Jim Carlin
Jim Carlin (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Iowa. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Carlin (Republican Party) was a member of the Iowa State Senate, representing District 3. He assumed office on December 21, 2017. He left office on January 2, 2023.
Carlin served in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing District 6 from January 2017 to December 2017.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Carlin was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee, Vice chair
- Senate Human Resources Committee (decommissioned)
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Chair
- Senate Ways and Means Committee
2019-2020
Carlin was assigned to the following committees:
- Labor and Business Relations Committee (decommissioned)
- Senate Human Resources Committee (decommissioned)
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Chair
- Senate Ways and Means Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Iowa committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Judiciary, Vice chair |
| • Veterans Affairs |
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in Iowa, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. Senate Iowa
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Iowa on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Chris Henry (D) | ||
 | Nathan Sage (D) | |
 | Josh Turek (D) | |
 | Zach Wahls (D) | |
 | John Berman (R) | |
 | Jim Carlin (R) | |
 | Ashley Hinson (R) | |
 | Joshua Smith (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joni Ernst (R)
- J.D. Scholten (D)
- Jackie Norris (D)
Endorsements
Carlin received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- Iowa State Sen. Kevin Alons (R)
- Iowa State Sen. Doug Campbell (R)
- Iowa State Sen. Sandy Salmon (R)
- Iowa State Rep. Mark Cisneros (R)
- Iowa State Rep. Samantha Fett (R)
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Iowa, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Iowa
Incumbent Chuck Grassley defeated Michael Franken in the general election for U.S. Senate Iowa on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chuck Grassley (R) | 56.0 | 681,501 |
 | Michael Franken (D) | 43.8 | 533,330 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,815 | ||
| Total votes: 1,216,646 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Iowa
Michael Franken defeated Abby Finkenauer and Glenn Hurst in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Iowa on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Franken | 55.2 | 86,527 |
 | Abby Finkenauer | 39.9 | 62,581 | |
 | Glenn Hurst | 4.8 | 7,571 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 158 | ||
| Total votes: 156,837 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Bob Krause (D)
- Dave Muhlbauer (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Iowa
Incumbent Chuck Grassley defeated Jim Carlin in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Iowa on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chuck Grassley | 73.3 | 143,634 |
| Jim Carlin | 26.5 | 51,891 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 312 | ||
| Total votes: 195,837 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrew Foster (R)
2018
- See also: Iowa State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Iowa State Senate District 3
Incumbent Jim Carlin defeated Dave Dawson in the general election for Iowa State Senate District 3 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Carlin (R) | 64.7 | 16,366 |
 | Dave Dawson (D) | 35.1 | 8,884 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 34 | ||
| Total votes: 25,284 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 3
Dave Dawson advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 3 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dave Dawson | 100.0 | 1,794 |
| Total votes: 1,794 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 3
Incumbent Jim Carlin advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 3 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Carlin | 100.0 | 2,890 |
| Total votes: 2,890 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2017
A special election for the position of Iowa State Senate District 3 was held on December 12, 2017. The seat became vacant following the resignation of incumbent Bill Anderson (R) on November 1, 2017.[1] The candidate filing deadline was November 17, 2017.[2]
Jim Carlin (R) defeated Todd Wendt (D) in the general election. Official results had Carlin winning with 54.5 percent of the vote.[3]
Both parties held nominating conventions to choose candidates for the race. Republicans chose state Rep. Jim Carlin from House District 6, and Democrats chose Todd Wendt, a former superintendent of Le Mars schools.[4] At the Republican nominating convention on November 13, Carlin defeated Akron City Councilman Alex Pick for the nomination by a 58-42 percent margin.[5] Wendt was the only candidate who sought the Democratic nomination at a convention held on November 11.[6]
| Iowa State Senate District 3, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jim Carlin |
54.5% | 3,707 | |
| Democratic | Todd Wendt | 45.3% | 3,083 | |
| Other | Scattering | 0.2% | 11 | |
| Other | Overvote | 0% | 2 | |
| Other | Undervote | 0% | 2 | |
| Total Votes | 6,805 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State | ||||
2016
Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016. Incumbent Ron Jorgensen (R) did not seek re-election.
Jim Carlin defeated Perla Alarcon-Flory in the Iowa House of Representatives District 6 general election.[7][8]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 6 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jim Carlin |
65.50% | 9,655 | |
| Democratic | Perla Alarcon-Flory | 34.50% | 5,086 | |
| Total Votes | 14,741 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State | ||||
Perla Alarcon-Flory ran unopposed in the Iowa House of Representatives District 6 Democratic primary.[9][10]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 6 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Perla Alarcon-Flory (unopposed) | |
Jim Carlin defeated Jacob Bossman in the Iowa House of Representatives District 6 Republican primary.[9][10]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 6 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jim Carlin |
51.26% | 1,159 | |
| Republican | Jacob Bossman | 48.74% | 1,102 | |
| Total Votes | 2,261 | |||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Jim Carlin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Carlin's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[11]
Jobs and Economy
- Excerpt: "Jim believes lower corporate tax rates, free competitive markets and a simplified regulatory climate will attract new business investment and foster growth. He will work hard to bring about change in taxes, regulation, promote Iowa’s workforce and maintain Iowa’s status as a 'Right to Work' state."
Limited government and taxes
- Excerpt: "He will fight to help taxpayers keep more of the money they earned and as a state representative, Jim will be vigilant advocate for sound budgeting practices and fiscal discipline to limit the size of government."
Education
- Excerpt: "Jim believes that communities and the local school board are in a better position to assess community tax and spending issues than the state and federal government because they understand where the needs are. He supports policies that empower parents to direct their children’s education through vouchers/tax credits and communities to make decisions at the local level to best prepare our children to compete in a global economy."
Life and Family Values
- Excerpt: "He believes every unborn child has a right to life. He believes marriage, as a matter of his faith, is a union between one man and one woman. As a state representative, he will work tirelessly to protect the right to life for all people from conception to natural death and to support traditional family values."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Iowa scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 24.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 11 to May 19.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 14. The session was suspended from March 16 through June 3.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 27.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 5.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Iowa State Legislature was in session from January 9 through April 22.
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, "Gov. Reynolds sets date for Iowa State Senate District 3 special election," November 1, 2017
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Senate District 3 - Special Election," accessed November 3, 2017
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Senate District 3 - Special Election," accessed December 12, 2017
- ↑ Radio Iowa, "Major party nominees set for special election for state senate seat," November 14, 2017
- ↑ Sioux City Journal, "Carlin selected as Republican to run against Wendt for NW Iowa seat," November 13, 2017
- ↑ Bleeding Heartland, "Jim Carlin to face Todd Wendt in Iowa Senate district 3," November 14, 2017
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "General Candidate List, 2016," accessed August 24, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Canvass Summary," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," March 21, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Canvass Summary," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Jim Carlin 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Iowa State Senate District 3 2017-2023 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Iowa House of Representatives District 6 2017-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
