State Senator District 19 in Iowa State Senate District 19, Iowa

2026 Primary Election

• Bob Eschliman — Candidate for State Senator in Pella, IA

  Bob Eschliman, a Christian constitutional conservative, is running for Iowa State Senate District 19 in the 2026 Republican primary. An Iowa native and a service-connected disabled U.S. Navy veteran, he is a homeschooling father and former newspaper reporter, editor, and publisher. Residing in the district for over a decade, Eschliman is driven by a calling to serve, criticizing current state leadership for failing on tax reform, property rights, and fundamental rights. His platform prioritizes reducing tax burdens, protecting life, safeguarding property, and addressing rising cancer rates, aiming to bring new ideas for Iowa's future.

• Barb Kniff Mcculla — Incumbent State Representative in Pella, IA

  Barb Kniff McCulla, born in Michigan in 1956, is an American politician and entrepreneur with a degree from William Penn University. She owns KLK Construction, a telecommunications company in Pella, Iowa. A Republican, she currently serves as an incumbent State Representative for Iowa House District 37, assuming office in January 2023. She is seeking the Republican nomination for Iowa State Senate District 19 in the June 2026 primary. Her platform prioritizes making Iowa more affordable by controlling government costs, cutting taxes, protecting communities and children, and creating jobs in rural Iowa. She aims to continue the legacy of retiring State Senator Ken Rozenboom, who has endorsed her.

• Zachary Mecham — Entertainer, inventor, and business owner in Pleasantville, IA

  Zachary Mecham, a Democrat, is running for the Iowa State Senate to represent District 19. A Pleasantville-based entertainer, inventor, and co-founder of two statewide disability rights organizations, he also owns Zach of All Trades Media. Mecham's platform emphasizes ensuring Iowa farms and businesses are owned by local families, providing affordable food and healthcare access for all Iowans, and fully funding public schools while holding private schools receiving public funds to the same standards. He also advocates for better accountability in nursing homes, jails, and homeless shelters, and for equitable taxation where large corporations do not pay less than Iowa households. Mecham states his goal is to help all Iowans thrive and realize the American dream.