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Iowa's 1st Congressional District election, 2020
- Election date: Nov. 3
- Registration deadline(s): Oct. 24
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Recount laws
- Early voting starts: Oct. 5
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 2 (postmarked); Nov. 9 (received)
- Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m
2022 →
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| Iowa's 1st Congressional District |
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| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 13, 2020 |
| Primary: June 2, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Abby Finkenauer (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voting in Iowa |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Lean Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th Iowa elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 |
Ashley Hinson (R) defeated incumbent Abby Finkenauer (D) in the general election for Iowa's 1st Congressional District on November 3, 2020. In the 2018 general election, Finkenauer challenged and defeated incumbent Rod Blum (R) by a margin of 5.1 percentage points. Blum had held the seat since 2015 after the previous incumbent Bruce Braley (D) chose not to seek re-election.
In February 2019, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Iowa's 1st a Frontline district saying, "Our Majority hinges on these Members from tough seats winning reelection in 2020."[1] The Republican National Congressional Committee named the district an offensive target for the 2020 election cycle, saying it was a seat "held by [a] vulnerable Democrat and represents [a] prime pickup opportunity for Republicans."[2]
The 1st District was one of 31 U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election and a Democratic candidate won in the 2018 midterm elections. During the presidential election, Trump received 49 percent of the vote to Hillary Clinton's (D) 45 percent in the 1st District.[3]
The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress. All 435 seats in the House were up for election. At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232 to 198 majority over Republicans. The Libertarian Party had one seat. Four seats were vacant. Democrats defended 30 districts Donald Trump (R) won in 2016. Republicans defended five districts Hillary Clinton (D) won in 2016.
Iowa's 1st Congressional District covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Bremer, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Benton, Iowa, Poweshiek, Marshall and Tama counties.[4]
Ashley Hinson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey. Click here to view her responses.
This race was one of 89 congressional races that were decided by 10 percent or less in 2020.
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
Post-election analysis
The table below compares the vote totals in the 2020 presidential election and 2020 U.S. House election for this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.
| Presidential and congressional election results, Iowa's 1st Congressional District, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Presidential | U.S. House |
| Democratic candidate |
47.4 | 48.6 |
| Republican candidate |
50.8 | 51.2 |
| Difference | 3.4 | 2.6 |
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Iowa modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee ballot application forms were sent to all registered voters in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Ashley Hinson defeated incumbent Abby Finkenauer in the general election for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ashley Hinson (R)  | 51.2 | 212,088 |
 | Abby Finkenauer (D) | 48.6 | 201,347 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 434 | ||
| Total votes: 413,869 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Incumbent Abby Finkenauer advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Abby Finkenauer | 99.3 | 72,474 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 482 | ||
| Total votes: 72,956 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Ashley Hinson defeated Thomas Hansen in the Republican primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ashley Hinson | 77.8 | 38,552 |
 | Thomas Hansen | 21.9 | 10,845 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 152 | ||
| Total votes: 49,549 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Darren White (R)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[5] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
- Iowa House of Representatives District 99 (2015-2019)
- U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st Congressional District (Assumed office 2019)
Biography: Finkenauer grew up in Iowa's Dubuque County. She received her bachelor's degree from Drake University. Her professional experience includes work at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and serving on the board of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation.
Show sources
Sources: Abby Finkenauer 2020 campaign website, "Meet Abby," accessed August 18, 2020. Abby Finkenauer 2020 campaign website, "Creating Jobs and a Strong Economy," accessed August 18, 2020. Abby Finkenauer 2020 campaign website, "Fighting for Good Schools and Affordable College," accessed August 18, 2020; Abby Finkenaur 2020 campaign website, "Meet Abby," accessed August 19, 2020.
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Iowa District 1 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: Iowa House of Representatives (Assumed office: 2016)
Submitted Biography: "As a news reporter, Ashley Hinson shared the stories of countless Iowans. Now running for Congress in Iowa's 1st district, Ashley is honored to share hers. Ashley is a current Iowa House representative, a former award-winning journalist and a proud mom. An Iowa native, Ashley is the first woman to represent Iowa's 67th district. Ashley has worked successfully to balance the budget, cut taxes and protect the most vulnerable in her community. A firm believer in common sense leadership, she has worked across the aisle to help fund school infrastructure while providing direct property tax relief to Iowans. Her tireless advocacy for Iowa families has also helped secure increased aid for K-12 education and additional funding for rural hospitals and mental health facilities. Prior to serving in the IA House, Ashley was a reporter for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. For more than a decade, she had the opportunity to connect with Iowa's small business owners and community leaders. Ashley's extensive reporting on rising health care costs, devastating flooding and other critical issues impacting Eastern Iowa drove her to want to serve her community. Ashley currently belongs to the Antioch Christian Church. Together, Ashley and her husband Matt are raising their two sons. Her children drive her every day to fight for a better community and stronger economy for all Iowa families."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Iowa District 1 in 2020.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
| Iowa's 1st Congressional District election, 2020: General election polls | |||||||
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| Poll | Date | Finkenauer
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Hinson
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Other | Margin of error | Sample size | Sponsor |
| Monmouth University | October 15-20, 2020 | 52% | 44% | 4% | ±5.2 | 352 | -- |
| Monmouth University | July 25-August 3, 2020 | 52% | 41% | -- | ±4.4-±5.1 | 391 | -- |
| Harper Polling | January 11-12, 2020 | 44% | 40% | 15% | ±4.9 | 400 | Future Leaders Fund |
Campaign finance
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[6] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[7] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abby Finkenauer | Democratic Party | $5,938,111 | $5,912,075 | $55,019 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Ashley Hinson | Republican Party | $5,178,803 | $5,062,131 | $116,672 | As of December 31, 2020 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[8][9][10]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
- Americas PAC spent $386,600 over the course of October 2019 and March 2020 to run radio ads criticizing Abby Finkenauer's response to the Coronavirus pandemic.[11][12]
- Future Leaders Fund spent $34,087 in January and February of 2020 to run a radio ad criticizing Abby Finkenauer's voting record in Congress and supporting Ashley Hinson's campaign.[13][14]
- Sierra Club Independent Action spent $10 in May on a website endorsement supporting Abby Finkenauer.[11]
- Together We Thrive spent $750 in September 2019 supporting Abby Finkenauer earmarked on the FEC for design, advertising, marketing, research, programming, consulting, and staffing.[11]
- Winning for Women Inc. spent $169 over the course of November, December, and June on email communications, online advertising, and website services in support of Ashley Hinson's campaign.[13]
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+1, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 1 percentage point more Democratic than the national average. This made Iowa's 1st Congressional District the 190th most Democratic nationally.[15]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.06. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.06 points toward that party.[16]
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[17]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[18][19][20]
| Race ratings: Iowa's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | Toss-up | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Lean Democratic | Tilt Democratic | Tilt Democratic | Tilt Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
| Noteworthy endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Finkenauer (D) | Hinson (R) | ||||
| Newspapers and editorials | ||||||
| The Cedar Rapids Gazette[21] | ✔ | |||||
| Des Moines Register[22] | ✔ | |||||
| Dubuque Telegraph Herald[23] | ✔ | |||||
| Elected officials | ||||||
| President Donald Trump (R)[24] | ✔ | |||||
| Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA)[25] | ✔ | |||||
| Individuals | ||||||
| Former President Barack Obama (D)[26] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| United States Chamber of Commerce[27] | ✔ | |||||
Timeline
2020
2019
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Abby Finkenauer
Supporting Finkenauer
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Ashley Hinson
Supporting Hinson
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Satellite group ads
| Click "show" to the right to see satellite group ads. | |||||||||
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Satellite group adsOpposing Finkenauer
Opposing Hinson
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Campaign themes
- See also: Campaign themes
Abby Finkenauer
Finkenauer’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
As your representative in Congress, I’ll always fight for Iowans to have good jobs with fair wages to support their families. We need to ensure that we’ve created the conditions for businesses to succeed here in Eastern Iowa, and that we’re constantly searching for opportunities to bring investment into our region. Too many of our communities have been left behind as our national economy changes. We need forward-thinking leadership that will position our region to preserve the jobs we have now and attract the jobs of the future.
