5 seats: 4R, 1D     D 51

Despite some well-financed challengers, Iowa incumbents had a breather in 1998 from their recent history of narrowly-won House elections. Although Iowa's non-partisan redistricting process resulted in competitive districts this decade, Iowans still like incumbents – only one challenger was able to defeat an incumbent in the 1982-1998 period. The seats of Jim Leach and Jim Nussle would be particularly vulnerable if open.
 

1. Jim Leach (R), 1976					Win*
	'98: 57	'96: 53	'94: 60	'92: 68		D 55
2. Jim Nussle (R), 1990					Win*
	'98: 55	'96: 53	'94: 56	'92: 50		D 54
3. Leonard Boswell (D), 1996					Win*
	'98: 57	'96: 49	['94: R 58	'92: R 49]		D 51
4. Greg Ganske (R), 1994					Win*
	'98: 65	'96: 52	'94: 53	['92: D 62]		50-50
5. Tom Latham (R), 1994					Landslide
	'98: 100	'96: 65	'94: 61	['92: R 99]		R 55