Independent Dave Bushaw Hits Signature Threshold to Qualify for Ballot in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. HAWKEYE, Iowa — Independent congressional candidate Dave Bushaw said Wednesday that his campaign has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. According to the campaign, signatures were gathered across 12 counties, meeting the state's legal requirements for independent candidates. Signatures are subject to verification by election officials. The petition effort took place under a state law enacted in 2025 that changed filing requirements and moved the submission deadline earlier. The campaign also said some information on the Iowa Secretary of State's website was outdated during part of the filing period. The office, led by Paul Pate, has not publicly responded to that claim. "They moved the goalposts in the middle of the night and forgot to tell anybody where they put them, and we still ran the ball into the end zone," Bushaw said in a statement. Bushaw said the campaign knocked on more than 7,000 doors during the petition drive and that 88% of those contacted signed petitions. The campaign said it plans to continue collecting signatures ahead of the filing deadline in case of potential challenges. "We know exactly what's coming next," Bushaw said. "They'll send lawyers to review every signature. Let them try." Independent candidates in Iowa must meet specific signature thresholds to appear on the general election ballot. Bushaw's campaign said it has exceeded the minimum requirement. "Iowa's not broken, but the political elite have designed the system to keep people like us out," Bushaw said. "We did it anyway because people in this district deserve a real choice." Bushaw, a West Union native, is running as an independent candidate in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.