Erin Helleso
Erin Helleso (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 46. Helleso is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2026.[source]
Helleso completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Erin Helleso earned a high school diploma from West Marshall High School and a graduate degree from Arizona State University. Helleso's career experience includes serving as a social worker.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 46
Anne Craven (D), Erin Helleso (D), and Mandy Newton Rosenow (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 46 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Anne Craven  | |
 | Erin Helleso | |
| Mandy Newton Rosenow | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 46
Incumbent Dan Gehlbach (R) is running in the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 46 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Dan Gehlbach | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Erin Helleso completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Helleso's responses.
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As a trained mediator, I know how to listen, evaluate multiple perspectives, and make thoughtful, objective decisions. I’m not afraid of hard conversations or of pushing back, whether against bureaucracy, broken systems, or even my own party when things aren’t right for Iowans.
I’m running because our state is facing an affordability crisis. We are losing healthcare providers, struggling to retain young people, and watching Iowa dollars leave our state. Rising healthcare costs, increasing cancer rates, and underfunded public schools demand serious, solutions-focused leadership, not excuses or complacency.
My goal is simple: make Iowa more affordable and sustainable for families. That means strengthening access to quality, affordable healthcare, properly funding public education, supporting workers and providers, and keeping Iowa jobs and money in Iowa. I believe Iowa can, and should, do better, and I’m ready to do the work to make that happen, even if it means it isn't popular.- Our district deserves leadership that answers to voters not insiders hand picking the next candidate. Accountability starts with honesty, transparency, and the courage to challenge the status quo, even within one’s own party. We have witnessed legislators from both parties handpick the next candidate instead of trusting voters to choose, undermining democracy and public trust. I’m running as a candidate who listens, especially when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular, because real leadership means hearing people out, not tuning them out. When voters choose and leaders listen, government works better and real solutions follow. We need change in our government, and in the Democrat party. We need someone to challenge past ineffective tactics.
- Data Centers are a growing part of our state's economy. Drawn by a mild climate, affordable energy, and available land they are also what people call "the cloud". The places where our photos, videos, documents, and memories live. As many evolve into AI processing hubs they can bring real benefits including union and skilled trade jobs and long term stability. But rapid growth strains power, water, and our state's infrastructure. Generous tax incentives can hurt our economy while environmental impacts go unanswered. The question isn't whether data centers belong, but how they operate. With better design, responsible energy planning, and fair contributions, Iowa communities can thrive with data centers.
- Iowa’s refusal to legalize adult‑use cannabis is actively exporting jobs, tax dollars, and economic growth to neighboring states. Iowans routinely travel to Missouri and Illinois, taking with them sales taxes and related spending on fuel, food, and lodging. Missouri now exceeds $1.4 billion in annual cannabis sales[1] while Illinois collects roughly $450 million per year in cannabis tax revenue, much of it from out‑of‑state consumers[2]. Based on national cannabis tax models, Iowa is losing an estimated $50–70 million annually in direct tax revenue, plus substantial secondary economic activity[3]. This is money Iowa can no longer afford to give away to other states.
[1] missouriindependent.com [2] cannabis.net
[3]taxfoundation.org
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 20, 2026
