About the Campaign and Candidate
Zach Wahls is an Iowa State Senator, nationally recognized advocate, and Democratic candidate for US Senate in Iowa running to unseat two-term incumbent Senator Joni Ernst in 2026. As the former Senate Minority Leader, Zach is a respected legislator and leading voice in Iowa politics. Our campaign is committed to bringing Iowa values back to Washington, focusing on policies that benefit working families, strengthen rural communities, and restore accountable leadership to the U.S. Senate. We're building an innovative, energetic campaign that engages voters across all 99 counties and showcases Zach's unique ability to connect with Iowans from all walks of life while centering his passion for service and his dedication to reform. The stakes in this race could not be
higher — if this campaign is successful, it is likely that this seat will determine control of the United States Senate in 2027.
Position Overview
The Political Director will be a senior member of the campaign team responsible for building and managing the campaign’s relationships with elected officials, party leaders, labor unions, advocacy groups, community organizations, and key stakeholders across Iowa. This person will shape and execute a statewide political strategy that builds trust, strengthens coalitions, and mobilizes institutional support to win the primary and general election. The ideal candidate is an experienced strategist and relationship-builder with a deep understanding of Iowa politics, a strong commitment to Democratic values, and the ability to effectively communicate the campaign’s message to diverse constituencies across the state.
Core Responsibilities
Develop and implement the campaign’s statewide political outreach and coalition-building strategy
Cultivate and manage relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials, party leaders, labor unions, progressive advocacy organizations, and issue-based coalitions
Serve as the candidate’s liaison to key stakeholders—arranging meetings, preparing briefings, and staffing engagements
Work closely with the campaign manager, field director, and communications director to align political outreach with organizing and messaging strategy
Build and maintain a comprehensive database of endorsements, key relationships, and political targets
Manage the endorsement process, including public rollouts and surrogate engagement
Represent the campaign at political events, party functions, and coalition meetings
Coordinate with the Comms team to identify and elevate opportunities for earned media, strategic partnerships, and visibility through coalition work
Manage priorities and progress of junior political staff
Anticipate and navigate intra-party dynamics and political sensitivities with discretion and diplomacy
Support GOTV and voter contact efforts by leveraging relationships with allies and validators
Qualifications
3–5+ years of experience in political campaigns, advocacy, labor, or government; Iowa-specific experience strongly preferred
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build trust and manage sensitive relationships
Highly organized with experience managing projects, staff, or stakeholder engagement across a large geography
Comfortable staffing high-level meetings and preparing candidate and surrogates for political events
A strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and building a diverse statewide coalition
Ability to work long hours, travel frequently in-state, and adapt quickly to a changing political environment
Familiarity with VAN, NGP, or other campaign tools is a plus