Republicans fret over Iowa as tough midterm races develop

2026 ElectionRepublicans fret over Iowa as tough midterm races developVice President JD Vance will visit Tuesday — a trip meant to help endangered Rep. Zach Nunn in a state where the GOP also faces issues in big races for the Senate and governor.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, in Washington in 2024.Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 5, 2026, 5:00 AM EDTBy Henry J. GomezDES MOINES, Iowa — Vice President JD Vance lands here Tuesday in an effort to boost the re-election campaign of Rep. Zach Nunn — the latest development that underscores Republicans’ midterm jitters in a state that has moved to the right in recent years.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In Iowa’s race for governor, the GOP is dealing with a jumbled June 2 primary field while the presumptive Democratic nominee, State Auditor Rob Sand, coasts without opposition.And in the battle for an open Senate seat, the main Republican-aligned Senate super PAC in Washington is preparing to pump nearly $30 million worth of advertising into a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the chamber in 18 years.Vance’s appearance with Nunn, meanwhile, is connected to the GOP’s scramble to keep control of the House, where the party has a slim majority heading into this fall’s elections. Nunn’s is one of at least two Republican-held seats in Iowa that could flip to Democrats this fall. Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Jan. 23.Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty ImagesJeff Kaufmann, the Iowa GOP chair, said he believes Tuesday’s visit to the state will be the first of many for Vance, a likely White House contender in 2028. Iowa is known for hosting the first presidential caucuses. “Iowa is in the crosshairs again this year,” Kaufmann said in an interview. “A wide-open Senate seat, potentially three — right now it looks like two, but potentially three — competitive cong...