Representative to step down, Aurelia farmer enters House District 5 race

Iowa House Representative Zach Dieken announced on January 14, 2026 that he will not seek re-election beyond his current term, which ends at the close of 2026. His decision creates an open contest for House District 5, and Aurelia farmer Keith Glienke has filed to run for the seat now slated for the 2026 ballot. The change affects constituents in O'Brien and Osceola counties, half of Cherokee County, and four townships in Buena Vista County.

Dieken, first elected in 2022, said he intends to step back to focus on family and continued advocacy outside the legislature, including lobbying. During his time in office he highlighted a set of priorities he worked on for the district. His announcement effectively removes the incumbent from the 2026 contest and shifts the dynamics of local representation for the portion of Buena Vista County inside District 5.

Keith Glienke is a lifelong resident of the district and operates a grain and livestock farm near Aurelia. Running as a Republican, he has positioned his candidacy squarely in the agricultural community that dominates much of the district. Glienke’s filing signals that farm issues, rural services and local economic concerns are likely to be front-and-center themes in the campaign that follows.

Institutionally, an open House seat matters because incumbency typically confers advantages in name recognition, fundraising and constituent networks. With Dieken stepping aside, both the primary and the general election become more competitive, giving local voters a clearer opportunity to reshape priorities in the district. For the parts of Buena Vista County inside District 5, that could mean increased candidate visits, shifts in constituent outreach and renewed emphasis on county-level concerns like farm policy, rural infrastructure and access to local services.

For Buena Vista residents in the four townships covered by District 5, the coming campaign is a practical moment to assess how candidates plan to represent township-level needs at the statehouse. Policy outcomes tied to agriculture, property tax, and rural services hinge on who wins the seat, and the campaign season will be the time to press candidates on those specifics.

The takeaway? Stay involved. Check whether your township falls inside House District 5, attend candidate events, and ask concrete questions about how prospective representatives will address local farm and rural infrastructure needs. Our two cents? When an incumbent steps down, the best response is not nostalgia but participation—show up, compare records and make your voice count in the next election.