Gehlbach unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Waukee Community School District Board in 2015. He ran again in 2019 and was elected its vice president.[3] He resigned in November 2022 after his election to the House. Gehlbach also served on the Waukee Chamber of Commerce Board prior to his election to the school board.[1]
Gehlbach announced his intent to run for the open 46th district seat in the Iowa House of Representatives in January 2022.[4] He came in 3rd place with over 24 percent of the vote in the Republican primaries on June 7, 2022. Because no candidate received 35 percent of the vote, a special convention of 16 delegates from the Iowa Republican Party was held on June 27 to choose the Republican nominee. Gehlbach was chosen with roughly 55 percent of the vote.[5] He defeated his Democratic opponent in the general election on November 8 by over 11 points.[6]
In 2024, Gehlbach filed to run for reelection.[8] He won the Republican primaries unopposed on June 4, 2024, and will face Democrat Lynne Campbell in the general election on November 5, 2024.[6]
Gehlbach currently serves on the Education, Local Government, and Natural Resources committees.[9]
Gehlbach has said that his priorities include public education, individual freedoms and lowering taxes. He opposes abortion and supports school choice and the Second Amendment.[2] He has accused Iowa public schools of "LGBTQ brainwashing".[10]
Personal life
Gehlbach has a wife, Staci, and two children. He resides with his family in Urbandale. He owns a Mathnasium Learning Center in West Des Moines, Iowa, and is a former Certified Internal Auditor, having worked in the healthcare, gaming and publishing industries. He also taught high school in Japan for two years.[1][2]
Electoral history
Election
Political result
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Iowa House of Representatives Republican primary elections, 2022[6] District 46 Turnout: 1,801
Convention held to choose nominee (newly redistricted)