Scoop: Republicans enter Polk County races for supervisor and attorney

Scoop: Republicans enter Polk County races for supervisor and attorney

Polk County Republicans have nominated Pleasant Hill Councilperson Alyson DeMoss for supervisor and Des Moines criminal defense lawyer Jonah Dyer for county attorney in November's election.

Why it matters: The nominations give Republicans a chance to challenge Democrats for county offices — including a supervisor seat that could help determine control of the five-member board.

Driving the news: The Republican Party of Polk County made the selections at a special nominating convention over the weekend, chairperson Andrew Ventling said in a statement to Axios.

Context: No Republicans ran in the June primary for county offices, but Iowa law allows parties to fill general-election ballot vacancies after the primary.

Zoom in: DeMoss owns 29th State Consulting, a lobbying firm that works with state government and bipartisan coalitions on public policy issues. She will face Democrat Heather Jones-Brown in the District 4 supervisor race.

  • Dyer is the founder of JHD Law in Des Moines. He will face Democratic incumbent Kimberly Graham, who was elected Polk County attorney in 2022.

    • The intrigue: Democrats' primary results have already shaken up the county races.

  • Jones-Brown defeated longtime Des Moines City Council Member Joe Gatto in the District 4 supervisor primary to succeed retiring Supervisor Tom Hockensmith.
  • Former state representative John Forbes defeated incumbent Supervisor Matt McCoy, the board's chair, in the District 1 Democratic primary.

    • State of play: Even as Iowa has shifted right statewide, Polk County remains the core Democratic voting center in central Iowa.

  • That gives Democratic nominees a built-in advantage in many countywide races and in some supervisor districts.

    • Yes, but: Republican supervisors Jill Altringer and Mark Holm took office in January 2025, demonstrating that Polk County Republicans can compete.

    What we're watching: Republicans have until 5pm on Aug. 26 to fill any remaining ballot vacancies — including whether Democrats Izaah Knox and Forbes will face GOP challengers in the other Polk County supervisor races.