Northwest Iowa Voters Face Special Election for House District Seven
A special election will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9, to fill the Iowa House District 7 seat vacated when Rep. Mike Sexton resigned to accept a USDA position. The outcome will determine who represents Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac counties and parts of Webster, Buena Vista and Clay counties on agriculture and education issues that matter locally.
Voters in northwest Iowa will decide Tuesday who takes over Iowa House District 7. The special election on Dec. 9 follows the departure of Rep. Mike Sexton, who left the statehouse to take a federal job at the United States Department of Agriculture. The seat covers Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac counties and portions of Webster, Buena Vista and Clay counties, leaving constituents across Buena Vista County with a consequential choice on representation.
Two candidates from Odebolt appeared on the ballot, Republican Wendy Larson and Democrat Rachel Burns. Both centered their campaigns on agriculture, education and community service, themes that resonate across the district as local farm families and small towns face economic pressures and questions about school funding and rural services. With the seat tied to state budget and policy decisions, the winner will influence priorities that affect crop insurance, local school districts and access to state support programs that intersect with federal agricultural policy.
Early voting is available through Monday before the election, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. The relatively compact geography of the district means turnout patterns in small municipalities and township precincts can be decisive. For Buena Vista County residents living in the portion of the district, the election will affect who advocates for local infrastructure projects and rural education funding at the statehouse.
The vacancy highlights the link between federal appointments and local political dynamics. Sexton’s move to a USDA post underscores how national agricultural policy appointments can reshape state legislative representation. Decisions made in Des Moines in the coming legislative session about budget allocations and agricultural programming will reflect the new occupant of this seat.
Local officials and community groups emphasized practical issues for residents, including farm stability, school resources and emergency services. The campaign contest offers voters a clear focus on those priorities, and the election outcome will determine which perspective carries the district’s voice forward in the state legislature.
