Iowa local trial court judicial elections, 2025
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- Main articles: State judicial elections, 2025 and Local trial court judicial elections, 2025
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in America's 100 largest cities by population. This coverage extends to every office on the ballot for residents of these cities, including local trial court judges. In 2025, Ballotpedia is covering the following local elections in this state:
- Des Moines, Iowa - City council
- All local elections by county
If the above list includes local trial court judgeships, click the links for more information about the elections. Click here to learn more about how the judges in this state are selected. Ballotpedia does not cover all local trial court judicial elections in this state. If the above list does not include your place of residence, contact your local election office for more information about trial court judicial elections on your ballot. Please consider donating to Ballotpedia to help us expand our coverage of these elections.
Election rules
Retention election
In Iowa's retention elections, voters are asked to decide whether a judge should remain in office. The judge is retained for a new term if a majority of voters answers with a "yes" vote. If the majority responds with a "no" vote, the judge is removed from the bench at the end of the term.[1]
Judges must file for retention at least 104 days prior to the election which precedes the end of their term. If a judge does not file a declaration of candidacy, the term will become vacant upon expiration.[2]
According to a brochure released by the Iowa Judicial Branch, the purpose of Iowa's retention elections is to evaluate the competency of judges, as opposed to the popularity of their individual rulings.[1]
Additional elections
- See also: Iowa elections, 2025
See also
| Local courts | Iowa | Other local coverage |
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Footnotes
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa
State courts:
Iowa Supreme Court • Iowa Court of Appeals • Iowa district courts
State resources:
Courts in Iowa • Iowa judicial elections • Judicial selection in Iowa
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