We must invest in our deteriorating and underfunded infrastructure in Eastern Iowa to support entrepreneurs and create jobs. The majority of our roadways were built 50 to 60 years ago with few updates since then, and have received only a C- rating from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Our bridges received a D+ grade, with one in five Iowa bridges considered structurally deficient. Failing infrastructure makes it harder for goods and services to reach consumers, which hurts Iowa farmers and small business owners. A number of the levees protecting us from dangerous floods fail to meet FEMA guidelines and, due to a lack of funding and available staff, only about 10% of Iowa dams are regularly inspected. We must continue to construct and repair our flood prevention infrastructure, including funding and building the full Cedar River Flood Control system to protect residents and businesses. We are also behind when it comes to the infrastructure Iowans will need to compete in the 21st century. Currently, Iowa ranks 39th on connectivity with 22% of Iowans still underserved when it comes to access to broadband. There is no excuse for the fact that over 160,000 Iowans still don’t have access to any wired Internet providers. This makes everything from logistics to communications more difficult, harming the competitiveness of our businesses and making our region less attractive to entrepreneurs. By investing in infrastructure we can create jobs, support our businesses, and ensure that all Iowans can travel safely across the state.
We can’t build a strong economy without thriving small and community businesses. We must ensure that entrepreneurs and small business owners have access to the capital they need to hire and grow. An Eastern Iowan might have a great idea for a business, but if they can’t secure loans or investment to get their concept off the ground, that great idea will go nowhere and the surrounding community will lose out on potential jobs. I am committed to strengthening funding opportunities for small businesses so that entrepreneurs are supported and have the opportunity to take smart, calculated risks to achieve their goals. We must ensure that small businesses are not overly burdened by unnecessary regulations and red tape. While large corporations can employ an army of accountants and regulatory professionals to deal with these demands, entrepreneurs have no such resources. We need to level the playing field to give Main Street a fair shot.
Growing up in rural Iowa, I understand personally that our agricultural community is critically important to Eastern Iowa, with farmers comprising the backbone of our families and towns. I will always work to strengthen family farms because doing so is not only important to our economy, but to the traditions and way of life for countless working families in our state. This starts with ensuring the farm bill considered in Congress every four years is based on sound policy designed to help farmers, rather than being subject to partisan political games as has too often happened in recent versions. It means fighting to give farmers access to the capital they need to grow and thrive, as modern farm equipment does not come cheaply. And it means making sure federal farm subsidies go to support family farms rather than huge corporate entities, and that federal programs like crop insurance programs that protect farmers are defended. By fostering strong family farms, we maintain strong families and strong communities, and these goals must always be a priority in Washington.
We must make sure businesses can find the qualified workers they need at home. Creating jobs in our region won’t help working families if we don’t prepare Iowans with the skills to fill them. This includes making college more affordable but it also means strengthening career and technical education in our public high schools so that every student—regardless of whether college is the best path for them—will be prepared to thrive in the 21st century economy. We must also support and foster partnerships between local businesses and schools so that students have access to internships, job training opportunities, and apprenticeship programs.
Iowans are working harder than ever, but wages have grown too slowly over the last decade. Women still earn less than their male counterparts, and parents too often have to choose between a paycheck or staying home with their newborn. Washington politicians continue to side with corporations and the wealthy over hard-working Americans. And the damage is clear: wages are lower, union membership is down, and the middle class is shrinking. It’s time for everyday Iowans to have a voice in Washington. I’ll prioritize expanding economic opportunity and security so that families can thrive right here in Eastern Iowa. In Congress, I will fight for equal pay, the unions that support our families, and a fair, living wage for every hard-working American.
My father was a union pipefitter welder and has been a proud union member for over 40 years. I grew up in a union household, and I understand how important good union jobs are to families across Eastern Iowa. I will always fight to defend unions so that we can strengthen our families and our workers across the 1st district. Strong, organized labor builds a thriving middle class. Across the county, and here in Iowa, unions have raised wages for countless hard-working Americans. Nationally in 2014, the typical union worker made almost $200 more a week than an average non-union worker. But attacks on labor are decreasing union membership across the country. Here in Iowa we have always been proud of our unions, and I’m honored to be endorsed by a number of them including the Iowa Teamsters and AFSCME Council 61. Unions deserve a strong voice in Washington. In Congress, I will always support pro-labor legislation and oppose efforts to put big corporations over American workers.
In Iowa, women are paid 78 cents for every dollar that men earn, which means Iowa’s women – and their families – lose out on an average of $11,135 every year. That’s simply not acceptable. As a state legislator, I fought hard for equal pay and introduced an amendment to require all businesses that contracted with the state to certify that they paid the same wages to men and women with the same education level and experience. Equal pay is a moral issue and a working families issue and I plan to continue this fight in Washington. In Congress, I will support equal pay legislation to close the wage gap that continues to hurt women and families across the country.
