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Photo of Kirsten Running-Marquardt

Kirsten Running-Marquardt

Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1
Democratic★ IncumbentUnopposed
Photo: source

Surveillance & privacy

No sourced statement or vote on surveillance found yet (license plate readers, cameras, facial recognition, drones, data retention).

Quick facts

  • Office: Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1
  • Incumbent: Yes
  • Opponents: None — runs unopposed
  • Raised this cycle: $100; all years on file: $323,171
  • Votes on file: 2

At a glance

$100Raised (cycle)
$618Spent (cycle)
1Contributions
$206,880From PACs
$26,321From party
Jan. 10, 2026Latest filing

Recent statement

Campaign site lists focusing on workforce development as a priority.

Biography

The race

  • Kirsten Running-Marquardt is the Democratic candidate for Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1 in the Nov. 3, 2026, Linn County general election.
  • They currently hold the office.
  • They run unopposed — no other candidate filed for this office, so they win this race.

Sources: Linn County Election Services candidate list

Background

  • Worked in U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack's Cedar Rapids office at the time she was nominated for the Iowa House in 2009.
  • Is the daughter of former Cedar Rapids state Rep. Rich Running.
  • Campaign site states she is a sixth-generation Iowan born and raised in southwest Cedar Rapids.
  • Campaign site states she is a member of Iron Workers Local 89 and John XXIII Church.

Sources: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); Kirsten for Linn County

Record in office

  • Is listed by Linn County as the District 1 member of the Board of Supervisors and the 2026 Chair.
  • Joined a state delegation that visited Cuba in 2016, and said the trip opened lines of communication and diplomacy.
  • Announced a run for Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1 in February 2022.
  • KCRG reported in February 2022 that she had served her state House district for 13 years.
Show 12 more
  • The Gazette reported she was named chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors for 2024, with Ben Rogers as vice chair.
  • Was chosen chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors for 2026, succeeding Brandy Meisheid, with Sami Scheetz as vice chair.
  • First elected to the board in 2022; served as chair in 2024 and as vice chair in 2025.
  • Linn County announced she would deliver the 2026 State of the County address on June 11, 2026, as Board of Supervisors Chair.
  • Voted with Supervisor Brandy Meisheid on July 1, 2026 to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated Linn County; the vote was 2-1.
  • Voted no on the Morgan Valley host community agreement, which the board approved 2-1 on Oct. 14, 2026.
  • Campaign site states she served on the boards of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa Workforce Development, and the History Center of Linn County.
  • Her campaign Facebook page shared a post about attending the ribbon cutting for Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy.
  • Wikipedia states she was first elected on November 24, 2009, for the remainder of retiring Representative Dick Taylor's term.
  • Campaign site states she helped lead local economic development work on the downtown Amphitheater, Czech Village, Ellis Harbor and Hawkeye Downs.
  • Her campaign Facebook page "Kirsten Running-Marquardt for Linn Co Supervisor" is a Political Candidate page, with "Iowans for Running-Marquardt" listed as the responsible committee.
  • Her Facebook campaign posts are civic in nature — for example a ribbon-cutting at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy — with no overtly partisan or ideological messaging.

Sources: Linn County, IA; The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); X; KCRG; The Gazette; The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); Linn County, Iowa; Iowa's News Now (CBS 2); Corridor Business Journal; Kirsten for Linn County; Facebook; Wikipedia

Positions & statements

  • Said she has grave concerns about the Morgan Valley project.
  • Said the community would face over a million tons of pollution from the proposed Morgan Valley gas plant.
  • Said the county's top priority in 2026 is protecting quality of life, with decisions ahead on budgets, policies and projects.
  • Said she wants to be a fighter for the west side of Cedar Rapids and the county, putting residents first.
Show 5 more
  • Campaign site lists focusing on workforce development as a priority.
  • Campaign site lists providing access to quality mental healthcare services as a goal.
  • Campaign site lists keeping property taxes from rising as a goal.
  • Iowa's News Now reported she said she is worried about the air quality and community effects of a proposed natural gas power plant west of Cedar Rapids.
  • A Reddit commenter alleged that Running-Marquardt supports Cedar Crossing and did little in the legislature.

