Sarah
Trone Garriott
Iowa state senator and Lutheran minister challenging Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 23
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 48
Background
Sarah Trone Garriott (born 1978, Minneapolis) is an Iowa Democratic politician, ordained minister, and nonprofit coordinator currently serving in the Iowa Senate. She holds a B.A. in history from the College of St. Scholastica, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. 14
Before entering politics, Trone Garriott volunteered with AmeriCorps, worked in hospital chaplaincy, and served as a Lutheran pastor in rural Virginia. After moving to Iowa in 2013, she led Faith Lutheran Church in Clive and later became coordinator of interfaith engagement for the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network, a role the Iowa Legislature also lists as her profession. 13
First elected to the Iowa Senate in 2020, she began serving in 2021 and, following redistricting, has represented District 14 since 2023. She is currently serving her third Senate term. 14
In 2026, Trone Garriott is the Democratic candidate for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Zach Nunn in the November 3, 2026 general election. The race has been noted among Iowa's competitive congressional contests moving in Democrats' favor heading into the election. 151617
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 3, Iowa
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Iowa State Senator, District 14
- Website
- sarahforiowa.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 12newsTrone Garriott claims tariffs cost Iowa families $600/year and cut farm income by $2.1 billion
Campaign coverage reported Trone Garriott's claims that tariffs cost Iowa families $600 a year and reduced farm income by $2.1 billion. These figures are attributed to her campaign's argument and have not been independently verified.
Tariffs, farms, taxes top Iowa candidate divide · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9pollCook Political Report shifts Iowa's 3rd District from 'toss-up' to 'leans Democratic'
Cook Political Report moved Iowa's 3rd District to 'leans Democratic,' citing national political conditions and Democratic strength at the top of the ticket, while describing Nunn as one of Republicans' stronger incumbents. Sabato's Crystal Ball still rated the race a toss-up. Ads attacking Trone Garriott over her Iowa Senate votes on gender-affirming care and transgender sports were also reported, with Trone Garriott airing responses.
Iowa's 3 top congressional races move in Democrats' favor · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsTrone Garriott outlines policy positions on healthcare, tariffs, and Iran in DMR questionnaire
In a Des Moines Register questionnaire, Trone Garriott said her priorities included reducing healthcare costs, restoring ACA subsidies, protecting Medicare and Medicaid, and expanding a public option. She called tariffs 'a tax' and said she would seek to rein them in. On Iran, she said she disagreed with the war and argued Congress should vote before going to war.
Iowa's 3rd Congressional District candidates sound off on economy, war · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsTrone Garriott centers economic relief and workforce development in campaign messaging
A campaign post described economic relief and workforce development as central themes, with a focus on everyday costs and rural communities.
Trone Garriott centers economic relief in tight 3rd District ... · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsTrone Garriott campaign releases statement on KCCI debate impasse
The Trone Garriott campaign issued a statement saying it had offered October 27, 28, 29, or 30 as debate dates and that Nunn's campaign had rejected those options. The campaigns' accounts differed on who was responsible for the impasse.
Trone Garriott Campaign Statement on Status of KCCI ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1debateTrone Garriott and Nunn campaigns fail to agree on KCCI debate date
The campaigns could not agree on a date for a KCCI debate. Trone Garriott's campaign said it proposed October 27–30, but accused Nunn's campaign of rejecting those options. KCCI reported her campaign would not debate before or during the first week of early voting. Nunn's campaign said it had accepted debates with KCCI, WHO 13, and Iowa PBS.
Iowa candidates fail to agree on KCCI debate date · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsTrone Garriott launches 'Show Up' TV ad attacking Nunn on China
The campaign launched a television and digital ad criticizing Nunn's attendance at China-related committee hearings and his votes on Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland. The campaign also said Trone Garriott had taken no corporate PAC money in the race.
Sarah Trone Garriott Launches New TV Ad, "Show Up" · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2filingTrone Garriott wins Democratic primary in Iowa's 3rd District
Sarah Trone Garriott won the June 2 Democratic primary, becoming the party's nominee to challenge Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in the November 3 general election. State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst had previously suspended her campaign and endorsed Trone Garriott.
2026 Iowa's 3rd Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Mar 12pollOnly 2026 poll shows Nunn leading Trone Garriott 48–42%
A Ragnar Research Partners survey of 400 likely voters (fieldwork March 12–14) showed Rep. Zach Nunn at 48% and Trone Garriott at 42%, with 10% undecided. As of October 12, this was the only 2026 poll found for the district.