When American workers are paid a fair, living wage, our economy and middle-class flourish. Republicans in Washington continue to put corporations and their executives over hard-working Americans. In Congress, I’ll fight to ensure all American workers are paid a fair, living wage on which they can support a family. At its heart, this is a family issue. We need to ensure Iowans have access to good-paying jobs at fair wages so they are able to settle down where they choose or remain in their hometowns, instead of being forced to move elsewhere to raise a family. By paying every worker a living wage, Iowans will be able to live close to their parents and grandparents in towns across our state, maintaining the strong family and community ties that have broken down as younger generations have been forced to leave too many places.
The time for enacting an effective paid family leave policy is long overdue. No working American should ever have to choose between a paycheck and taking care of themselves or a loved one. Unfortunately, this is a reality for too many parents and family members: in 2016, only 14% of civilian workers had access to paid family leave. It’s a disgrace and we must do better for American families. I’m fighting to expand paid family leave because, when working families are given the time they need to care for themselves or their loved ones, our economy, our workforce, and our families thrive.
There are certain American values that should not be up for debate – in Iowa, in Washington, or anywhere else. Healthcare is a human right, and extending access to quality and affordable care to every American must be a top priority in Congress. It will certainly be one of mine, and I won’t be afraid to fight for universal health care – including a public option. Sadly, that’s not the case for my opponent. Ashley Hinson has made clear where she stands on this critical issue by voting to let insurance companies offer health care plans in Iowa that discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. That’s unacceptable. I’m working to put working Iowa families first, and that means fighting to protect and build upon the progress we made in the Affordable Care Act and working toward universal healthcare coverage and lowering the cost of care. I’ll fight back against all attempts to raise premiums, kick Iowans off their healthcare, or reduce the services covered by their insurance, such as annual preventive care checkups, maternity care, or addiction and mental health treatment. At the same time, we need to ensure that underserved communities in Iowa have access to the health care services they need. This means fighting for community health centers and critical access hospitals that serve towns and cities throughout our state, and making sure that funding for the vital Children’s Health Insurance Program never lapses again — which I did with an amendment to the Affordable Care Enhancement Act. Iowans deserve representation in Congress that works for them to improve our healthcare system and expand coverage and services that strengthen families. It’s time for the partisan political games that have too often controlled the healthcare conversation in Washington to end.
It should be incredibly simple – a woman’s health should be an issue considered by herself, her doctor, and her family. Washington must stay out of the way and let women make these decisions for themselves. That includes the right not to be charged more for our insurance than men, the right to have access to birth control, and the right to choose – all of which Washington politicians are threatening. As a state legislator, I fought back against countless bills that targeted women’s health and defunded organizations that offered cancer screenings, preventive care, and other essential health services. I’ll always do the same in Congress. I’ll always support trusting women to do what is right for them and I’ll stand up for continuing to fund access to health care through providers like Planned Parenthood.
I’m a proud product of Dubuque public schools. I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from quality teachers and inspiring mentors. I wouldn’t be here today without them. We must give every child that same chance at success that comes from a quality education. I went to college here in Iowa and I know firsthand how difficult affording college can be. Like tens of thousands of Iowans, I’m still struggling to pay back my student loans, without which I would never have been able to afford college. We need to invest in our public schools to put our students on the path to a good job or college after graduation. That starts by expanding access to Pre-K, which jumpstarts learning and provides a solid foundation for a child to grow. And we must ensure that college is affordable for all Iowans, including relief for those burdened with student loan debt and greater transparency so that students understand what they’ll be paying for.
High-quality Pre-K is proven to be a critical factor in increasing a student’s ability to succeed. It’s time we prioritize investing in early education so that we can extend this foundation to as many children as possible. In Congress, I’ll support legislation to make quality Pre-K accessible and affordable for more families, which will also reduce the burden of childcare costs faced by working parents.
Every year, students graduate from college eager to jumpstart their careers. But increasing college tuition costs leave many of them buried under a mountain of student loan debt that limits their opportunities. It’s no secret that the cost of college has become way too high for way too many. The situation is made worse by a lack of transparency on the part of colleges and universities, leaving students unsure of what they are paying for. No student should be forced to make the life-changing decision on where they’ll go to college and how much they’ll have to pay for it without access to detailed information on what their costs will be. Greater transparency from colleges and universities will ensure that students and families know exactly what they must pay and it will create competition that will help keep future costs down. We must also ensure that students who take out college loans are able to pay them off in an appropriate amount of time. That’s why I support legislation to allow students to refinance their student loan debt at current interest rates—much like one could do with a home mortgage—and I’ll fiercely oppose attempts to tax the interest paid on student loan debt.
Here in Eastern Iowa and across the county, we have countless businesses and manufacturers looking for qualified workers with specific technical skills and training. We have many motivated high school graduates who want to enter the workforce for whom college may not be the best path. And we have nontraditional students, like adults looking to embark on a new career path or gain new skills to enhance their potential in their current field. We can’t let their talent go to waste. We must have robust career and technical education opportunities that train students with the specialized skills needed to fill available jobs and grow our economy. In Congress, I’ll support funding for these programs and make sure that our students have access to the training they need. We must also support and foster partnerships between local businesses and schools so that students have access to internships, job training opportunities, and apprenticeship programs, a key link between businesses and prospective workers. These measures also support our local businesses, allowing them to hire a qualified workforce right here at home rather than looking elsewhere to grow.
Today we face more urgent and pressing dangers to our environment, our economy, and the future health of Iowans than ever before. Our planet is warming at a quickening rate and large corporations are taking advantage of every loophole they can to pollute our environment so they can make a slightly larger profit at the expense of American families – all while working to set back our clean energy economy that creates jobs for Iowans. I’ll always be a voice for common sense policies that protect our air and water, support the clean energy jobs of the future, and preserve Iowa’s climate so that our farming communities can still exist far into the future. The effects of climate change are projected to shrink our local economic output by up to 5%, and it will be working families that bear the brunt of that damage. Ask any farmer here in the First District and they’ll tell you first hand that instances of drought and unusual weather are taking ever larger tolls on their crop production. We need to be growing our clean energy sector to create jobs and reduce emissions, not taking actions that stunt the spread of renewable technology and give our robust private sector fewer incentives to invest in our region. The good news is that here in Iowa we have some of the best renewable energy resources in the country. Our clean energy economy already supports over 30,000 jobs statewide, while we generate more of our energy from wind than any other state. We lead the nation in ethanol production, creating over a quarter of the entire country’s manufacturing capacity. We can’t afford to turn away from this progress and throw out the gains to our economy and environment that we’ve built. I will make it a priority to support policies that continue this growth and preserve our status as a national leader in clean energy production, while at the same time strengthening our renewable energy manufacturing sector to create even more good jobs at good wages for Eastern Iowans. I’m not new to this fight. While serving in Des Moines, I fought back against efforts by the fossil fuel industry to neuter the Iowa Energy Center at Iowa State University – a key leader in growing Iowa’s clean energy economy and conducting renewable energy research – by transferring it to a state agency that could end its principal mission. By using the Freedom of Information Act process, I exposed the involvement of fossil fuel lobbyists in drafting secret legislation to transfer control of the center, revealing the true motive for the move.
