State Senator District 49 in Iowa State Senate District 49, Iowa

2026 Primary Election

• Cynthia Mensendick — Traveling Nurse and Project Manager in IA

  Cynthia Mensendick is a Republican candidate running for election to the Iowa State Senate to represent District 49 in the June 2, 2026 primary. Her professional background includes working as a traveling nurse for AMN Healthcare, an acute registered nurse in Med Surg/Telemetry, and a project manager/informatics nurse, implementing oncology practice improvements. Mensendick's campaign platform focuses on fiscal responsibility and community empowerment. She advocates for minimizing regulatory burdens to help businesses thrive, lowering property and income taxes by eliminating what she calls "pet government projects" and preventing budget abuse, and ensuring parents have the primary decision-making authority over their children's education. She also aims to address skyrocketing healthcare costs by seeking creative and affordable solutions tailored to Iowans' diverse needs.

• Cindy Winckler — Incumbent State Senator in Davenport, IA

  Cindy Winckler is an incumbent Iowa State Senator for District 49, seeking re-election in the Democratic primary. Born in Des Moines and raised in Davenport, she is a former family and consumer science teacher and a retired Quality Learning Consultant with a master's degree. With a family background in public service, she was first elected to the Iowa House in 2000, serving 11 terms before joining the Senate in 2022. An Assistant Democratic Leader, she holds ranking member positions on several committees including Ethics, State Government, and Education budget, demonstrating a commitment to education equity and legislative leadership for Iowans.