Iowa 2026 polling average · Iowa Ledger · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- LCV (League of Conservation Voters) organizationListed in third-party compilation; not on campaign endorsements page. No date given. womenspoliticalcommittee.org
- Waukee City Councilmember Lori Lyon officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Des Moines School Board Member Jenna Knox officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Perry School Board Member Eddie Diaz officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Waukee School Board Member Wendy Marsh officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Former Iowa State Representative Ed Fallon officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- MoveOn organizationMoveOn candidate page confirms endorsement; date not specified. front.moveon.org
- New Politics organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- The Next 50 organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- WelcomePAC organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Ironworkers Local 67 unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- AFSCME Council 61 unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- SMART unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Sen. Liz Bennet officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Sen. Izaah Knox officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- House Minority Leader Brian Meyer officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Rep. Larry McBurney officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Windsor Heights Mayor Mike Jones officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Ankeny City Council Member Jeff Perry officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Des Moines City Council Member Carl Voss officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Perry City Councilor Joe Shelly officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Windsor Heights City Council Member Fletcher Barry officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Johnston School Board Member Lya Williams officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Waukee School Board Member Jaime Secory officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Former Waukee City Councilmember Larry Lyon officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- IAM unionListed in third-party compilation; not on campaign endorsements page. No date given. womenspoliticalcommittee.org
- ECU organizationListed in third-party compilation; not on campaign endorsements page. No date given. womenspoliticalcommittee.org
- New Democrat Action Fund organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Elect Democratic Women organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Vote Mama organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Future Forum PAC organizationListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Teamsters Local 238 unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- IBEW unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters unionListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Sen. Matt Blake officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Sen. Art Staed officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Rep. Dan Gosa officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- State Rep. Megan Srinivas officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Council Bluffs Mayor-Elect Jill Shudak officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Des Moines City Council Member Mike Simonson officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Urbandale City Councilor Bridget Carberry Montgomery officialListed on campaign endorsements page; no date given. sarahforiowa.com
- Farm Action Fund (Rural Independence Initiative) organizationEndorsed as a rural champion alongside Josh Turek and Christina Bohannan. farmactionfund.us · Jul 30, 2026
- Human Rights Campaign PAC organizationEndorsed as part of a slate of pro-equality candidates in competitive House districts. hrc.org · Jun 24, 2026
- New Democrat Coalition Action Fund organizationDescribed Trone Garriott as an endorsed candidate; said it had supported her 'from the start.' newdemactionfund.com · Jun 2, 2026
- DCCC Red to Blue Program organizationDCCC announced her addition to the Red to Blue program. dccc.org · Feb 23, 2026
- EMILYs List organizationAnnounced endorsement of Trone Garriott for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District. emilyslist.org · Feb 3, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $5.29M
- Spent
- $1.43M
- Cash on hand
- $3.86M
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6IA03268(opens in a new tab)
Sources 23
- [1] Tariffs, farms, taxes top Iowa candidate divide(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] 2026 Iowa's 3rd Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [3] Iowa's 3 top congressional races move in Democrats' favor(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] Making life more affordable—for all of us - Sarah for Iowa(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [5] Iowa's 3rd Congressional District candidates sound off on economy, war(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [6] Iowa 2026 polling average · Iowa Ledger(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [7] Trone Garriott centers economic relief in tight 3rd District ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [8] Iowa candidates fail to agree on KCCI debate date(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [9] Trone Garriott Campaign Statement on Status of KCCI ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [10] Sarah Trone Garriott : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [11] Sarah Trone Garriott Launches New TV Ad, "Show Up"(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [12] Sarah Trone Garriott 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [13] Sarah Trone Garriott pledges to fight corruption, cut costs at Soapbox(opens in a new tab) Aug 14, 2026
- [14] Farm Action Fund Endorses Josh Turek, Christina Bohannan, and ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 30, 2026
- [15] Human Rights Campaign Endorses a Slate of Pro-Equality ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 24, 2026
- [16] New Dems Win Big in Iowa Primaries, Await California Results ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 2, 2026
- [17] Sarah Trone Garriott - Womens Political Committee(opens in a new tab) May 13, 2026
- [18] Hear Congress candidates Nunn, Trone Garriott on immigration, tariffs(opens in a new tab) May 11, 2026
- [19] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Apr 13, 2026
- [20] Sarah Trone Garriott Added to DCCC's Coveted 'Red ...(opens in a new tab) Feb 23, 2026
- [21] EMILYs List Endorses State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott for ...(opens in a new tab) Feb 6, 2026
- [22] Protecting Iowa's land, water, and clean energy future - Sarah for Iowa(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2025
- [23] Public safety is a top priority - Sarah for Iowa(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2025