Commitment to Seniors Social Security and Medicare are sacred promises we have made to our seniors, who spent a lifetime paying into these critical programs that support tens of thousands in the 1st district. They deserve to retire in financial security supported by the benefits they’ve earned. In Congress, I’ve fought fight to protect Social Security and Medicare against any efforts to cut benefits or weaken their solvency so that both current seniors and future generations can count on them. Similarly, we must ensure that seniors on fixed incomes are not overly burdened by the cost of rising prescription drug prices. No senior should be forced to go bankrupt to preserve their health. I support allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices on medications and be open to the best policy ideas to reduce costs, like bringing more generic drugs to market or closing the Medicare Part D donut hole earlier.
It is abundantly clear that our current immigration system is broken and is failing our country, our state, and the people of eastern Iowa. After years of playing politics, members of both parties must finally have the courage to pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform that creates an earned pathway to citizenship for millions who have paid their taxes and contributed to society, while securing our borders and ensuring strong interior immigration enforcement so that we keep out and deport criminals and those who would do us harm. That should include a renewal of DACA so we keep our promise to those who were brought to this country as children and are now building a better life through getting a college degree or serving in the military. It should include measures to strengthen our borders so that drug and human traffickers and gang members in particular cannot make it into this country. And it should include fixing E-Verify, making it mandatory for employers and ensuring that we have robust resources in place to train businesses on how to properly use the system. I do not support abolishing ICE. We must support our local and federal law enforcement who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and make sure they have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. We should change policies around family separation so officers can focus instead on effective border security, interior enforcement, and protecting our communities. Above all else, Washington politicians must step up to the plate and pass badly needed reform that will strengthen our economy and our communities, and make us safer, instead of falling victim to partisan politics and political gridlock yet again.
As the proud granddaughter of a World War II Purple Heart recipient who walked around with shrapnel in his leg until the day he died, for me standing with our veterans, service members, and their loved ones is standing with family. Our brave veterans put their lives on the line to serve our nation. Unfortunately, partisan politics have let them down. The lip service must end. These heroes deserve the utmost dignity and respect in their care and services, and I believe it is our duty to ensure that they receive the benefits they have earned. In Congress, I’ll fight to increase access to healthcare services and economic opportunities for veterans. We must streamline communication between VA and non-VA healthcare providers so that any veteran seeking healthcare treatment, mental or physical, is given the care they need. We must also support programs that give military families and caregivers training on post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. Our veterans need to have access to economic and educational opportunities when they return home. In Congress, I’ll work to expand access to capital for veterans seeking to start a small business, and I’ll support funding for the GI Bill. [34] |
” |
| —Abby Finkenauer’s campaign website (2020)[35] | ||
Ashley Hinson
Hinson’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Ashley’s goal is simple—help American taxpayers keep more of their own money. We need economic growth now more than ever. Throughout her time representing families in the Iowa House, Ashley voted for tax cuts that increased take-home wages for Iowa workers while achieving something Congress finds impossible—balancing a budget. Ashley wants to take some of this Iowa common sense to Washington. Ashley supports making middle-income tax cuts passed by Republicans permanent. Iowa families and businesses are benefiting from these tax cuts. The average middle-class family increased their take home pay by over $1,600 a year—that’s a family vacation or a much-needed home repair. Ashley will fight to make sure Democrats don’t have the votes to repeal them or do worse—pass trillions in tax hikes to support radical plans like the Green New Deal that would destroy Iowa’s economy.
For years’ healthcare has been at the center of heated political debate, but that’s all it’s been—part of a debate, rather than the center of meaningful action. Ashley will work to make sure families have the power to make decisions about their healthcare—not bureaucrats in Washington. She opposes a Medicare For All bill that would cost $32 trillion dollars nationwide. Instead, Ashley will fight to deliver patient-centered health care with the choice and control people want, the affordability they need, and the quality they deserve. This includes protecting coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions.
Ashley also knows we need to focus on targeted fixes to improve the current system, such as getting rid of surprise medical billing and lowering the cost of co-payments, deductibles, and prescription drugs. Ashley will take on big Pharma to put an end to out of control prices of prescription drugs affecting all Iowans, and especially seniors. She will work to increase competition in the marketplace and close loopholes that allow bad actors to take advantage of the system.
Additionally, the federal government needs to improve access to healthcare, especially for families in rural areas, women and our mental health system. In the Iowa house, Ashley supported critical access to rural hospitals, fought for funding for local women’s health centers and worked across the aisle to increase funding for our mental health system. Ashley will take these same fights to Washington.
China has been a bad actor for many years; however, Congress has not done enough to hold them accountable for their lies, theft and cover-up. China has trampled on human rights and religious freedoms while polluting our planet, stealing our intellectual property and ripping off of American innovation. Politicians in Washington must take immediate action and put China in their place. Ashley will fight in Congress to bring back manufacturing jobs and lessen our dependence on China. Ashley knows that China is full of empty promises that threaten the livelihoods of Americans each and every day.
Washington politicians have made immigration about politics when immigration is about security. Our system has been overwhelmed by illegal immigrants coming across our southern border. Now we have a humanitarian crisis, rampant human trafficking and drugs like fentanyl pouring across our border and fueling the opioid crisis. Washington has been trying to solve the immigration issue for decades and they have done close to nothing. Ashley would go to Congress to work across the aisle to strengthen the border and find solutions. She supports increasing funding for border security and fixing our legal immigration system so places like Iowa can have their workforce needs met. Ashley knows we can no longer pass the buck.
Agriculture is at the heart of Iowa’s economy and rural communities. That’s why in the Iowa House, Ashley fought tirelessly to protect Iowa’s farmers and agriculture. In Washington, Ashley will continue to be a friend of agriculture. Iowa’s farmers feed the world and fuel our economic engine. Ashley understands that socialist initiatives like the Green New Deal which Congresswoman Finkenauer calls “creative”, would completely destroy Iowa’s agricultural industry and put thousands of farmers out of business. Farmers in eastern Iowa are experiencing extreme hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ashley will work in Congress to ensure that Iowa farmers have the resources and tools they need in order to remain prosperous.