Sources: Corridor Business Journal; KCRG; The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); Kirsten for Linn County; Iowa's News Now (YouTube); Reddit r/cedarrapids

Endorsements

  • Ballotpedia lists the Hawkeye Area Labor Council (HALC) AFL-CIO as endorsing her in the 2026 race.

Sources: Ballotpedia

Campaign money

  • Kirsten Running-Marquardt's campaign committee is Iowans for Kirsten Running-Marquardt (IECDB id 40041).
  • The committee has reported $323,170.61 in contributions across 1530 contributions in filings through Jan. 10, 2026, $100.00 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
  • The largest individual donors include Sheryl Marquardt ($3,000.00), Kathryn Brune ($2,460.10), Larry Murphy ($1,700.00), Gary Grant ($1,500.00), Robert Rush ($1,250.00), Richard Running ($1,245.00), Kay Halloran ($1,200.00), Stephen Jackson ($1,200.00), Cheryl Hancock ($1,150.00).
  • Contributions under the Running-Marquardt name among the top donors total $3,736.37.
Show 6 more
  • PAC and other committee contributions total $206,880.09, led by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC IBEW, Iowa State Education Assn.
  • PAC or ISEA PAC, Hawkeye Area Labor Council AFL-CIO Political Action Committe, Great Plains Laborers' District Council Iowa PAC, Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 125 Political Education Fund, Operating Engineers Local 234 Political Fund, Cedar Rapids Trades Council CR IC Building Trades PAC, IRONWORKERS LOCAL #89 POLITICAL EDUCATION FUND, SEIU Political Education and Action Iowa Fund.
  • Party committee contributions total $26,320.72, led by Iowa Democratic Party, DRIVE -(Democrat, Republican Independent Voter Education), Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
  • Reported expenditures total $301,250.86 across 289 payments, $618.12 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
  • The largest outside payees include Iowa Democratic Party ($175,369.00), Adcraft ($45,340.65), Coy Marquardt ($10,909.57), Wildfire Contact ($8,931.86), Denovo ($8,297.96), De Novo Marketing ($4,500.00), The Gazette ($4,386.15), Angle Mastagni Mathews Political Stragegies, LLC ($3,369.64), ESP Three LLLC ($2,909.80).
  • Payments listed to Kirsten Running-Marquardt total $9,361.37.

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

In the news

  • The Gazette reported that Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a former state representative, won a three-way Democratic primary for Linn County supervisor in June 2022.
  • The Gazette reported on Nov. 9, 2022 that Running-Marquardt won a Linn County supervisor race.
  • Iowa's News Now reported that the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved an 18-month moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas, months after adopting a data center zoning ordinance.
  • KCRG reported that Linn County supervisors were scheduled to vote on a host agreement with Alliant Energy for the Morgan Valley Energy Center.
Show 3 more
  • The Gazette reported that supervisors approved the Alliant host agreement in a 2-1 vote.
  • An Ars Technica article reposted on Reddit reported that Linn County adopted a data center zoning ordinance described as among the most comprehensive in the nation, and quoted Running-Marquardt, board chair, on the effort.
  • KCRG: Running-Marquardt running for Linn County supervisor seat (Feb. 19, 2022).

Sources: The Gazette; The Gazette; Iowa's News Now (CBS 2); KCRG; The Gazette; Ars Technica; KCRG

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.

