Residents of Waterloo, Iowa’s Ward 2 will head to the polls on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in a special election to fill the city council seat left vacant when Dave Boesen was sworn in as mayor in early January 2026 (Boesen’s inauguration was held January 2, 2026). The council voted to hold a special election rather than appoint a replacement; the council approved setting the date in January 2026.
Three candidates are on the ballot: Ali Parrish (executive director of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity), Frank Magsamen (a longtime public-safety official and former Waterloo fire chief who has also served on the county board), and David Morrow (a longtime resident and local business leader). The winner will serve the remainder of the term through December 31, 2027.
According to the Black Hawk County Elections Office, two vote centers will be open on election day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; voters may use either location regardless of precinct. Ballots began being mailed Feb. 4, 2026, and in-person absentee voting at the Black Hawk County Auditor’s Office began the same week (in-person absentee voting continues through Monday, Feb. 23). The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot was 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9. (The Black Hawk County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections as of early 2026 is Karen Showalter.)
The Ward 2 representative will participate in council decisions on city services, budgeting and public safety. Local media and observers view the special election as an early test of whether the council will support Mayor Boesen’s stated agenda of greater transparency and accountability in city government.
For more election details, including vote-center locations and hours, consult the Black Hawk County Elections website.
