Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.

Iowa's 1st Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search


2020 →
← 2016
Iowa's 1st Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 16, 2018
Primary: June 5, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
Rod Blum (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Voting in Iowa
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): D+1
Cook Political Report: Lean Democratic
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, 2018
See also
Iowa's 1st Congressional District
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
Iowa elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

State Rep. Abby Finkenauer won the 2018 Democratic primary in Iowa's 1st Congressional District by defeating three other candidates.

Finkenauer, who was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), took on vulnerable U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R) in November.

In addition to her backing by the DCCC, Finkenauer led the race in fundraising and endorsements, with much of her support coming from union groups. She took about 30 percent of the vote in a March 2018 internal poll, which was 20 percent more than any other candidate (about 45 percent of voters were undecided).

Thomas Heckroth, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), competed with Finkenauer in fundraising and endorsements. As of April 2018, he had raised about $300,000 to her $1.1 million and received the backing of some state legislators.

After Heckroth were two progressive challengers, Army veteran George Ramsey and engineer Courtney Rowe. Although neither raised more than $100,000 in 2017, Ramsey polled at 10 percent in March 2018 (which was ahead of Heckroth's eight percent) and Rowe was endorsed by the Bernie Sanders-aligned group Justice Democrats.

If no candidate had received more than 35 percent of the vote, the race would have been decided at a party convention.[1]

The district voted for Barack Obama in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016.


Iowa voter? Dates you need to know.
Primary electionJune 5, 2018
Candidate filing deadlineMarch 16, 2018
Registration deadlineJune 5, 2018 (at the polls, with proof of identity and residence or attestation by a registered voter from precinct)[2]
Absentee application deadline5pm on June 1, 2018[3]
General electionNovember 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary typeOpen
Early voting deadlineJune 4, 2018 (if polls don't open at noon), 11am on June 5, 2018 (at county auditor's office, if polls open at noon)[4]
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.


For more on related elections, please see:


Election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 1

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Abby Finkenauer
Abby Finkenauer
 
66.9
 
29,745
Image of Thomas Heckroth
Thomas Heckroth
 
19.1
 
8,516
Image of Courtney Rowe
Courtney Rowe
 
7.6
 
3,381
Image of George Ramsey
George Ramsey
 
6.4
 
2,837

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 44,479
Candidate Connection = 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.

Election updates

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
  • March 9, 2018: A poll from GBA strategies found that while 45 percent of likely Democratic primary voters were undecided, Finkenauer led the field with 29 percent of the vote, followed by Ramsey (10 percent), Heckroth (8 percent), and Rowe (7 percent).

Endorsements

  • May 21, 2018: The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO endorsed Finkenauer.
  • March 6, 2018: Three unions, including the Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 81, endorsed Abby Finkenauer, giving her ten total endorsements from unions.[5]

Campaign advertisements

  • March 9, 2018: Thomas Heckroth released three television advertisements.[6]

Campaign finance

  • May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
    • Abby Finkenauer had raised more than $1.25 million and had nearly $500,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Thomas Heckroth had raised about $330,000 and had about $94,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • George Ramsey had raised nearly $70,000 and had over $10,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Courtney Rowe had raised about $15,000 and had about $400 in cash-on-hand.
  • March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
    • Abby Finkenauer had raised nearly $1.1 million and had about $730,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Thomas Heckroth had raised over $305,000 and had about $160,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • George Ramsey had raised over $60,000 and had over $17,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Courtney Rowe had raised almost $13,000 and had about $800 in cash-on-hand.
  • January 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the fourth quarter of 2017 showed Abby Finkenauer leading the field in fundraising with $610,000 in contributions and about $380,000 in cash on hand heading into 2018. Thomas Heckroth trailed her with about $250,000 in contributions and $190,000 in cash on hand.

Top candidates

The candidates featured below raised at least $100,000 in 2017 and received endorsements and mentions in the media.

Abby Finkenauer.png

Abby Finkenauer (D)
State representative


Campaign website Facebook Twitter

A state representative since 2014, Abby Finkenauer ran for Congress in 2018 with the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which named her to its list of "Red to Blue" candidates. Progressive organizations such as EMILY's List, End Citizens United, and NARAL Pro-Choice America also backed Finkenauer as did U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and a number of her colleagues in the state House. Finkenauer was the top fundraising candidate in the primary, raising over $1 million.

Finkenauer's campaign themes included adopting more pro-union labor policies, expanding abortion access, increasing resources for farmers, and changing student loan laws.[7]

Finkenauer was 25 when she was first elected to the state House. She was named on a list of "10 Women Running for Office to Watch in 2018" by The Cut. Prior to her election to the state House, Finkenauer worked for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. She received her bachelor's degree from Drake University. She was raised in a union family.[8]


Thomas Heckroth.PNG

Thomas Heckroth (D)
Businessman



Campaign website Facebook Twitter

A businessman working for a clothing manufacturing company, Thomas Heckroth ran for Congress in 2018 with the support of a number of county officials and members of the state legislature. Heckroth raised almost $250,000 for his campaign in 2017. His campaign emphasized his support for a $15 minimum wage and his experience working in the federal government.