STATEMENTSVOTES & RECORDEnergy & power plantsSaid the community would face over a million tons of pollution from the proposed Morgan Valley gas plant. (KCRG, 2026-10-12)Said she has grave concerns about the Morgan Valley project. (Corridor Business Journal, 2026-10-14)Iowa's News Now reported she said she is worried about the air quality and community effects of a proposed natural gas power plant west of Cedar Rapids. (Iowa's News Now (YouTube), 2026-10-17)Voted no on the Morgan Valley host community agreement, which the board approved 2-1 on Oct. 14, 2026. (Corridor Business Journal, 2026-10-14)NData centersVoted with Supervisor Brandy Meisheid on July 1, 2026 to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated Linn County; the vote was 2-1. (Iowa's News Now (CBS 2), 2026-07-01)YProperty taxes & budgetCampaign site lists keeping property taxes from rising as a goal. (Kirsten for Linn County, 2026-10-17)Said the county's top priority in 2026 is protecting quality of life, with decisions ahead on budgets, policies and projects. (The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive), 2026-01-03)Mental healthCampaign site lists providing access to quality mental healthcare services as a goal. (Kirsten for Linn County, 2026-10-17)Jobs & economyCampaign site lists focusing on workforce development as a priority. (Kirsten for Linn County, 2026-10-17)Campaign site states she served on the boards of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa Workforce Development, and the History Center of Linn County. (Kirsten for Linn County, 2026-10-17)Campaign site states she helped lead local economic development work on the downtown Amphitheater, Czech Village, Ellis Harbor and Hawkeye Downs. (Kirsten for Linn County, 2026-10-17)Schools & educationHer campaign Facebook page shared a post about attending the ribbon cutting for Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy. (Facebook, 2026-10-17)Gambling & casinoA Reddit commenter alleged that Running-Marquardt supports Cedar Crossing and did little in the legislature. (Reddit r/cedarrapids, 2026-10-17)StatementAllegedVoted yesVoted noOther record
Energy & power plants3 statements1 vote N
Positions

Said the community would face over a million tons of pollution from the proposed Morgan Valley gas plant.newsKCRG · Oct. 12, 2026

Said she has grave concerns about the Morgan Valley project.newsCorridor Business Journal · Oct. 14, 2026

Iowa's News Now reported she said she is worried about the air quality and community effects of a proposed natural gas power plant west of Cedar Rapids.Iowa's News Now (YouTube) · Oct. 17, 2026

Record

Voted no on the Morgan Valley host community agreement, which the board approved 2-1 on Oct. 14, 2026.newsCorridor Business Journal · Oct. 14, 2026

Data centers1 vote Y
Positions

None found.

Record

Voted with Supervisor Brandy Meisheid on July 1, 2026 to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated Linn County; the vote was 2-1.newsIowa's News Now (CBS 2) · July 1, 2026

Property taxes & budget2 statements
Positions

Campaign site lists keeping property taxes from rising as a goal.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026

Said the county's top priority in 2026 is protecting quality of life, with decisions ahead on budgets, policies and projects.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Jan. 3, 2026

Record

None found.

Mental health1 statement
Positions

Campaign site lists providing access to quality mental healthcare services as a goal.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026

Record

None found.

Jobs & economy1 statement2 other records
Positions

Campaign site lists focusing on workforce development as a priority.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026

Record

Campaign site states she served on the boards of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa Workforce Development, and the History Center of Linn County.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026

Campaign site states she helped lead local economic development work on the downtown Amphitheater, Czech Village, Ellis Harbor and Hawkeye Downs.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026

Schools & education1 other record
Positions

None found.

Record

Her campaign Facebook page shared a post about attending the ribbon cutting for Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy.Facebook · Oct. 17, 2026

Gambling & casino1 statement
Positions

A Reddit commenter alleged that Running-Marquardt supports Cedar Crossing and did little in the legislature.Reddit r/cedarrapids · Oct. 17, 2026

Record

None found.

Votes on file

  • NO
    Voted no on the Morgan Valley host community agreement, which the board approved 2-1 on Oct. 14, 2026.Energy & power plants · Corridor Business Journal · Oct. 14, 2026
  • YES
    Voted with Supervisor Brandy Meisheid on July 1, 2026 to approve an 18-month moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated Linn County; the vote was 2-1.Data centers · Iowa's News Now (CBS 2) · July 1, 2026

The race

Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1General election · Nov. 3, 2026
  • Photo of Kirsten Running-MarquardtKirsten Running-MarquardtDemocratic · ★ IncumbentThis profile

Unopposed · no opponent on the ballot — this candidate will win the seat

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

Campaign money

Filings through Jan. 10, 2026

Contributions since Jan. 1, 2025$100
Contributions, all years on file$323,171
Individuals and other organizations$89,970
PACs and other committees$206,880
Party committees$26,321
Spending since Jan. 1, 2025$618
Spending, all years on file$301,251

