DES MOINES, IOWA (August 3, 2026) — The Libertarian Party of Iowa has announced that Third Congressional District nominee Marco Battaglia has experienced a medical emergency that prevents him from continuing his campaign.
"Our thoughts are with Marco and his family as they focus on his health and recovery," said Stephanie Berlin, chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa.
"Out of respect for Marco's privacy, we will not be sharing additional details. Right now, our focus is on supporting Marco while ensuring the party fulfills its responsibilities under Iowa law and continues to provide voters with a Libertarian choice on the ballot this November."
State Central Committee Meeting
- Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Time: 8–10PM
- Meeting Information
While responding to this unexpected circumstance, the Libertarian Party of Iowa remains fully committed to protecting the rights of every qualified Libertarian candidate to appear on the ballot.
The party continues to support Nicholas Gluba and Jules Cutler as they pursue ballot access through the legal process. Iowa voters deserve meaningful choices, and the Libertarian Party of Iowa will continue working to ensure those choices are protected.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa also welcomes the recent victory affirming Rick Stewart's place on the ballot.
This decision is an important win not only for Rick and the Libertarian Party, but for every Iowan who believes elections should be decided by voters — not through legal technicalities or partisan efforts to limit competition. Should any future challenges arise, the party stands ready to defend Rick's candidacy once again.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa remains committed to protecting ballot access, defending voter choice, and ensuring Iowans have the opportunity to vote for qualified Libertarian candidates in every election.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa is committed to America’s heritage of freedom: Individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity, a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. Find out more at lpia.org.
