Thomas
Laehn
Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn is running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat as the Libertarian Party candidate in 2026.
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 19
- endorsements
- 4
Background
Thomas Laehn is the Greene County Attorney in Jefferson, Iowa, a position to which he was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. 2 Before entering law, he was a university professor at McNeese State University in Louisiana, teaching American government, political thought, and constitutional law for approximately four years. 12
Laehn holds degrees from Drake University and Louisiana State University, where he earned a master's degree and PhD in political science, and he completed a one-year visiting research fellowship at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in May 2017. 1 He grew up in Allison, Iowa, and lives with his family in Jefferson, Iowa. 12
In October 2025, Laehn announced his candidacy for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat as a Libertarian, running in a race to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Joni Ernst. 413 He qualified for the November 2026 general election ballot and has positioned himself as an alternative to the two-party system. 813
At a glance
- Party
- Libertarian
- Running for
- U.S. Senate, Iowa
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Greene County Attorney
- Website
- laehn4iowa.org(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 11newsGazette profiles Laehn as Libertarian challenging the two-party system in Iowa Senate race
The Gazette published a profile of Laehn highlighting his Libertarian platform and his argument that he offers voters a meaningful alternative to the two major parties in the 2026 Iowa Senate race.
Libertarian Thomas Laehn challenges 2-party system in Senate race · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 10newsWHO 13 announces Laehn will appear in pre-debate program; excluded from Nexstar debate
WHO 13 announced that viewers would hear from Laehn in a pre-debate program covering his background, priorities, and reasons for running. The station noted he did not meet Nexstar's requirements to participate in its Senate debate.
Iowa's Senate race: The people, priorities and stakes · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9pollEmerson/Nexstar poll shows Laehn at 2% as Hinson and Turek nearly tied
An Emerson/Nexstar poll of 650 likely Iowa voters conducted October 5–6 (MOE ±3.8 points) showed Hinson at 47%, Turek at 45%, and Laehn at 2%. Laehn's support falls within the poll's margin of uncertainty.
Iowa poll finds Ashley Hinson leads Josh Turek for Senate · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7debateLaehn excluded from Iowa PBS Senate debate between Hinson and Turek
Hinson and Turek debated on Iowa PBS's Iowa Press program. Laehn was on the ballot but did not participate; Iowa PBS stated he did not meet its pre-established debate criteria.
How to watch Ashley Hinson, Josh Turek in 1st US Senate debate tonight · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7pollSuffolk University poll shows Laehn at 2% in Iowa Senate race
A Suffolk University poll of 500 registered Iowa voters conducted October 1–4 (MOE ±4.4 points) showed Turek at 48%, Hinson at 44%, and Laehn at 2%, with 6% unsure.
Sand holds 12-point lead over Lahn for Iowa governor ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsLaehn publishes policy answers to Des Moines Register on eminent domain, taxes, Iran war
In responses to the Des Moines Register, Laehn identified eminent-domain limits as his top issue, pledged to propose legislation prohibiting private companies from using eminent domain for private gain, advocated abolishing the federal income tax in favor of a national sales tax on non-necessities, supported a balanced-budget amendment, and opposed the Iran war as immoral and unconstitutional.
Where Hinson, Turek, Laehn stand on Iran, tariffs in Iowa Senate race · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2newsLocal column notes Laehn certified for November ballot after obtaining required petition signatures
An October 2 local opinion column reported that Laehn had been certified as a candidate after obtaining the required petition signatures, confirming his place on the November 3 ballot.
Campaigns shift into high gear - The Cherokee Chronicle Times · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsLaehn interviewed on property rights, eminent domain, and executive war powers
In an interview published by Iowa Podcast, Laehn criticized the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and government-granted eminent-domain authority, and argued that Congress should exercise its constitutional war-making powers.
Senate Candidate Thomas Laehn: His Vote Can Force A Quorum · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- United Auto Workers (UAW) unionListed under endorsements on iVoterGuide profile; no date provided and no confirming statement from the organization or campaign found. ivoterguide.com
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) unionListed under endorsements on iVoterGuide profile; no date provided and no confirming statement from the organization or campaign found. ivoterguide.com
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO organizationListed under endorsements on iVoterGuide profile; no date provided and no confirming statement from the organization or campaign found. ivoterguide.com
- Nurses for America organizationListed under endorsements on iVoterGuide profile; no date provided and no confirming statement from the organization or campaign found. ivoterguide.com
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $54K
- Spent
- $46K
- Cash on hand
- $8,334
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record S6IA00181(opens in a new tab)
Sources 12
- [1] Iowa's Senate race: The people, priorities and stakes(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Libertarian Thomas Laehn challenges 2-party system in Senate race(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [3] Iowa poll finds Ashley Hinson leads Josh Turek for Senate(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] Voter Guide Profile for IA U.S. Senator candidate - Thomas Laehn(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [5] How to watch Ashley Hinson, Josh Turek in 1st US Senate debate tonight(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [6] Sand holds 12-point lead over Lahn for Iowa governor ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [7] Where Hinson, Turek, Laehn stand on Iran, tariffs in Iowa Senate race(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [8] Issues — Support Thomas Laehn for US Senate(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [9] Campaigns shift into high gear - The Cherokee Chronicle Times(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [10] Senate Candidate Thomas Laehn: His Vote Can Force A Quorum(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [11] Libertarian Thomas Laehn says end federal tax credits for pipelines(opens in a new tab) Aug 15, 2026
- [12] No spoiler here, says Libertarian Senate candidate Thomas Laehn(opens in a new tab) Jul 5, 2026