IOWA

WHO OWNS THE FARM, THE FACTORY & THE FUTURE?

MUGWUMPS · ATLAS · 2028 U.S. SENATE · FOUR-DOSSIER CONVERGENCE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 · 8:08 PM ET · LANGHORNE P. BREEDLOVE

EXECUTIVE VERDICT

Four independent civic-research documents surfaced 79, 41, 69 and 42 entries respectively. They contain substantial overlap and some name/role discrepancies. This convergence prioritizes 25 public figures for additional independent research; it is NOT a list of willing candidates, endorsements, polling preferences or measured ideological compatibility.

The most interesting cross-cutting bench is not concentrated among existing national politicians: farm-market organizers, diversified farmers, a local clean-water responder, rural health executives, a union autoworker, and Meskwaki government leaders. The ranking is editorial research priority—not an assessment of personal fitness, private beliefs, or likelihood of running.

THE RACE & FIVE STATE SYSTEMS

Iowa votes for its Class III Senate seat on November 7, 2028. Chuck Grassley has held it since 1981 and had not announced a 2028 decision in the consulted material. Democrat Josh Turek's 2026 win was for the other Senate seat. Neither fact makes any listed person an official contender.

01 · Farm concentration, farm-credit economics and owner-operated agriculture.

02 · Water pollution, cancer burden and drinking-water resilience.

03 · Rural hospitals, prescription access, maternal care and food security.

04 · Industrial work, manufacturing wages, bargaining, housing and childcare.

05 · Local democratic institutions, tribal sovereignty and community service delivery.

RESEARCH TOP 25 · PROSPECT DIRECTORY

01 · RYAN MARQUARDT · South-central · Madison County

02 · CARMEN BLACK · East · Solon / Johnson County

03 · SHAFFER RIDGEWAY · Northeast · Waterloo region

04 · AARON HELEY LEHMAN · Central · rural Polk County

05 · NATASHA WILSON · Southeast · West Chester

06 · PAIGE YOUNG BEAR-BROWN · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

07 · KATIE SORRELL · Northeast · Waterloo; statewide work

08 · WADE DOOLEY · Central · Albion

09 · KAREN VARLEY · Southwest · Adair County / Stuart

10 · JARVIS BEAR · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

11 · JODI REESE · Southwest · Nishnabotna watershed

12 · BETH HOFFMAN · South-central · Lovilla

13 · KATHERINE IMBOREK · East · Iowa City

14 · JON ROSMANN · West-central · county not verified

15 · CODY LEISTIKOW · Statewide UAW network · home region unverified

16 · ERICA LYDOLPH · Southeast · Stockport / Winfield

17 · MAX MOWITZ · Central · Des Moines; statewide work

18 · ANNA PESEK · Northeast · Coggon / Delaware County

19 · ALANA MONSON · South-central · Knoxville

20 · TAMI NIELSEN · Central · Des Moines / statewide

21 · SAM BENNETT · Northwest · Galva

22 · LUCIE ROBERTS · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

23 · SUZAN EREM · East · West Branch

24 · JACOB WANDERSCHEID · Northwest · Sioux City

25 · DAN GOSA · East · Quad Cities

PROSPECT PROFILES · EDITORIAL PRIORITY ORDER

01 · RYAN MARQUARDT

REGIONAL CONNECTION · South-central · Madison County

PUBLIC RECORD · Pasture-based farmer; Iowa Farmers Union vice president; previous state House candidacy.

WHY REVIEW · Farm independence plus prior electoral exposure, without a long incumbency record.

OPEN QUESTION · Former campaign makes political profile easier to vet; check 2026 result and present ambitions.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

02 · CARMEN BLACK

REGIONAL CONNECTION · East · Solon / Johnson County

PUBLIC RECORD · Practical Farmers of Iowa board president; CSA/farm operator.

WHY REVIEW · Small-business farm credibility and an independent civic leadership platform.

OPEN QUESTION · Confirm actual statewide recognition, current board role and electoral interest.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

03 · SHAFFER RIDGEWAY

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Northeast · Waterloo region

PUBLIC RECORD · Farmer and conservation professional; Practical Farmers of Iowa board.

WHY REVIEW · Unusual fusion of working agriculture and conservation in an industrial region.

OPEN QUESTION · Verify home county, independent policy positions and reach beyond existing agricultural circles.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

04 · AARON HELEY LEHMAN

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · rural Polk County

PUBLIC RECORD · Fifth-generation farmer; Iowa Farmers Union president.

WHY REVIEW · Strong substantive record in competition, farm markets and land economics.

OPEN QUESTION · Institutional organization leader rather than a total unknown; examine political involvement.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

05 · NATASHA WILSON

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Southeast · West Chester

PUBLIC RECORD · Diversified livestock and regenerative farm operator; Practical Farmers of Iowa board.

WHY REVIEW · Authentic rural producer outside conventional partisan circles.

