NORWALK, Iowa – Former State Representative Garrett Gobble, R-Norwalk, announced his candidacy for State Representative in Iowa House District 22 on Friday.
Iowa House District 22 encompasses about half of Warren county, including Carlisle, Norwalk, Martensdale, St. Mary’s, and New Virginia. HD 22 is currently represented by Representative Stan Gustafson, who announced he will retire after serving the remainder of his current term.
“After many great conversations with residents and community leaders of House District 22, I am honored to seek election to the Iowa House to follow my friend Stan Gustafson,” Gobble said. “As a life-long Iowan, I am honored to get the opportunity to seek the chance to represent this great state and amazing community.”
Gobble first ran for office in 2020, ousting an incumbent State Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, in the former Iowa House District 38, winning one of the most competitive suburban districts. In his time at the State Capitol, Garrett led the way on many education-related issues. His first piece of legislation gave parents the choice to send their students back to school in person after the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost re-election in 2022 to Mattson after redistricting in the new Iowa House District 42 and later moved from Ankeny to Norwalk.
“Serving our state in the legislature is one of the greatest honors of my life and there is much left to be done,” Gobble said. “I will continue to fight to expand access to broadband internet, emergency medical services, and a quality education for all students. I also will continue to work to lower the tax burden on Iowans, so you can keep more of what’s yours.”
Gobble was an eighth-grade history teacher in Ankeny before joining iJAG, a non-profit dedicated to preparing students for the workforce. He resides in Norwalk with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Ellison, and is expecting another child in December.
He will face Samantha Fett, a former member of the Carlisle School Board and member of Moms for Liberty, who also declared her candidacy in the Republican primary.
