time for a nonprofit news organization2. She lists cost of living, health care and brain health, and Iowa's land and water as her priorities3.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Childcare and pre-KTarget free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority familiesmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Said childcare access could be helped by increasing state childcare assistance eligibility and updating grant programs. (2026-09-30) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- Listed incentives to build more homes and duplexes, encouraging accessory dwelling units, and banning algorithmic rent fixing to bring down prices. (2026-09-30) source
Minimum wageRaise it modestlylow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Said increasing the minimum wage should be accomplished, without naming an amount. (2026-09-30) source
Drug pricesSet legal price limits on all prescription drugs for every buyerlow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Said healthcare costs could be lowered by capping prescription drug prices. (2026-09-30) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentiveslow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- Said expanding affordable renewable energy programs, rather than shutting them down, would help lower costs. (2026-09-30) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, School choice, Curriculum and books, 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, 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.