States Win for Molly Buck (IA HD 41)

Molly Buck is a mom, educator, and colon cancer survivor who previously represented House District 41 in the Iowa House. A longtime Ankeny resident, Molly was inspired to run for office after seeing firsthand how decisions at the statehouse were impacting students, teachers, and working families. In 2017, she stood alongside fellow educators and union members to push back against efforts to underfund schools and weaken collective bargaining rights. She stepped up to ensure her community had a strong voice in Des Moines—one grounded in real classroom experience and a deep commitment to public education.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in education and a master’s in teacher effectiveness and professional development from Drake University, Molly has spent over twenty years teaching in the Ankeny Community School District. She currently teaches fourth grade at Heritage Elementary. As the State House Representative from 2023 to 2025, Molly was one of the only active classroom teachers simultaneously serving in the Iowa legislature. 

During that legislative term, Molly served on key committees including Education, Economic Growth and Technology, Environmental Protection, and Labor and Workforce, as well as on the Education Appropriations subcommittee and College Student Aid Commission. She continued to teach during the legislative session, bringing real-time perspective to her work at the Capitol. Molly lives in Ankeny with her husband and four children, and is running to retake the seat to keep fighting for strong public schools, working families, and fundamental freedoms.

WHY THIS RACE

This race is one of the most consequential in Iowa because a victory here would directly break the Republican supermajority in the State House, fundamentally shifting the balance of power in the chamber. House District 41 is highly competitive, with recent elections decided by razor-thin margins and a rapidly changing suburban electorate in the Des Moines metro area. Molly previously held this seat, demonstrating that it is winnable for Democrats, and her 2024 loss only underscores how close this district remains. Flipping it back would restore a critical check on one-party control, giving Democrats the ability to block extreme legislation and reintroduce balance and accountability to the legislature. In a cycle where only a small number of seats can determine whether Republicans maintain unchecked power, this race stands out as a must-win.

WHY IOWA

Iowa is shaping up to be a major political battleground in 2026. There is an open governor’s race with a strong Democratic contender, an open U.S. Senate seat, and competitive House seats in play. If Democrats can sustain turnout and build on special election gains, they could transform what has historically been a red state into a critical battleground across races up and down the ticket.

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