Democrat Nathan Sage ends U.S. Senate campaign

Sage cites fundraising difficulties in ending 2026 bid

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Democrat Nathan Sage, the former executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, ended his campaign for U.S. Senate on Sunday, citing fundraising difficulties. Sage was the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race before incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek reelection. Despite leading in fundraising early on, Sage fell behind other Democratic candidates in subsequent reporting periods.

Why it matters

Sage's withdrawal from the race leaves state Sen. Zach Wahls and state Rep. Josh Turek as the leading Democratic candidates. The outcome of the Democratic primary could have significant implications for the general election, as the winner will likely face off against the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

The details

Sage, who made affordability and support for working-class Iowans central to his campaign, said he started his campaign because he believes 'working people deserve a voice in Washington that is not controlled by special interests or corporate power.' However, he said his decision to end the 2026 bid was because he lacked funds, noting that 'in today's political environment, it takes extraordinary sums of money to compete, to communicate, to travel the state, and to ensure our message reaches voters.'

  • Sage announced his campaign in April 2025, before Sen. Joni Ernst had announced she would not seek reelection.
  • Sage led in fundraising in the first FEC reporting period from April 1 to June 30, 2025.
  • Sage fell behind other Democratic candidates in subsequent reporting periods, including state Sen. Zach Wahls and state Rep. Josh Turek.
  • Sage reported raising $229,929 in the final reporting period of 2025, while Wahls raised $742,294 and Turek $677,806.

The players

Nathan Sage

A Democrat who ended his campaign for U.S. Senate on Sunday, citing fundraising difficulties. Sage was the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race before incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek reelection.

Zach Wahls

A state senator from Coralville who is one of the leading Democratic candidates in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Josh Turek

A state representative from Council Bluffs who is one of the leading Democratic candidates in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Joni Ernst

The incumbent U.S. Senator from Iowa who announced she would not seek reelection in 2026.

Ashley Hinson

A U.S. Representative who is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

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What they’re saying

“I did not step into this race lightly, and I do not step away lightly.”

— Nathan Sage (iowacapitaldispatch.com)

“I have always been honest about the impact of money in my personal story, but that reality is even more undeniable when running for office. As a true grassroots campaign, we simply were unable to raise the financial resources necessary to keep this campaign viable. In today's political environment, it takes extraordinary sums of money to compete, to communicate, to travel the state, and to ensure our message reaches voters. Too often, that system favors those with wealth, powerful connections, and established influence.”

— Nathan Sage (iowacapitaldispatch.com)

“Nathan's also right about the bigger point: if Democrats want working-class Iowans to trust us again, we have to earn back that trust by showing up and actually making Iowans' lives better. Right now, wages aren't keeping up. Grocery bills keep climbing. Health care is way too expensive – or unobtainable altogether. Retirement feels less secure and further out of reach. These are the problems Nathan talked about on the campaign trail, and these are the problems Democrats must address if we're going to win this election.”

— Zach Wahls, State Senator (iowacapitaldispatch.com)

“Nathan has run a campaign that puts working people first. As someone who also grew up in a working class family, I deeply admire his grit and determination in making sure Iowans feel heard. He has put in the work to hear from Iowans in every corner of this state, and Democrats are better for it.”

— Josh Turek, State Representative (iowacapitaldispatch.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Sage's withdrawal from the race highlights the challenges of running a grassroots campaign in the current political environment, where significant financial resources are often required to be competitive. His decision leaves the Democratic primary as a contest between Wahls and Turek, who will need to address the concerns Sage raised about supporting working-class Iowans if they hope to win the general election.