2026 Campaign
Standing up for democracy
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Calvin Horn vs. Matt Reisetter—
How They Compare
District 76 Representative Derek Wulf abandoned his run for re-election when he was named as the lieutenant governor candidate alongside Kansan Zach Lahn. So Republican insiders have handed the District 76 nomination instead to Matt Reisetter. Reisetter ran for a seat in the Iowa House in 2006 and lost to Bob Kressig, then ran for State Senate in 2012 and lost to Jeff Danielson.
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Water Quality:Â Matt Reisetter said, "I do agree that water quality is an issue. We just want to stay away from mandates." Calvin Horn says, "Water is essential for life. We've avoided regulation for years. It's time for landowners and farmers to get together with the legislature to create meaningful solutions."
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Taxes:Â Reisetter said we need to "set Iowa's job creators free to innovate and grow by cutting tax and regulatory burdens." Calvin Horn believes in "transparent, accountable government spending. We need to be certain we are spending your tax dollars wisely with as little waste as possible. That means asking hard questions, demanding transparency, and remembering that every dollar comes from a real person who worked for it."
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Education:Â Reisetter is an employee of Cedar Ridge Christian School, and a supporter of the use of public tax dollars going to the state voucher program. Calvin Horn supports PUBLIC education and appropriately funding it. "Education should be about teaching our children to think critically: How to think, not what to think. Any entity receiving public money should be accountable to the public for how those funds are spent. That means strong public schools, honest reporting, and no shortcuts when it comes to our kids' future."
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Character:Â Reisetter gave a lecture at UNI with the title "Homosexuality: Is It OK to be Gay?" In it, he argued that it was bad public policy to allow legal same-sex marriage. He said, "Society should never intentionally create motherless or fatherless families, which is exactly what every same-sex home does." Calvin Horn says: "I will fight for equal opportunities for all Iowans, ensuring every voice is heard and every right is protected. This campaign is built on the fundamental belief that dignity belongs to everyone."
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Calvin Horn knows that House District 76 typically votes Republican but is running this year to offer CHANGE! Do you want two more years of heavy-handed ideological laws being passed to take rights away from women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ citizens? Or do you want to help protect people's rights and health, the environment, and public education? Calvin Horn will work to bring the out-of-control Iowa state budget back into balance.
Learn more about Calvin's campaign on Ballotpedia.
Benefits to Black Hawk County
Testing Democrats' competitiveness in rural Iowa. House District 76 is a rural, traditionally Republican-leaning seat spanning parts of Black Hawk, Benton, and Tama counties, which makes Calvin Horn's campaign an important test case for how far Black Hawk County Democrats' rural organizing can reach in 2026—a genuine contest in traditionally red territory. House District 76 has been held by Republicans in recent cycles, and Calvin's willingness to run there gives Black Hawk County Democrats a presence and a message in a part of the county that doesn't always see competitive Democratic campaigns.
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An unusually fluid race. The seat's Republican incumbent, Derek Wulf, was tapped in June 2026 to run as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor alongside gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn — meaning Wulf has withdrawn from the House District 76 race. That opens a genuine window of opportunity for Calvin's campaign heading into the fall.
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A rural, evidence-based message. Calvin's focus on public education funding, environmental protection, and local control speaks to the concerns of rural Black Hawk County voters who may not always see themselves reflected in more urban-focused Democratic messaging — an important piece of the county party's broader coalition-building strategy.
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Turnout in a competitive statewide year. With Rob Sand, Josh Turek, and Lindsay James all running competitive races in 2026, Calvin's campaign in a rural, historically Republican district helps extend the county Democratic Party's reach beyond Waterloo and Cedar Falls.