State Representative District 56 in Iowa State House District 56, Iowa

2026 Primary Election

• Mark I. Thompson — Incumbent State Representative in IA

  Mark I. Thompson, born in Clarion, Iowa in 1955, is an incumbent Republican State Representative for Iowa's District 56, currently serving since January 2023. A former Marine and counter-terrorism team leader for the U.S. Department of State for two decades, he also has experience as a substitute teacher and in farm work. Thompson holds a B.A. from Buena Vista University and attended the Command and Staff College. He is married to Jacquelyn and they have two children. Representing a conservative stance, he has supported legislation on constitutional supermajority tax requirements, habitual offenders, protections for medical practitioners' conscience rights, foreign national campaign finance restrictions, and reforms regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in state entities. He is seeking re-election in the 2026 Republican primary.

• Kyle Kruse — Candidate for Iowa House of Representatives, District 56 in Hardy, IA

  Kyle Kruse is a Democratic candidate for the Iowa House of Representatives, seeking to represent District 56. He is slated to appear on the Democratic primary ballot on June 2, 2026. A resident of Hardy, Iowa, Kruse is married. While specific policy platforms are not detailed in available records, he has previously been a candidate for the same district in 2024. Information regarding his professional background, education, or organizational affiliations is not publicly available.