Facing the DCCC-backed Abby Finkenauer in the primary, Heckroth argued that she used loopholes in campaign finance laws to raise funds while serving in the state legislature, which makes her less well-suited than him to advocate against money in politics.[9]

Before obtaining a position as the director of sustainable manufacturing and sourcing for a clothing manufacturer, Heckroth worked an aide for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and in the Department of Labor during the presidency of Barack Obama (D). Prior to that, he played baseball at the University of Iowa as a walk-on.[10]


Candidates

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018



Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Democratic Party factional conflict

See also: Democratic Party factional conflict in U.S. House primaries, 2018

Disputes between candidates endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and candidates outside the official organs of the Democratic Party occurred in U.S. House primaries in 2018.

The DCCC, a campaign arm of the Democratic National Committee, endorsed candidates who party leaders believed had the best chance of defeating Republican incumbents.[11]

Some criticized the DCCC's choices. Ryan Grim and Lee Fang wrote in The Intercept, for example, "In district after district, the national party is throwing its weight behind candidates who are out of step with the national mood."[12]

In this primary, the DCCC endorsed Abby Finkenauer.[11]

The chart below shows a scorecard for how the DCCC performed in competitive Democratic primaries that featured at least one DCCC-endorsed candidate and one other Democratic candidate.

U.S. House Democratic factions
Faction Primary victories in 2018
Endorsed by DCCC 31
Not endorsed by DCCC 2

Timeline

  • May 21, 2018: The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO endorsed Abby Finkenauer.
  • May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
    • Abby Finkenauer had raised more than $1.25 million and had nearly $500,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Thomas Heckroth had raised about $330,000 and had about $94,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • George Ramsey had raised nearly $70,000 and had over $10,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Courtney Rowe had raised about $15,000 and had about $400 in cash-on-hand.
  • March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
    • Abby Finkenauer had raised nearly $1.1 million and had about $730,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Thomas Heckroth had raised over $305,000 and had about $160,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • George Ramsey had raised over $60,000 and had over $17,000 in cash-on-hand.
    • Courtney Rowe had raised almost $13,000 and had about $800 in cash-on-hand.
  • March 9, 2018: A poll from GBA strategies found that while 45 percent of likely Democratic primary voters were undecided, Finkenauer led the field with 29 percent of the vote, followed by Ramsey (10 percent), Heckroth (8 percent), and Rowe (7 percent).
  • March 9, 2018: Thomas Heckroth released three television advertisements.[13]
  • March 6, 2018: Three unions, including the Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 81, endorsed Abby Finkenauer, giving her ten total endorsements from unions.[5]
  • February 5, 2018: Iowa Democrats held caucuses to elect delegates to a special convention. The Des Moines Register explained that the convention delegates will select the party's nominee if none of the candidates in a race wins at least 35 percent of the primary vote. Democratic caucus attendees aren't required to divide into candidate preference groups and delegates are not bound to any particular candidate, so the party doesn't declare caucus winners. "It'll be nearly impossible for us on caucus night to declare a winner of the Iowa caucus in 2018," state Democratic Party executive director Kevin Geiken said. "Which is why we're not going to do it."[14]
  • January 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the fourth quarter of 2017 showed Abby Finkenauer leading the field in fundraising with $610,000 in contributions and about $380,000 in cash on hand heading into 2018. Thomas Heckroth trailed her with about $250,000 in contributions and $190,000 in cash on hand.
  • November 15, 2017: The DCCC named state Rep. Abby Finkenauer to its Red to Blue list: The Red to Blue list is a list of candidates selected to receive organizational and fundraising support from the DCCC.[15]
  • January 30, 2017: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) listed Iowa's First Congressional District as one of its 2018 targets[16]

Campaign finance

Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:

  • Abby Finkenauer had raised more than $1.25 million and had nearly $500,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • Thomas Heckroth had raised about $330,000 and had about $94,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • George Ramsey had raised nearly $70,000 and had over $10,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • Courtney Rowe had raised about $15,000 and had about $400 in cash-on-hand.

Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:

  • Abby Finkenauer had raised nearly $1.1 million and had about $730,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • Thomas Heckroth had raised over $305,000 and had about $160,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • George Ramsey had raised over $60,000 and had over $17,000 in cash-on-hand.
  • Courtney Rowe had raised almost $13,000 and had about $800 in cash-on-hand.