Repairing our infrastructure is a priority for politicians on both sides of the aisle. With the right leadership, taxpayer dollars will go toward meaningful infrastructure legislation that will upgrade our nation’s roads and bridges and expand rural broadband. As a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, Ashley did things differently. She led the charge to secure funding to strengthen Iowa’s buildings and roads and successfully worked to pass SAVE—legislation that provides schools with the funding and tools they need to make important improvements for modern facilities, safe classrooms, and state of the art technology that enhance students’ educational experience. She also shepherded through legislation to help our communities pay for long-term infrastructure for flood protection. Additionally, as the House Transportation Chair, she worked to help ensure equity for the road use tax fund, which funds our roads and bridges. In Congress, Ashley will work in a bipartisan manner to ensure the strength of our country’s infrastructure.
When it comes to our energy sector, affordability, sustainability, and energy independence are critical to the future of Iowa and America. But it’s clear that some politicians have ignored this cause while others have put forth expensive, unrealistic proposals that would destroy our economy. Ashley believes Iowa can remain a leader in renewable energy and biofuels without stifling our economic growth with unfair taxes and onerous regulatory burdens on Iowa producers. In the Iowa House, Ashley supported a law ensuring that biosecurity and our food supply are not put at risk by foreign agents or extreme activists who use deception to gain access to agricultural facilities. Ashley will work to increase American-made energy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, and bring down energy costs for Iowans.
The heroism of veterans is sacred to the identity of America. Our government must protect those who have sacrificed everything to keep us safe at home. Ashley believes in reforming the VA by supporting legislation that increases access and quality while protecting medical benefits. Ashley will support programs that work to end veteran suicide that focus on mental health rehabilitation for veterans who suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Ashley will fight for veterans to ensure they are protected for their heroism and service to their country.
Iowa is facing a workforce crisis. Study after study shows employers are struggling with shortages because they can’t find the skilled workers they need to grow and innovate. It’s clear Americans need post-secondary credentials to prosper in today’s competitive and technology-driven economy. That’s why Ashley supported Governor Reynolds’ Future Ready Iowa initiative, which invests in workforce training to close the skills gap and ensure Iowa remains a haven for jobs and opportunity. Ashley will continue this fight at the federal level, supporting funding for vocational schools and training programs to expand access and career options for our children. As the mother of school aged children, Ashley has been a fierce advocate for protecting Iowa kids. Ashley’s bill signed into law by Governor Reynolds, closed a loophole in Iowa law and enacted a 30-day reporting requirement for those who violate misconduct rules as school employees. Ashley has fought every day to make our children safer and she’ll do the same in Washington. [34] |
” |
| —Ashley Hinson’s campaign website (2020)[36] | ||
District represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016
This district was one of 30 Democratic-held U.S. House districts up in 2020 that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Most were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2020.
| 2020 Democratic-held U.S. House districts won by Donald Trump in 2016 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Incumbent | Ran in 2020? | 2018 congressional margin | 2016 presidential margin | 2012 presidential margin | ||||||||
| Arizona's 1st | Tom O'Halleran |
Yes | Democrats+7.7 | Trump+1.1 | Romney+2.5 | ||||||||
| Georgia's 6th | Lucy McBath |
Yes | Democrats+1.0 | Trump+1.5 | Romney+23.3 | ||||||||
| Illinois' 14th | Lauren Underwood |
Yes | Democrats+5.0 | Trump+3.9 | Romney+10 | ||||||||
| Illinois' 17th | Cheri Bustos |
Yes | Democrats+24.2 | Trump+0.7 | Obama+17 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 1st | Abby Finkenauer |
Yes | Democrats+5.1 | Trump+3.5 | Obama+13.7 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 2nd | Dave Loebsack |
Retired | Democrats+5.2 | Trump+4.1 | Obama+13.1 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 3rd | Cindy Axne |
Yes | Democrats+2.2 | Trump+3.5 | Obama+4.2 | ||||||||
| Maine's 2nd | Jared Golden |
Yes | Democrats+1.3 | Trump+10.3 | Obama+8.6 | ||||||||
| Michigan's 8th | Elissa Slotkin |
Yes | Democrats+3.8 | Trump+6.7 | Romney+3.1 | ||||||||
| Michigan's 11th | Haley Stevens |
Yes | Democrats+6.7 | Trump+4.4 | Romney+5.4 | ||||||||
| Minnesota's 2nd | Angie Craig |
Yes | Democrats+5.5 | Trump+1.2 | Obama+0.1 | ||||||||
| Minnesota's 7th | Collin Peterson |
Yes | Democrats+4.3 | Trump+30.8 | Romney+9.8 | ||||||||
| Nevada's 3rd | Susie Lee |
Yes | Democrats+9.1 | Trump+1.0 | Obama+0.8 | ||||||||
| New Hampshire's 1st | Chris Pappas |
Yes | Democrats+8.6 | Trump+1.6 | Obama+1.6 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 3rd | Andrew Kim |
Yes | Democrats+1.3 | Trump+6.2 | Obama+4.6 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 5th | Josh Gottheimer |
