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About the office

Iowa senators help write and vote on state laws as part of the General Assembly; the Senate has 50 members, one from each Senate district.

Term: 4 years (Terms are staggered; half of the Senate is elected every two years.).

Pay: $25,000 annual salary, plus a daily allowance during the legislative session and a monthly expense allowance (Iowa Code 2.10).

Edward Bernie Hayes

State Senator District 39

Republican

Photo: source

Surveillance & privacy Flock: mixed

Said yes, Iowa needs a statewide ALPR framework; did not say what limits.

SAID
Hayes answered yes when asked whether Iowa needs a statewide framework on automatic license plate reader cameras.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026

Quick facts

Office: State Senator District 39
Incumbent: No
Opponent: D Liz Bennett (Democratic, incumbent)
Raised this cycle: $5,002; all years on file: $5,002

At a glance

$5,002Raised (cycle)

$2,232Spent (cycle)

31Contributions

$47From PACs

$500From party

Oct. 6, 2026Latest filing

Recent statement

Hayes said his one priority would be incentivizing and rewarding the establishment and maintenance of solid family environments.

Biography

The race

Edward Bernie Hayes is the Republican candidate for State Senator District 39 in the Nov. 3, 2026, Linn County general election.
They are not the current officeholder.
Also on the ballot for this office: Liz Bennett (Democratic, incumbent).

Sources: Linn County Election Services candidate list

Background

Hayes listed service as a board member of Bridgehaven Pregnancy Center.
The Linn County GOP bio states he moved to Cedar Rapids in 1978 and had a 37-year career with Rockwell-Collins as a Certification Flight Test Engineer.

Sources: KCRG; Linn County GOP

Public life

At the June 1996 Iowa Republican state convention, Bernie Hayes of Cedar Rapids was listed as a 1st District delegate.
In 2016 Hayes was volunteer Linn County chair for Mike Huckabee's campaign for president.
In 2018 Hayes was the Republican candidate for Iowa Senate District 33, running against Democratic incumbent Rob Hogg.
Hayes described his background as a retired Rockwell Collins flight control systems engineer who is a Republican State Central Committee member and Chair of Linn County Republicans.

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Ballotpedia lists Hayes as losing the April 29, 2025 special general election for Iowa House District 78 to Angel Ramirez, 20.8% to 79.1%.
Ballotpedia lists Hayes as losing the November 8, 2022 general election for Iowa State Senate District 39 to Liz Bennett, 35.1% to 64.8%.
The bio states he is Chairman of the Linn County Republican Party (since 2023) and served on the Iowa Republican State Central Committee from 2012 to 2024.
The bio lists board and officer roles with the Bridgehaven Pregnancy Resource Center (25 years), the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition (20 years), and Fresh Start Correctional Chaplaincy (17 years).
The bio states he previously ran for Iowa State Senate in District 33 in 2018 and District 39 in 2022.

Sources: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); KCRG; Ballotpedia; Linn County GOP

Positions & statements

Hayes said his one priority would be incentivizing and rewarding the establishment and maintenance of solid family environments.
Hayes said he would work to lower property taxes and transition from an income tax to a consumption tax.
Hayes answered yes when asked whether Iowa needs a statewide framework on automatic license plate reader cameras.
Hayes said that on regulating data centers the state should ensure responsible implementation.

Show 3 more

In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said Iowa must first decide when life begins - at conception or a detectable heartbeat - and that the only exception to abortion restrictions should be for the life of the mother.
In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said he does not support the CO2 pipeline and therefore does not support the use of eminent domain to install it.
In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said the funds citizens provide through taxes should pay for the schooling method - public, private or home school - that parents determine best serves their child.

Sources: KCRG; The Gazette

Campaign money

Edward Bernie Hayes's campaign committee is BernieHayes4IASenate (IECDB id SWGA51718).
The committee has reported $5,001.75 in contributions across 31 contributions in filings through Oct. 6, 2026, $5,001.75 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
The largest individual donors include Brenda Kelly ($500.00), Richard Hoelz ($500.00), Ron Kohler ($500.00), Kevin Thumma ($400.00), Dan Whetstone ($300.00), Tim Countryman ($300.00), Dean Soenksen ($250.00), Nelson Baethke ($200.00), Robert Klaus ($200.00), Dalinda Gonzales ($125.00).
PAC and other committee contributions total $46.75, led by Hayes4IAHouse.

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Party committee contributions total $500.00, led by Linn County Republican Central Committee.
Reported expenditures total $2,231.68 across 8 payments, $2,231.68 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
The largest outside payees include Precision Signz ($998.25), Rapids Reproduction Inc. ($704.21), USPS ($389.80), Office Depot ($75.00), GoDaddy ($64.42).

Sources: Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (committees); Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (contributions)

In the news

The Gazette reported in 2022 that Hayes, a retired systems engineer, was the Republican candidate for Senate District 39 facing Liz Bennett.
KCRG published a Q&A with Hayes, the Republican candidate for State Senate District 39, as part of its voting guide.
Ballotpedia states the June 2, 2026 Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 39 was canceled and Hayes is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot against incumbent Liz Bennett.

