State Representative District 55 in Iowa State House District 55, Iowa

2026 Primary Election

• Kurtis Bower — Mayor of Roland in Roland, IA

  Kurtis Bower, a decorated veteran of the Iraq War and retired, is the current mayor of Roland, Iowa, having been in office since 2024. Born in Sigourney and a graduate of Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, he is married with four sons and two stepsons. Bower is also the founder and CEO of Reforging Families, a nonprofit advocating for family law reform and children's best interests. He is seeking the Republican nomination for Iowa House District 55. His campaign priorities include property tax reform, utility costs, leveling the state budget, and supporting property rights regarding carbon capture pipelines through voluntary easements. He is pro-Second Amendment and pro-life.

• Beau Klaver — Legislative Clerk and Small Business Owner in Kamrar, IA

  Beau Klaver is a Republican candidate seeking election to the Iowa House of Representatives District 55 in the 2026 primary. A sixth-generation farmer, he grew up on a small family farm near Kamrar and is finalizing his degree in Agricultural Studies from Iowa State University. Klaver currently works full-time as a clerk for an Iowa Senator and founded a precision agriculture drone business. He serves on the Hamilton County Farm Bureau Board. Klaver emphasizes his commitment to Iowa agriculture and rural communities, advocating for revitalizing beginning farmer programs and supporting the Choose Iowa Program. He believes in retaining youth in rural areas, fighting for small businesses, and increasing youth involvement in politics.

• Brian Young — Farmer in Stratford, IA

  Brian Young, a sixth-generation farmer from Stratford, Iowa, initially announced his candidacy for Iowa House District 55 in the Republican primary. A deacon at Countryside Bible Chapel and a veteran of the local Farm Bureau board, Young presented himself as a strong conservative. His platform included pro-life policies, tax relief, and opposition to eminent domain. Running for the first time, he aimed to bring strong leadership and district priorities to the Iowa House. However, Young later withdrew from the primary race on April 17, 2026.

• Cynthia Oppedal Paschen — Candidate for State Representative in Ames, IA

  Cynthia Oppedal Paschen is a Democratic candidate for the Iowa House of Representatives District 55 in the 2026 primary election. Born in 1960, she resides in Ames, Iowa, with her husband, John, and their two children, October and Madeline. Paschen has an extensive history in Iowa politics, having previously run for the Iowa State Senate in District 24 in 2020 and District 28 in 2024. In her 2024 bid for Senate District 28, she successfully advanced from the Democratic primary before being defeated in the general election. Her campaign has received support from individuals and organizations like Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa PAC.