Nikhil Wagle

Dr. Nikhil Wagle is a physician, small business owner, and a committed public servant from Bettendorf running this fall to flip a seat in the Iowa Senate. As a local ophthalmologist and elected school board member, Nikhil has served his community for the last 26 years, helping improve the lives of thousands of Iowans. Nikhil’s deep professional and personal ties in his district make him the perfect candidate to flip his competitive suburban seat from red to blue, and if he’s elected to the state Senate, he will be a passionate, tireless advocate for strengthening public education and increasing health care access for every resident of the Hawkeye State.

District 47 is a critical battleground where a Democratic victory could mean blocking a GOP supermajority from forming in the Iowa Senate. With support from the DLCC, Nikhil is well-positioned to flip this seat and help build Democratic power in Iowa.

Iowa is emerging as a historic opportunity to prevent a GOP supermajority in the Iowa Senate and break the supermajority in the Iowa House.

After nearly a decade of full GOP control, a series of DLCC-backed special election victories in 2025 — including wins in Republican districts — signaled a shift in the political landscape. These victories not only broke the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate but also proved that, with early investment, Democrats can win even in the toughest terrain.

In 2026, defending these hard-won Senate seats and making targeted gains in the state House will be critical to stopping Republican overreach and restoring balance in the legislature.

The DLCC is all hands on deck to keep up our momentum.