OPEN QUESTION · Establish broader public-service record and whether Iowa domicile is confirmed.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

06 · PAIGE YOUNG BEAR-BROWN

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

PUBLIC RECORD · Meskwaki Tribal Council member with education portfolio.

WHY REVIEW · Distinctive public-governance experience and generational representation.

OPEN QUESTION · Sovereign tribal office does not imply interest in federal politics; verify consent and eligibility.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

07 · KATIE SORRELL

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Northeast · Waterloo; statewide work

PUBLIC RECORD · Iowa Food Bank Association executive director.

WHY REVIEW · Direct, practical leadership on household costs and food access.

OPEN QUESTION · Assess broader policy record and public familiarity outside food systems.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

08 · WADE DOOLEY

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Albion

PUBLIC RECORD · Farmer, cover-crop entrepreneur and Practical Farmers board member.

WHY REVIEW · Working entrepreneur combining productivity and stewardship.

OPEN QUESTION · Verify local recognition, financial/business disclosures and national issue breadth.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

09 · KAREN VARLEY

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Southwest · Adair County / Stuart

PUBLIC RECORD · Farmer, attorney and Iowa Farmers Union treasurer; 2026 state House candidate.

WHY REVIEW · Cross-disciplinary rural economic and legal background; limited prior campaign experience.

OPEN QUESTION · 2026 political activity must be assessed rather than treating her as apolitical.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

10 · JARVIS BEAR

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

PUBLIC RECORD · Meskwaki Tribal Council treasurer and agriculture portfolio holder.

WHY REVIEW · Concrete governance and agricultural-economy experience.

OPEN QUESTION · Explore public record respectfully; tribal sovereignty cannot be subsumed into party assumptions.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

11 · JODI REESE

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Southwest · Nishnabotna watershed

PUBLIC RECORD · Nurse and cofounder of Nishnabotna Water Defenders following agricultural pollution concerns.

WHY REVIEW · Local crisis-response leadership with public-health credibility.

OPEN QUESTION · Assess sustained organizational record, personal public statements and geographic reach.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

12 · BETH HOFFMAN

REGIONAL CONNECTION · South-central · Lovilla

PUBLIC RECORD · Farmer, writer and Iowa Farmers Union board member.

WHY REVIEW · Strong public storytelling potential from practical farm experience.

OPEN QUESTION · Determine public audience and exact political history.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

13 · KATHERINE IMBOREK

REGIONAL CONNECTION · East · Iowa City

PUBLIC RECORD · Family-medicine physician; One Iowa board member.

WHY REVIEW · Clinical authority on care access and healthcare institutions.

OPEN QUESTION · Academic/metro identity may not alone translate statewide; establish policy independence.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

14 · JON ROSMANN

REGIONAL CONNECTION · West-central · county not verified

PUBLIC RECORD · Iowa Rural Health Association president; SafeNetRx leader.

WHY REVIEW · Prescription access and rural healthcare delivery expertise.

OPEN QUESTION · Confirm home location, specific executive experience and public political history.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

15 · CODY LEISTIKOW

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Statewide UAW network · home region unverified

PUBLIC RECORD · Autoworker and Iowa AFL-CIO auditor.

WHY REVIEW · Genuine blue-collar industrial leadership without federal office history.

OPEN QUESTION · Limited verified biography; determine local base and previous party roles.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

16 · ERICA LYDOLPH

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Southeast · Stockport / Winfield

PUBLIC RECORD · Farmer and agricultural loan officer; Practical Farmers board.

WHY REVIEW · Firsthand farm-credit understanding plus rural business and production.

OPEN QUESTION · Assess personal record and whether political involvement already exists.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

17 · MAX MOWITZ

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Des Moines; statewide work

PUBLIC RECORD · One Iowa executive director and community-health worker.

WHY REVIEW · Grassroots community service and institution-building experience.

OPEN QUESTION · Issue profile established but statewide electoral appeal and independent positions unknown.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

18 · ANNA PESEK

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Northeast · Coggon / Delaware County

PUBLIC RECORD · Iowa Farmers Union board secretary; farm owner/operator.

WHY REVIEW · Low political saturation and northeastern agricultural connection.

OPEN QUESTION · Thin independent public biography; confirm professional details.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

19 · ALANA MONSON

REGIONAL CONNECTION · South-central · Knoxville

PUBLIC RECORD · Rural health association board member and Knoxville healthcare leader.

WHY REVIEW · Regional healthcare administration relevant to rural hospital gaps.

OPEN QUESTION · Verify exact current professional title and broader civic footprint.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

20 · TAMI NIELSEN

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Des Moines / statewide

PUBLIC RECORD · Food Bank of Iowa president and CEO.

WHY REVIEW · Executive-scale logistics and anti-hunger credibility.

OPEN QUESTION · Higher institutional visibility; assess nonpartisan public trust and management record.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

21 · SAM BENNETT

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Northwest · Galva

PUBLIC RECORD · Practical Farmers board member; grains and soil-health farmer.

WHY REVIEW · Northwest underrepresentation and a grounded farm-economics story.

