Counting Our Many, Many Blessings
There are 502 days until Election Day 2026.
Thank you. It’s already been over a week since the launch of our campaign for the US Senate, taking on Joni Ernst in 2026. Our Launch Day on 6/11 was an enormous success, with thousands of people across Iowa and the U.S. giving $400,000+ to help us break an Iowa grassroots fundraising record on our first day. Your support made this possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
Chloe and I are so grateful to every single person who made a donation, who reached out to their own networks, or sent words of encouragement to us. We really, really appreciate you.
If you didn’t catch our launch video, you can watch it here — we also released a fun “blooper” reel that captured some of the levity (and absurdity) of filming a video like this. And stay tuned… we’ll have our next video out soon. 🥓
The first week was spent mostly on making early phone calls to supporters and friends and family in my network to make sure that we have the resources that are going to be necessary to run the kind of campaign that we want to run. We are also hiring the early members of our staff who are going to play pivotal roles in making sure we have the right team in place. (We aren’t able to do this without the generous support of people like you, so if you haven’t already made a contribution or would like to give again, every gift helps!) The first 72 hours were a whirlwind, but Chloe and I were able to sneak away for date night on Friday, which was a wonderful way to end the week.
On Saturday, unfortunately, we woke up to the tragic news out of Minnesota about the brazen, politically-motivated assassination of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attempt on the life of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Both Hortman and Hoffman have ties to Iowa Democrats and were well-known by many of my colleagues. Chloe and I have been keeping both of their families in our thoughts and prayers, and we are grateful that the authorities have already apprehended the suspected gunman. Political violence has no place in our country, and I was glad to see leaders from across the partisan spectrum quickly condemn these vicious attacks.
Saturday was also Flag Day, and like millions of Americans across the country, I joined a local “No Kings” rally to stand up for the fundamental values we all share, especially liberty and justice for all. The rally in Iowa City that I attended began with a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, and there were more American flags than I could count. It was great seeing so many friends there, and I appreciated all the enthusiastic support and excitement for our campaign.
Then, I got to take Father’s Day off — my first day off in some time — and hosted my second annual “Dads Being Dudes” party. Between cigars, beer, Halo 2, wings, and great conversation with the guys, and a wonderful gift from Chloe, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate the day or feel appreciated.
Starting on Monday, we were right back at it. Unfortunately, the Labor Rally we were planning to attend Monday evening got rained out. But Wednesday, I joined constituents of mine who are members of the Iowa Manufactured Home Residents’ Network and the newly-formed Johnson County Residents United to support their demands for better treatment from the private companies that own the communities. You can read more about their demands here.
This is an issue that I have been working on for over six years, since these out-of-state companies first came into Iowa and began squeezing my constituents back in 2019. I’ve discussed this struggle at length elsewhere, including in this long form piece, but today I was simply there in solidarity to support the residents who are sticking together and fighting back.
The experience of these Iowans is a crystal clear example of the economic problems that are facing our state. While many of the challenges facing Iowa are complex, this one is not. It is a very simple story of corporate greed and political corruption on the one hand and the courage and resolve of everyday people to band together and fight back on the other. I know whose side I’m on.
Finally, I spent Wednesday evening working on my post-legislative session newsletter to my constituents. Each week, in addition to recapping that week or month’s legislative action, I write a “From the Desk of Senator Wahls” portion to introduce that newsletter. I thought I’d end this post with what I wrote for this newsletter:
With the dust of the legislative session finally settling behind us, we’re taking a final review on the outcomes — both good and bad — from this year’s legislative session in this week’s newsletter.
As you may have seen in the last week, I have also launched my campaign for the U.S. Senate. While a statewide campaign requires an enormous amount of time, energy, and work, I remain committed to continuing to serve my constituents effectively in the state senate. I’ll ask for your grace and patience in responding to inquiries, but my team and I will continue to do our best to ensure you are receiving the high-quality responsiveness you deserve from your state senator.
In the meantime, if you’d like to follow along with the campaign, the best way is to do so by visiting my new campaign website at: www.zachwahls.com
Before I dive into all of the year-end action below, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you. Deciding to launch a campaign for the U.S. Senate was one of the most challenging decisions of my adult life, and it was something that my wife and I wrestled with for months. And while there was no single factor that put us over the edge, I can confidently say that the work I have done on your behalf in the state senate, and all the lessons I have learned along the way, prepared me to take this next step. Your trust in my leadership in our state legislature, your engagement, your questions, your advice, your encouragement — all of it — have helped to prepare me for this next campaign. Without you, I would not have been ready.
I can’t be sure of where this campaign will lead us, but I am sure of this: Iowans, and most Americans, are sick of the kind of politics that involve dragging each other down and beating each other up. We are facing too many problems in our state, our country, and our world. Too many Iowans are working too hard without getting ahead for us to accept the way things are. We need new leaders who are going to bring new energy and new ideas to the problems we are facing. There’s an old saying I heard recently: “Any jackass can kick down a barn. It takes a carpenter to build one.” I like that expression, and our need for new carpenters is why I’m running. If you want to read more, I hope you’ll check out our campaign website here or read my “Build the Barn” essay I published on launch day.
Representing you in the Iowa Senate is an honor, a privilege, and a joy — and I am grateful beyond words for the trust you have placed in me.
Onward.
ZW