In Iowa, the home of Spencer and Sinikka Waugh has turned into a campaign headquarters. Married since 1998, both are running for state office—Spencer for the House and Sinikka for the Senate. Their dining room table is buried under campaign maps, notebooks, and yard signs bearing both of their names.

The dual candidacies didn’t start as a plan. Spencer, an associate dean at Simpson College, had lost his last election by 17 points. When he announced his intention to run again, Sinikka, a small business owner, initially questioned him. “I looked at him and said, ‘Why?’” she recalls. Over time, conversations about serving their community led her to consider running herself.

At first, Sinikka helped in familiar ways—attending events, knocking on doors, and supporting her husband. Then she realized the state Senate seat was open, and the idea to run herself took hold. Spencer had anticipated the moment, quietly preparing a Senate district map weeks in advance.

Politics now fits seamlessly into their marriage. The campaigns operate independently, but their workspaces overlap. “We share the dining room table,” Sinikka says. “We have to alternate times when we’re working sometimes.”

Spencer jokes about his House bid: “We already had the yard signs.” Volunteers had saved and cleaned signs from his last race in 2024. Both note that this election feels different from the last one. “People care about their community. They care about education. They care about clean water,” Spencer says. Sinikka adds, “The energy is changing.”

Reactions to their joint campaigns have varied. Some friends thought the couple was “crazy,” and their children initially misunderstood the concept. But overall, the response has been positive.

The Waughs are realistic about outcomes. “There’s four possible outcomes,” Sinikka says. She focuses less on winning and more on the journey—on the work they can do, the community they can serve, and the impact they can make.

If both win, commuting together is out of the question. “Absolutely not!” Spencer says, laughing. And if only one wins, Sinikka adds, “That’s okay.” After nearly 28 years of marriage, their bond looks less like certainty and more like shared purpose. Yard signs will come down, maps will be folded, but the commitment to their community and each other will endure.

For now, Spencer concludes, “We’re focused on the journey.”