OPEN QUESTION · Sparse public biographical material and unknown campaign appetite.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

22 · LUCIE ROBERTS

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Central · Meskwaki Settlement / Tama

PUBLIC RECORD · Meskwaki Tribal Council chair.

WHY REVIEW · Substantial self-government and community leadership.

OPEN QUESTION · Not an inferred federal prospect or party member; review independently and respectfully.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

23 · SUZAN EREM

REGIONAL CONNECTION · East · West Branch

PUBLIC RECORD · Sustainable Iowa Land Trust cofounder and Iowa Farmers Union board member.

WHY REVIEW · Organizing experience and structural understanding of land access.

OPEN QUESTION · Check exact current locality and institution-based political ties.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

24 · JACOB WANDERSCHEID

REGIONAL CONNECTION · Northwest · Sioux City

PUBLIC RECORD · Food Bank of Siouxland leader and Iowa Food Bank Association officer.

WHY REVIEW · Outside the capital; concrete regional service leadership.

OPEN QUESTION · Need independent verification of wider public recognition and electoral suitability.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

25 · DAN GOSA

REGIONAL CONNECTION · East · Quad Cities

PUBLIC RECORD · Great River Area Labor Federation president.

WHY REVIEW · Working-region union voice and potential industrial-economy legitimacy.

OPEN QUESTION · Assess documented electoral/party roles and distinctive personal record.

SOURCE · Official or reported public-role reference

NOT ON THE SHORTLIST · KEEP IN THE INTELLIGENCE LEDGER

Established politicians: Chuck Grassley, Josh Turek, Ashley Hinson, Michael Franken and Thomas Laehn remain race context, not automatic Mugwumps prospects. Former candidates Ryan Marquardt and Karen Varley are included above because limited prior electoral experience differs from long-serving incumbency. Their actual 2026 and earlier election records still require confirmation.

Additional civic bench: Mike Stacey, Zach Old Bear, Drayton Timberwolf, Demetreus Wanatee, JoAnn Youngbear, Allison Stewart, Brent Johnson, Shaffer Ridgeway associates, Charlie Wishman, Peter Hird, Al Womble, Jen Pellant, Katie Rock, Sarah Green, Barb Prather, Kim Guardado, Whitney Zahnd, Keenan Crow, Maurice Adair, Renae Chesnut, Erica Lydolph's fellow PFI directors, regional watershed officials and housing advocates. Preserve these names in the underlying registers rather than losing them to ranking cutoffs.

RECONCILIATION · IMPORTANT DATA HYGIENE

CHARLES / CHARLIE WISHMAN · appears under both forms; treat as likely same Iowa AFL-CIO president pending confirmation. JON / JERRY ROSMANN / ROSMAN · distinguish names and roles carefully rather than collapsing them automatically. SHAFFER RIDGEWAY · verify affiliations where one research draft describes Practical Farmers board service and another references Iowa Farmers Union. SUZAN EREM · geography varies by source. Board offices and executive titles can change; recheck before publication. These inconsistencies are flags, not grounds for inventing missing facts.

No reliable cross-dossier percentage can be computed from the four subjective research registers. They use different sampling strategies and are not independent votes. Do not assign numeric Mugwump affiliation or faction percentages without public positions, transparent criteria and independent corroboration.

PATHWAY ANALYSIS · NO PARTY AFFILIATION ASSUMED

Republican nomination: Grassley's decision dominates the structure. An open seat and an incumbent race are different contests; document the 2028 filing requirements and actual field before evaluating feasibility.

Democratic nomination: the other seat's 2026 result is meaningful context but not proof a particular civic leader has electoral support. Assess candidacy statements and statewide organization independently.

Independent / minor-party nomination: evaluate Iowa's actual 2028 requirements, ballot access, resources and potential effects on the contest. No listed person's occupational identity establishes party affiliation.

NEXT VERIFICATION QUEUE

1. Update all 25 current titles and home counties from first-person or official sources.

2. Confirm prior runs, public candidacy statements, electoral filing records and any conflicts.

3. Check 2028 Iowa Secretary of State ballot rules and the official 2028 calendar.

4. Confirm people want to be considered before outreach, recruitment or nomination claims.

5. Preserve Meskwaki sovereign roles without treating tribal election participation as party politics.

SOURCE REGISTER · CLICKABLE DOCUMENTS & ORGANIZATIONS

LANGHORNE research dossier (79-person register)

FANCY 1.33 research dossier (41-person register)

REMY 1.6 research dossier (69-person register)

ERIKA 1.6 research dossier (42-person register)

Iowa Secretary of State elections

Iowa Farmers Union

Practical Farmers of Iowa

Meskwaki Tribal Council

Iowa AFL-CIO

Iowa Rural Health Association

Iowa Food Bank Association

One Iowa

Nishnabotna clean-water reporting

EDITORIAL CONTROL · 25 PUBLIC-RECORD SUBJECTS · NO VERIFIED SENATE CANDIDACIES CLAIMED