Yes | Democrats+13.7 | Trump+1.1 | Romney+3.0 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 11th | Mikie Sherrill |
Yes | Democrats+14.6 | Trump+0.9 | Romney+5.8 | ||||||||
| New Mexico's 2nd | Xochitl Torres Small |
Yes | Democrats+1.9 | Trump+10.2 | Romney+6.8 | ||||||||
| New York's 11th | Max Rose |
Yes | Democrats+6.5 | Trump+9.8 | Obama+4.3 | ||||||||
| New York's 18th | Sean Maloney |
Yes | Democrats+10.9 | Trump+1.9 | Obama+4.3 | ||||||||
| New York's 19th | Antonio Delgado |
Yes | Democrats+5.2 | Trump+6.8 | Obama+6.2 | ||||||||
| New York's 22nd | Anthony Brindisi |
Yes | Democrats+1.8 | Trump+15.5 | Romney+0.4 | ||||||||
| Oklahoma's 5th | Kendra Horn |
Yes | Democrats+1.4 | Trump+13.4 | Romney+18.4 | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania's 8th | Matt Cartwright |
Yes | Democrats+9.3 | Trump+9.6 | Obama+11.9 | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania's 17th | Conor Lamb |
Yes | Democrats+12.5 | Trump+2.6 | Romney+4.5 | ||||||||
| South Carolina's 1st | Joe Cunningham |
Yes | Democrats+1.4 | Trump+13.1 | Romney+18.1 | ||||||||
| Utah's 4th | Ben McAdams |
Yes | Democrats+0.3 | Trump+6.7 | Romney+37.0 | ||||||||
| Virginia's 2nd | Elaine Luria |
Yes | Democrats+2.2 | Trump+3.4 | Romney+2.3 | ||||||||
| Virginia's 7th | Abigail Spanberger |
Yes | Democrats+1.9 | Trump+6.5 | Romney+10.5 | ||||||||
| Wisconsin's 3rd | Ron Kind |
Yes | Democrats+19.3 | Trump+4.5 | Obama+11 | ||||||||
| Source: Sabato's Crystal Ball and Daily Kos | |||||||||||||
Click here to see the five U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Thirty-one of 99 Iowa counties—31 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Allamakee County, Iowa | 24.15% | 4.17% | 14.25% | ||||
| Boone County, Iowa | 13.69% | 6.64% | 7.63% | ||||
| Bremer County, Iowa | 13.68% | 2.68% | 9.31% | ||||
| Buchanan County, Iowa | 15.02% | 13.87% | 18.48% | ||||
| Cedar County, Iowa | 17.78% | 4.59% | 9.64% | ||||
| Cerro Gordo County, Iowa | 7.66% | 13.38% | 20.83% | ||||
| Chickasaw County, Iowa | 22.94% | 11.07% | 20.74% | ||||
| Clarke County, Iowa | 28.02% | 1.47% | 2.25% | ||||
| Clayton County, Iowa | 22.78% | 7.03% | 17.17% | ||||
| Clinton County, Iowa | 5.12% | 22.84% | 23.03% | ||||
| Des Moines County, Iowa | 6.89% | 18.41% | 23.04% | ||||
| Dubuque County, Iowa | 1.23% | 14.71% | 20.77% | ||||
| Fayette County, Iowa | 19.36% | 11.96% | 16.60% | ||||
| Floyd County, Iowa | 14.84% | 14.63% | 21.88% | ||||
| Howard County, Iowa | 20.49% | 20.95% | 25.78% | ||||
| Jackson County, Iowa | 19.27% | 16.89% | 24.39% | ||||
| Jasper County, Iowa | 18.13% | 7.07% | 7.50% | ||||
| Jefferson County, Iowa | 0.47% | 15.97% | 20.23% | ||||
| Jones County, Iowa | 19.08% | 7.78% | 10.40% | ||||
| Lee County, Iowa | 16.02% | 15.49% | 16.01% | ||||
| Louisa County, Iowa | 28.37% | 0.64% | 4.25% | ||||
| Marshall County, Iowa | 8.31% | 9.36% | 9.35% | ||||
| Mitchell County, Iowa | 24.04% | 3.37% | 12.31% | ||||
| Muscatine County, Iowa | 6.26% | 15.88% | 15.64% | ||||
| Poweshiek County, Iowa | 6.53% | 9.35% | 11.75% | ||||
| Tama County, Iowa | 20.28% | 7.43% | 12.19% | ||||
| Union County, Iowa | 27.49% | 3.86% | 3.70% | ||||
| Wapello County, Iowa | 20.60% | 11.88% | 13.53% | ||||
| Webster County, Iowa | 21.52% | 5.84% | 8.51% | ||||
| Winneshiek County, Iowa | 0.79% | 14.74% | 22.65% | ||||
| Worth County, Iowa | 21.68% | 14.53% | 22.42% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Iowa with 51.1 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 41.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1848 and 2016, Iowa voted Republican 69.76 percent of the time and Democratic 30.23 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Iowa voted Democratic three times and Republican the other two times.[37]
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Iowa. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[38][39]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 61 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 19.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 35 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 18.8 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 39 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 13.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 65 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 24.5 points. Trump won 10 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 30.96% | 67.78% | R+36.8 | 22.23% | 73.81% | R+51.6 | R |
| 2 | 41.86% | 56.83% | R+15 | 27.53% | 67.70% | R+40.2 | R |
| 3 | 31.57% | 67.31% | R+35.7 | 20.73% | 74.78% | R+54.1 | R |
| 4 | 15.63% | 83.55% | R+67.9 | 12.95% | 81.67% | R+68.7 | R |
| 5 | 33.00% | 65.90% | R+32.9 | 22.28% | 73.69% | R+51.4 | R |
| 6 | 44.39% | 54.40% | R+10 | 32.54% | 62.36% | R+29.8 | R |
| 7 | 46.87% | 51.82% | R+5 | 31.96% | 62.86% | R+30.9 | R |
| 8 | 43.04% | 55.84% | R+12.8 | 28.52% | 67.11% | R+38.6 | R |
| 9 | 54.26% | 44.65% | D+9.6 | 39.33% | 55.29% | R+16 | D |
| 10 | 40.15% | 58.39% | R+18.2 | 25.64% | 69.78% | R+44.1 | R |
| 11 | 42.76% | 56.17% | R+13.4 | 30.87% | 64.40% | R+33.5 | R |
| 12 | 46.14% | 52.95% | R+6.8 | 30.92% | 64.32% | R+33.4 | R |
| 13 | 54.28% | 44.37% | D+9.9 | 42.30% | 52.03% | R+9.7 | D |
| 14 | 59.33% | 39.34% | D+20 | 47.69% | 47.27% | D+0.4 | D |
| 15 | 57.12% | 41.17% | D+16 | 41.89% | 51.48% | R+9.6 | D |
| 16 | 52.01% | 46.46% | D+5.5 | 41.84% | 51.76% | R+9.9 | R |
| 17 | 41.10% | 57.71% | R+16.6 | 25.76% | 70.01% | R+44.3 | R |
| 18 | 41.98% | 56.88% | R+14.9 | 28.11% | 67.52% | R+39.4 | R |
| 19 | 40.80% | 57.87% | R+17.1 | 36.54% | 56.73% | R+20.2 | R |
| 20 | 48.77% | 49.62% | R+0.9 | 35.39% | 59.04% | R+23.6 | R |
