One Republican and one Democrat are running for Iowa House District 23, which includes includes Adair and Madison counties and parts of Dallas, Union and Clarke counties.
The seat is held by Republican Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, who has served since 2023 and is seeking reelection against Democratic challenger Karen Varley.
Both candidates are unopposed in the June 2 primary.
To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal, state and Des Moines-area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Click below to see learn more about the candidates and where they stand on key issues:
| Bios | Top issue | Education | Taxes | Cancer rates | Eminent domain | Budget deficits |
Who is Ray ‘Bubba’ Sorensen?
Who is Karen Varley?
What would be your top issue if elected?
Sorensen (R): Even with Iowa being number one in affordability, that is still the biggest challenge across the country. We need to keep growing our economy, support rural communities and ensure Iowa remains a place where people want to live, work and play. If we get property taxes reined in this year, my focus next term is making sure it holds up in rural Iowa. In our district, rising costs hit harder — whether it is school budgets, emergency management or small-town services. I want to make sure we are funding the essentials, but also asking the tough questions when budgets grow faster than they should.
Varley (D): My top priority would be to restore respect and support for our public K-12 schools. We must fund them adequately to make up for years of shortfalls; phase out private-school vouchers; and let teachers, not legislators, run classrooms. Vouchers are touted as “school choice.” That’s true for our current representative, who has enrolled his own children in a private school outside the district. Meanwhile, students across HD23 have no choice, and the public schools get short-changed. I am not opposed to private schools. However, I am opposed to using tax dollars to fund them.
What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?
Varley (D): I support immediate accountability for tax dollars received by private schools, and a phasing out of vouchers entirely within 5 years. I support annual increases in K-12 funding that at least keep pace with inflation, as a sound investment in Iowa’s future citizens, employees, and entrepreneurs.
Sorensen (R): We need to keep education focused on student outcomes and workforce readiness. That means supporting teachers, increasing transparency in how dollars are spent and giving parents a stronger voice. I also support expanding career and tech school education and aligning our schools with real workforce needs so students have pathways to good-paying jobs right here in Iowa.
Do you support Iowa’s recent tax policy changes, including lowering income taxes, and what additional tax law changes would you support?
Sorensen (R): Yes, I support lowering income taxes and returning Iowans’ money back to them. Next term, we need to make sure those savings weren’t wiped out by rising property taxes. That means transparency, and holding government accountable at every level.
Varley (D): I support a return to a progressive income tax structure, so that everyone pays their fair share. Our current flat tax disproportionately burdens lower-income Iowans.
What actions would you support to address Iowa’s high cancer rates?
Varley (D): I support more research to determine the causes of the high cancer rates, including funding for the Iowa Water Quality Information System, which gathers data in real time at sites across the state.
Sorensen (R): We’re not going to solve this with one silver bullet. We need to focus on what works: early detection, better access to care in rural areas, continued improvements in water quality and addressing the forever chemicals that end up there, and research to better understand the many causes. We need to stay focused on solutions — not politics — so we can actually move the needle.
When do you believe it is appropriate to use eminent domain, and should it be used to build carbon capture pipelines?
Sorensen (R): Eminent domain should be used in a limited manner for true public use — not private, for-profit projects. I do not support using it for carbon capture pipelines. Landowners deserve the final say, and these projects should rely on voluntary agreements, not government force.
Varley (D): Eminent domain can be appropriate when used for public projects such as roads. It is not appropriate for the carbon capture pipelines proposed by private enterprise.
How would you remedy Iowa’s budget deficits driven by lost revenue? Are there certain services you would prioritize for cuts?
Varley (D): 1. Restoration of a progressive income tax structure would help to address the revenue shortfall. 2. We should end the unaccountable funneling of millions of dollars to private schools. 3. We should review the costs of privatization of services such as Medicaid and administrative contractors for other state programs.
Sorensen (R): We need to live within our means — just like families do. That starts with cutting waste, increasing transparency, and making sure taxpayer dollars are going to core priorities like public safety, schools, and helping those who truly need it. I’m not interested in across-the-board cuts — I’m interested in smarter spending and growing our economy, so we’re not constantly playing catch-up.
Read more about the midterm candidates at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/news/elections/.
Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at nelhajj@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa House District 23 candidates speak on eminent domain, taxes
Reporting by Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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