Ryan Benn is a candidate for Madison County Attorney in the 2026 Republican primary. Benn serves as Legal Counsel and Director of Policy for The Family Leader, a conservative Iowa-based policy organization that engages in legislative advocacy. He currently resides in Indianola. Benn would be required to move to Madison County prior to being sworn in should he secure the office of County Attorney. His opponent previously lived in Ankeny prior to being appointed in December 2024 and faced the same requirement at the time.

Benn previously worked as an associate attorney at Ellis Law Offices, P.C. in Indianola. His practice included criminal defense, landlord–tenant matters, family law, gun rights cases, and other civil litigation. During the 2022 election cycle, he also served as assistant counsel for the Republican National Committee’s election integrity operation in Iowa.

Benn worked as a judicial law clerk for Iowa Supreme Court Justice Edward Mansfield during the 2021–2022 term. In that role, he assisted with legal research, drafted memoranda on cases under review, and contributed to the preparation of opinions.

From 2012 to 2018, Benn served in the Iowa Army National Guard as a geospatial intelligence imagery analyst. He completed imagery analyst training with honors and maintained a Top Secret/SCI security clearance during his service.

After earning his undergraduate degree, Benn owned and operated Benn’s Window Cleaning, a small business in the Des Moines area. He ran the business from 2015 to 2021, providing residential and commercial window cleaning services.

Benn earned his Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 2021 and graduated 8th in a class of 102 students. Benn was admitted to the Iowa Bar in September 2021.

Benn works as a policy adviser for The Family Leader, a conservative Des Moines-based organization involved in legislative advocacy in Iowa. During his time with the organization, the organization has supported legislation in the Iowa Legislature on issues including religious freedom, gender identity policy in public institutions and schools, the use of the “Baby Olivia” fetal development video in education, and parental rights in education and health-care decision-making.

Ryan is married to his wife Abby and they have five children. They attend Alathea Baptist Church where Ryan is a Deacon.

Iowa primaries will be held on June 2, 2026.