| 21 | 45.01% | 53.64% | R+8.6 | 29.35% | 65.17% | R+35.8 | R |
| 22 | 36.78% | 62.08% | R+25.3 | 29.64% | 65.50% | R+35.9 | R |
| 23 | 40.72% | 57.80% | R+17.1 | 27.37% | 66.81% | R+39.4 | R |
| 24 | 39.86% | 58.79% | R+18.9 | 25.77% | 69.86% | R+44.1 | R |
| 25 | 44.34% | 54.14% | R+9.8 | 34.15% | 59.72% | R+25.6 | R |
| 26 | 50.18% | 48.59% | D+1.6 | 39.62% | 53.52% | R+13.9 | D |
| 27 | 47.15% | 51.07% | R+3.9 | 30.50% | 64.42% | R+33.9 | R |
| 28 | 47.30% | 51.30% | R+4 | 31.76% | 62.81% | R+31.1 | R |
| 29 | 56.05% | 42.50% | D+13.6 | 40.78% | 53.23% | R+12.5 | D |
| 30 | 47.66% | 50.85% | R+3.2 | 38.47% | 54.84% | R+16.4 | R |
| 31 | 61.55% | 36.86% | D+24.7 | 49.75% | 43.99% | D+5.8 | D |
| 32 | 72.88% | 25.37% | D+47.5 | 63.69% | 30.28% | D+33.4 | D |
| 33 | 67.30% | 31.37% | D+35.9 | 59.50% | 34.55% | D+25 | D |
| 34 | 68.16% | 30.10% | D+38.1 | 60.44% | 33.19% | D+27.2 | D |
| 35 | 77.01% | 21.48% | D+55.5 | 70.40% | 23.46% | D+46.9 | D |
| 36 | 65.21% | 33.12% | D+32.1 | 63.13% | 29.46% | D+33.7 | D |
| 37 | 43.30% | 55.35% | R+12 | 42.10% | 50.50% | R+8.4 | R |
| 38 | 49.33% | 49.21% | D+0.1 | 42.85% | 49.84% | R+7 | R |
| 39 | 43.02% | 55.76% | R+12.7 | 43.93% | 48.99% | R+5.1 | R |
| 40 | 49.31% | 49.53% | R+0.2 | 50.25% | 43.32% | D+6.9 | D |
| 41 | 67.93% | 30.50% | D+37.4 | 69.25% | 24.10% | D+45.2 | D |
| 42 | 49.85% | 48.83% | D+1 | 51.15% | 42.19% | D+9 | R |
| 43 | 50.58% | 48.29% | D+2.3 | 52.50% | 41.03% | D+11.5 | R |
| 44 | 42.52% | 56.60% | R+14.1 | 44.97% | 47.76% | R+2.8 | R |
| 45 | 60.66% | 36.80% | D+23.9 | 57.79% | 31.85% | D+25.9 | D |
| 46 | 59.66% | 37.96% | D+21.7 | 57.22% | 33.12% | D+24.1 | D |
| 47 | 52.11% | 46.29% | D+5.8 | 38.31% | 54.96% | R+16.6 | R |
| 48 | 47.95% | 50.46% | R+2.5 | 36.50% | 56.98% | R+20.5 | R |
| 49 | 46.50% | 51.88% | R+5.4 | 36.62% | 55.49% | R+18.9 | R |
| 50 | 42.94% | 55.95% | R+13 | 30.36% | 64.36% | R+34 | R |
| 51 | 55.19% | 43.48% | D+11.7 | 35.67% | 58.91% | R+23.2 | R |
| 52 | 56.04% | 42.88% | D+13.2 | 37.76% | 56.73% | R+19 | D |
| 53 | 60.98% | 37.92% | D+23.1 | 47.69% | 46.65% | D+1 | D |
| 54 | 44.96% | 53.94% | R+9 | 32.11% | 62.71% | R+30.6 | R |
| 55 | 55.19% | 43.44% | D+11.8 | 43.51% | 50.62% | R+7.1 | R |
| 56 | 52.01% | 46.73% | D+5.3 | 34.91% | 59.80% | R+24.9 | R |
| 57 | 49.00% | 49.98% | R+1 | 37.25% | 57.49% | R+20.2 | R |
| 58 | 55.60% | 43.22% | D+12.4 | 37.06% | 57.82% | R+20.8 | R |
| 59 | 56.29% | 42.22% | D+14.1 | 51.94% | 40.87% | D+11.1 | D |
| 60 | 50.15% | 48.91% | D+1.2 | 45.19% | 48.75% | R+3.6 | R |
| 61 | 63.73% | 35.14% | D+28.6 | 52.34% | 42.07% | D+10.3 | D |
| 62 | 76.37% | 22.58% | D+53.8 | 62.14% | 32.64% | D+29.5 | D |
| 63 | 49.95% | 48.93% | D+1 | 39.04% | 55.06% | R+16 | R |
| 64 | 57.83% | 41.00% | D+16.8 | 40.27% | 53.42% | R+13.1 | D |
| 65 | 66.77% | 31.71% | D+35.1 | 61.58% | 31.29% | D+30.3 | D |
| 66 | 57.43% | 41.04% | D+16.4 | 53.11% | 39.91% | D+13.2 | D |
| 67 | 49.18% | 49.50% | R+0.3 | 47.22% | 45.74% | D+1.5 | R |
| 68 | 54.45% | 44.08% | D+10.4 | 48.20% | 44.50% | D+3.7 | R |
| 69 | 65.87% | 32.63% | D+33.2 | 52.73% | 40.24% | D+12.5 | D |
| 70 | 63.00% | 35.67% | D+27.3 | 53.85% | 39.20% | D+14.7 | D |
| 71 | 56.62% | 42.23% | D+14.4 | 48.02% | 46.57% | D+1.5 | D |
| 72 | 50.86% | 47.88% | D+3 | 34.92% | 59.56% | R+24.6 | R |
| 73 | 54.19% | 44.65% | D+9.5 | 43.25% | 51.15% | R+7.9 | R |
| 74 | 67.17% | 31.21% | D+36 | 69.14% | 24.89% | D+44.3 | D |
| 75 | 49.36% | 49.39% | R+0 | 34.09% | 60.12% | R+26 | R |
| 76 | 50.61% | 47.97% | D+2.6 | 40.64% | 53.90% | R+13.3 | R |
| 77 | 58.46% | 40.34% | D+18.1 | 53.49% | 39.62% | D+13.9 | D |
| 78 | 46.21% | 51.69% | R+5.5 | 34.06% | 60.08% | R+26 | R |
| 79 | 35.86% | 62.79% | R+26.9 | 25.96% | 67.84% | R+41.9 | R |
| 80 | 45.03% | 53.56% | R+8.5 | 27.04% | 68.71% | R+41.7 | R |
| 81 | 56.57% | 41.86% | D+14.7 | 39.52% | 55.89% | R+16.4 | D |
| 82 | 49.74% | 47.90% | D+1.8 | 36.54% | 57.76% | R+21.2 | D |
| 83 | 58.67% | 39.72% | D+19 | 40.42% | 53.35% | R+12.9 | D |
| 84 | 46.37% | 52.04% | R+5.7 | 30.59% | 63.23% | R+32.6 | R |
| 85 | 71.79% | 26.07% | D+45.7 | 74.26% | 19.90% | D+54.4 | D |
| 86 | 72.99% | 24.97% | D+48 | 72.34% | 21.06% | D+51.3 | D |
| 87 | 62.60% | 36.08% | D+26.5 | 48.53% | 45.49% | D+3 | D |
| 88 | 50.88% | 47.86% | D+3 | 35.94% | 58.76% | R+22.8 | R |
| 89 | 63.19% | 35.77% | D+27.4 | 52.47% | 40.86% | D+11.6 | D |
| 90 | 73.49% | 24.97% | D+48.5 | 57.98% | 34.93% | D+23.1 | D |
| 91 | 57.61% | 40.97% | D+16.6 | 43.65% | 49.75% | R+6.1 | R |
| 92 | 53.94% | 45.00% | D+8.9 | 42.25% | 51.61% | R+9.4 | R |
| 93 | 56.63% | 42.22% | D+14.4 | 50.96% | 42.21% | D+8.7 | D |
| 94 | 45.18% | 53.87% | R+8.7 | 43.91% | 50.10% | R+6.2 | R |
| 95 | 52.01% | 46.69% | D+5.3 | 41.86% | 51.59% | R+9.7 | R |
| 96 | 51.83% | 47.01% | D+4.8 | 35.42% | 58.91% | R+23.5 | R |
| 97 | 50.63% | 47.95% | D+2.7 | 37.14% | 56.46% | R+19.3 | R |
| 98 | 65.29% | 33.50% | D+31.8 | 48.47% | 45.38% | D+3.1 | D |
| 99 | 59.37% | 39.28% | D+20.1 | 52.61% | 41.12% | D+11.5 | D |
| 100 | 62.95% | 35.58% | D+27.4 | 51.37% | 42.25% | D+9.1 | D |
| Total | 52.23% | 46.40% | D+5.8 | 42.23% | 51.72% | R+9.5 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
Candidate ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for 1st Congressional District candidates in Iowa in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Iowa, click here.
| Filing requirements, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| Iowa | 1st Congressional District | Democratic | 1,656 | 1% of votes cast for the party's candidate for governor in the district in 2018 | N/A | N/A | 3/13/2020 | Source |