Sources: The Gazette; KCRG; Ballotpedia

Where they stand

Each mark is one sourced item from Positions & statements (left) or Record in office (right), grouped by issue. Click a mark to open its source; open an issue below to read its items.Tap an issue to see the sourced items.

Surveillance & privacy1 statement

Positions

Hayes answered yes when asked whether Iowa needs a statewide framework on automatic license plate reader cameras.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026

Record

None found.

Energy & power plants1 statement

Positions

In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said he does not support the CO2 pipeline and therefore does not support the use of eminent domain to install it.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 7, 2022

Record

None found.

Data centers1 statement

Positions

Hayes said that on regulating data centers the state should ensure responsible implementation.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026

Record

None found.

Property taxes & budget1 statement

Positions

Hayes said he would work to lower property taxes and transition from an income tax to a consumption tax.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026

Record

None found.

Abortion1 statement

Positions

In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said Iowa must first decide when life begins - at conception or a detectable heartbeat - and that the only exception to abortion restrictions should be for the life of the mother.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 7, 2022

Record

None found.

Eminent domain1 statement

Positions

In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said he does not support the CO2 pipeline and therefore does not support the use of eminent domain to install it.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 7, 2022

Record

None found.

Schools & education1 statement

Positions

In a 2022 Gazette Q&A he said the funds citizens provide through taxes should pay for the schooling method - public, private or home school - that parents determine best serves their child.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 7, 2022

Record

None found.

The race

State Senator District 39General election · Nov. 3, 2026

Edward Bernie HayesRepublicanThis profile
Liz BennettDemocratic · ★ Incumbent

Source: Linn County Election Services candidate list · Oct. 7, 2026

Ballotpedia states the June 2, 2026 Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 39 was canceled and Hayes is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot against incumbent Liz Bennett.referenceBallotpedia · Oct. 17, 2026

Past races

Years come from the item text; a gray italic year is when the source was published.

2018
In 2018 Hayes was the Republican candidate for Iowa Senate District 33, running against Democratic incumbent Rob Hogg.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 30, 2018

Campaign money

Campaign committee: BernieHayes4IASenate (IECDB id SWGA51718).officialIowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (committees) · Oct. 6, 2026

Filings through Oct. 6, 2026

Contributions since Jan. 1, 2025	$5,002
Contributions, all years on file	$5,002
Individuals and other organizations	$4,455
PACs and other committees	$47
Party committees	$500
Spending since Jan. 1, 2025	$2,232
Spending, all years on file	$2,232

Largest contributors

Brenda Kelly$500
Richard Hoelz$500
Ron Kohler$500
Kevin Thumma$400
Dan Whetstone$300

Show all 10

Tim Countryman$300
Dean Soenksen$250
Nelson Baethke$200
Robert Klaus$200
Dalinda Gonzales$125

Individuals and organizations other than committees, all years on file.

Public record

Years come from the item text; a gray italic year is when the source was published.

2026
The bio lists board and officer roles with the Bridgehaven Pregnancy Resource Center (25 years), the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition (20 years), and Fresh Start Correctional Chaplaincy (17 years).partyLinn County GOP · Oct. 17, 2026
Hayes described his background as a retired Rockwell Collins flight control systems engineer who is a Republican State Central Committee member and Chair of Linn County Republicans.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026
2025
Ballotpedia lists Hayes as losing the April 29, 2025 special general election for Iowa House District 78 to Angel Ramirez, 20.8% to 79.1%.referenceBallotpedia · Oct. 17, 2026
2024
The bio states he is Chairman of the Linn County Republican Party (since 2023) and served on the Iowa Republican State Central Committee from 2012 to 2024.partyLinn County GOP · Oct. 17, 2026
2022
Ballotpedia lists Hayes as losing the November 8, 2022 general election for Iowa State Senate District 39 to Liz Bennett, 35.1% to 64.8%.referenceBallotpedia · Oct. 17, 2026
The bio states he previously ran for Iowa State Senate in District 33 in 2018 and District 39 in 2022.partyLinn County GOP · Oct. 17, 2026

Show 2 more

2016
In 2016 Hayes was volunteer Linn County chair for Mike Huckabee's campaign for president.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Jan. 19, 2016
1996
At the June 1996 Iowa Republican state convention, Bernie Hayes of Cedar Rapids was listed as a 1st District delegate.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · June 16, 1996

Positions & statements

6 statements are grouped above under Surveillance & privacy, Energy & power plants, Data centers, Property taxes & budget, Abortion, Eminent domain, Schools & education. Also said:

Hayes said his one priority would be incentivizing and rewarding the establishment and maintenance of solid family environments.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026

Background

Years come from the item text; a gray italic year is when the source was published.

2026
Hayes listed service as a board member of Bridgehaven Pregnancy Center.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026
1978
The Linn County GOP bio states he moved to Cedar Rapids in 1978 and had a 37-year career with Rockwell-Collins as a Certification Flight Test Engineer.partyLinn County GOP · Oct. 17, 2026

In the news

KCRG published a Q&A with Hayes, the Republican candidate for State Senate District 39, as part of its voting guide.newsKCRG · Sept. 23, 2026
The Gazette reported in 2022 that Hayes, a retired systems engineer, was the Republican candidate for Senate District 39 facing Liz Bennett.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 7, 2022