Democrat Jennifer Konfrst suspended her campaign for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, on Monday, and endorsed Iowa Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Windsor Heights.
In a news release, Konfrst said her primary mission in running for Congress was to bring balance back to the state and she said she plans to continue to fight to elect Democrats.
Konfrst did not mention if she will run for reelection to her Iowa House seat. She stepped down from her role as Iowa House Minority Leader after the 2025 legislative session to focus on her campaign. She was elected to the role in 2021.
“I want Iowa to be a kinder place to live and raise a family,” she said in the news release. “I want it to be a place where working class Iowans aren’t crushed by costs and struggling to get by. I want it to be a place where young Iowans, like my own kids and my students, can build a future for themselves. That’s still my goal and I’m ready to explore ways to do that.”
Konfrst and Trone Garriott were vying for a Democratic bid against incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa. Trone Garriott is now the Democratic frontrunner for the primary election.
Trone Garriott thanked Konfrst Monday in a news release Monday, highlighting Konfrst’s leadership.
“I’m deeply grateful to Jennifer Konfrst for her leadership and for the work she’s done for Iowa families. In a time when politics can feel loud and chaotic, Jennifer has stayed focused on what matters: protecting our public schools, doing right by Iowans, and standing up for our values. Our party is stronger because of her, and I’m thankful for her service,” Trone Garriott said.
Trone Garriott said in an interview with The Daily Iowan she is honored to have Konfrst’s endorsements.
“I look forward to working together to ensure that our district will have a person in Congress standing up for them, lowering costs, and solving big problems facing our families,” she said. “I’m excited about this coming election.”
Trone Garriott said she anticipates her campaign to run a similar course as it was before.
“We’ve been working really hard to build a really strong campaign, to raise the resources we need to connect with Iowans, to get out to all the parts of the districts and so we just keep going from here,” she said.
Konfrst’s fundraising trailed behind Trone Garriott, who raised more than double of Konfrst’s funds for two consecutive quarters, according to data from the Federal Elections Commission.
The most recent data from the third quarter, which ended in September, reports Trone Garriott raised $437,684, while Konfrst raised $175,556.
“My first step forward is to endorse Sarah Trone Garriott as our candidate to flip this Congressional seat in the general election and defeat Zach Nunn,” Konfrst said in the release. “I look forward to being represented by a Democrat in Congress at this time next year.”As of Jan. 15, both Konfrst and Trone Garriott were leading Nunn in polls, according to Change Research, with Trone Garriott leading Nunn by 7 percent.