| Iowa | 1st Congressional District | Republican | 1,614 | 1% of votes cast for the party's candidate for governor in the district in 2018 | N/A | N/A | 3/13/2020 | Source |
| Iowa | 1st Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 375 | Fixed number | N/A | N/A | 3/13/2020 | Source |
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Abby Finkenauer defeated incumbent Rodney Blum and Troy Hageman in the general election for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Abby Finkenauer (D) | 51.0 | 170,342 |
 | Rodney Blum (R) | 45.9 | 153,442 | |
 | Troy Hageman (L) | 3.1 | 10,285 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 174 | ||
| Total votes: 334,243 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Henry Gaff (G)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Abby Finkenauer defeated Thomas Heckroth, Courtney Rowe, and George Ramsey in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Abby Finkenauer | 66.9 | 29,745 |
 | Thomas Heckroth | 19.1 | 8,516 | |
 | Courtney Rowe | 7.6 | 3,381 | |
 | George Ramsey | 6.4 | 2,837 | |
| Total votes: 44,479 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1
Incumbent Rodney Blum advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rodney Blum | 100.0 | 14,737 |
| Total votes: 14,737 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Iowa's 1st Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Rod Blum (R) won re-election to his second term, defeating Monica Vernon (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Vernon defeated Patrick Murphy in the Democratic primary, while Blum faced no primary challenger. The primary elections took place on June 7, 2016.[40][41][42][43]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Rod Blum Incumbent |
53.7% | 206,903 | |
| Democratic | Monica Vernon | 46.1% | 177,403 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.2% | 671 | |
| Total Votes | 384,977 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Monica Vernon |
67.6% | 21,032 | ||
| Patrick Murphy | 32.4% | 10,090 | ||
| Total Votes | 31,122 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State |
||||
2014
The 1st Congressional District of Iowa held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Rod Blum (R) defeated Pat Murphy (D) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pat Murphy | 48.8% | 141,145 | |
| Republican | Rod Blum |
51.1% | 147,762 | |
| Write-in | Other | 0.1% | 399 | |
| Total Votes | 289,306 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State Official Results | ||||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DCCC website, "Frontline," February 7, 2019
- ↑ NRCC website, "NRCC Announces 55 Offensive Targets for the 2020 Cycle," February 8, 2019
- ↑ Daily Kos, ""Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2016, 2012, and 2008,"" accessed June 24, 2020
- ↑ Iowa Redistricting Map "Map" accessed July 24, 2012
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Federal Election Commission, "Spending by others to support or oppose," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ Iowa Starting Line, "IA-01: Democrats File FEC Complaint Against Iowa-Based Super PAC," June 25, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Federal Election Commission, "Spending by others to support or oppose," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ Future Leaders Fund Youtube channel, "Future Leaders Fund - Time For Change," January 16, 2020
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Facebook, "Abby Finkenauer on October 3, 2020," accessed October 6, 2020
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Des Moines Register, "Register editorial board endorses Abby Finkenauer for U.S. House," October 17, 2020
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Dubuque Telegraph Herald, "Our opinion: Finkenauer merits another term in Congress," October 16, 2020
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Twitter, "Ashley Hinson on May 23," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ Ashley Hinson's 2020 campaign website, "Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg Endorse Ashley Hinson For Congress," accessed September 11, 2020
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Twitter, "Abby Finkenauer on August 3," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Twitter, "Abby Finkenauer on September 1, 2020," accessed September 11, 2020
- ↑ Twitter, "Jacob Rubashkin on October 28, 2020," accessed October 29, 2020
- ↑ Monmouth University, "IOWA: DEMS LEAD IN 3 OF 4 HOUSE RACES," October 22, 2020
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Monmouth University, "CD2 Most Competitive of Four House Races," August 6, 2020
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2020 Quarterly reports," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ NPR, "Iowa Results," accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ Ashley Hinson 2020 campaign website, "Ashley Hinson Announces Candidacy for Congress in IA-01," May 14, 2019
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Abby Finkenauer’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ Ashley Hinson’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed August 19, 2020
- ↑ 270towin.com, "Iowa," accessed June 1, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Former SNL cast member running for Congress in Iowa," April 7, 2015
- ↑ KWWL.com, "Pat Murphy announces Congressional bid," July 23, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed March 19, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times "Iowa Caucus Results," June 7, 2016