Largest contributors

Show all 10

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

Record in office

Votes

Timeline

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

  1. 2026
    Is listed by Linn County as the District 1 member of the Board of Supervisors and the 2026 Chair.officialLinn County, IA · Oct. 17, 2026
    Linn County announced she would deliver the 2026 State of the County address on June 11, 2026, as Board of Supervisors Chair.officialLinn County, Iowa · May 18, 2026
    Was chosen chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors for 2026, succeeding Brandy Meisheid, with Sami Scheetz as vice chair.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Jan. 3, 2026
    Her campaign Facebook page "Kirsten Running-Marquardt for Linn Co Supervisor" is a Political Candidate page, with "Iowans for Running-Marquardt" listed as the responsible committee.Facebook · Oct. 19, 2026Year is the source's publication date.
    Campaign site states she served on the boards of the Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Iowa Workforce Development, and the History Center of Linn County.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.Jobs & economy
    Her campaign Facebook page shared a post about attending the ribbon cutting for Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy.Facebook · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.Schools & education
    Campaign site states she helped lead local economic development work on the downtown Amphitheater, Czech Village, Ellis Harbor and Hawkeye Downs.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.Jobs & economy
  2. 2025
    First elected to the board in 2022; served as chair in 2024 and as vice chair in 2025.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Jan. 3, 2026
  3. 2024
    The Gazette reported she was named chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors for 2024, with Ben Rogers as vice chair.newsThe Gazette · Jan. 3, 2024
  4. 2022
    KCRG reported in February 2022 that she had served her state House district for 13 years.newsKCRG · Feb. 19, 2022
    Announced a run for Linn County Board of Supervisors District 1 in February 2022.X · Feb. 18, 2022
Show 2 more
  1. 2016
    Joined a state delegation that visited Cuba in 2016, and said the trip opened lines of communication and diplomacy.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · March 20, 2016
  2. 2009
    Wikipedia states she was first elected on November 24, 2009, for the remainder of retiring Representative Dick Taylor's term.referenceWikipedia · Oct. 17, 2026

Positions & statements

8 statements are grouped above under Energy & power plants, Property taxes & budget, Mental health, Jobs & economy, Gambling & casino. Also said:

Background

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

  1. 2026
    Ballotpedia lists the Hawkeye Area Labor Council (HALC) AFL-CIO as endorsing her in the 2026 race.referenceBallotpedia · Oct. 17, 2026
    Her Facebook campaign posts are civic in nature — for example a ribbon-cutting at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School's new Freshman Academy — with no overtly partisan or ideological messaging.Facebook · Oct. 19, 2026Year is the source's publication date.
    Campaign site states she is a sixth-generation Iowan born and raised in southwest Cedar Rapids.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.
    Campaign site states she is a member of Iron Workers Local 89 and John XXIII Church.campaignKirsten for Linn County · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.
  2. 2009
    Worked in U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack's Cedar Rapids office at the time she was nominated for the Iowa House in 2009.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 30, 2009
    Is the daughter of former Cedar Rapids state Rep. Rich Running.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 30, 2009Year is the source's publication date.

In the news

  • Running-Marquardt running for Linn County supervisor seatnewsKCRG · Feb. 19, 2022
  • KCRG reported that Linn County supervisors were scheduled to vote on a host agreement with Alliant Energy for the Morgan Valley Energy Center.newsKCRG · Oct. 12, 2026
  • The Gazette reported that supervisors approved the Alliant host agreement in a 2-1 vote.newsThe Gazette · Oct. 14, 2026
  • The Gazette reported that Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a former state representative, won a three-way Democratic primary for Linn County supervisor in June 2022.newsThe Gazette · June 7, 2022
Show 3 more
  • Iowa's News Now reported that the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved an 18-month moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas, months after adopting a data center zoning ordinance.newsIowa's News Now (CBS 2) · July 1, 2026
  • The Gazette reported on Nov. 9, 2022 that Running-Marquardt won a Linn County supervisor race.newsThe Gazette · Nov. 9, 2022
  • An Ars Technica article reposted on Reddit reported that Linn County adopted a data center zoning ordinance described as among the most comprehensive in the nation, and quoted Running-Marquardt, board chair, on the effort.Ars Technica · Oct. 17, 2026
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