The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly January 2018 reports. It includes only candidates who have reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of December 31, 2017.[17]
Democratic Party Democrats




Endorsements

To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Finkenauer[18] Heckroth[19] Rowe[20]
Federal officials
Eric Swalwell, U.S. representative ✔
State figures
Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor of Iowa ✔
Janet Petersen, Iowa state senator ✔
Ako Abdul-Samad, Iowa state representative ✔
Bruce Bearinger, Iowa state representative ✔
Liz Bennett, Iowa state representative ✔
Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Iowa state representative ✔
Ras Smith, Iowa state representative ✔
Art Staed, Iowa state representative ✔
Todd Taylor, Iowa state representative ✔
Pat Jochum, former Iowa state senator ✔
Brian Schoenjahn, former Iowa state senator ✔
Steve Sodders, former Iowa state senator ✔
Ro Foege, former Iowa state representative ✔
Tyler Olson, former Iowa state representative ✔
Roger Thomas, former Iowa state representative ✔
Local figures
Don Shonka, Buchanan County supervisor ✔
Brent Oleson, Linn County supervisor ✔
Ben Rogers, Linn County supervisor ✔
John Beard, Winneshiek County supervisor ✔
Ellen Gaffney, former Buchanan County supervisor ✔
Vicki Rowland, former Fayette County supervisor ✔
Linda Langston, former Linn County supervisor ✔
Peggy Sherrets, mayor of Oelwein ✔
Walt Pregler, former mayor of Dubuque ✔
Organizations
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO[21] ✔
Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 81[5] ✔
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States[5] ✔
Boilermakers Local 83[5] ✔
AFSCME Council 61 ✔
Dubuque Building & Construction Trades ✔
Dubuque Professional Firefighters Association Local 25 ✔
EMILY's List ✔
End Citizens United ✔
Feminist Majority ✔
Great Plains Laborers ✔
Iowa Teamsters ✔
Ironworkers Local 89 ✔
Justice Democrats ✔
NARAL Pro-Choice America ✔
Operating Engineers Local 234 ✔
SMART Local 91 ✔
UA Local 125 ✔
United Steelworkers District 11 ✔
Women Under Forty PAC ✔


Campaign strategies and tactics

DCCC support for Finkenauer

In January 2017, the House campaign arm of the national Democratic Party, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), listed the 1st District as one of its 2018 targets.[16]

Abby Finkenauer was named in November 2017 to its "Red to Blue" list of candidates selected for organizational and fundraising support.[15]

According to The Intercept, the 1st District's Democratic primary was part of a broader national trend of clashes between DCCC-backed candidates and progressive challengers. Courtney Rowe was endorsed by the progressive group Justice Democrats, and The Intercept described George Ramsey as "not too far to her right."[22]

Finkenauer's campaign fundraising during Iowa's 2018 legislative session

In December 2017, Thomas Heckroth called on Abby Finkenauer to not accept any donations during Iowa's 2018 legislative session. Finkenauer was allowed to fundraise because she was running for federal office. As of 2018, state legislators running for state-level offices were not allowed to fundraise during the legislative session.

“Rep. Finkenauer should follow the same rules as her colleagues in the state Legislature by refusing contributions from PACs and lobbyists during the upcoming session,” Heckroth said. “We need to reduce the influence of money in the political process and keep special interest influence out of state government.”

Finkenauer's campaign responded by saying she would continue to fundraise during the legislative session, saying that she should not be penalized for doing her job as a state legislator while running for higher office.

“While I’m proud to continue fighting back against the anti-woman, anti-worker policies of the Republican majority in the Legislature, that won’t stop this campaign’s momentum as I look to replace Rod Blum, who puts millionaires and special interests ahead of everyday Iowans,” Finkenauer said.[23]

Campaign advertisements

Abby Finkenauer

"Good Lives," released May 17, 2018
"Shirt," released May 3, 2018
"Tough," released April 12, 2018

Thomas Heckroth

"Record," released May 4, 2018
"Better," released March 9, 2018
"Defend," released March 9, 2018
"Fix," released March 9, 2018


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Democratic Primary 2018
Poll Poll sponsor Abby Finkenauer Thomas HeckrothGeorge RamseyCourtney RoweUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
GBA Strategies
(March 1-4, 2018)		Finkenauer campaign 29%8%10%7%45%+/-4.9400
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign themes and policy stances

Abby Finkenauer

Finkenauer’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Creating Jobs and a Strong Economy
As your representative in Congress, I’ll always fight for Iowans to have good jobs with fair wages they can rely on 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.

Improving Our Infrastructure to Support Jobs 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 Engineers1. Our bridges received a D+ grade, with one in five Iowa bridges considered structurally deficient2. 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 connectivity3 with 22% of Iowans still underserved when it comes to access to broadband4. In 2017, there is no excuse for the fact that over 160,000 Iowans still don’t have access to any wired Internet providers5. 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.

Investing in Main Street 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.

Strengthening Family Farms 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.

Preparing Our Workforce 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.

Fighting for Working Families
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.

Strong unions 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.1 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.

Equal Pay In Iowa, women are paid 77 cents for every dollar that men earn, which means Iowa’s women – and their families – lose out on an average of $11,034 every year.2 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.3 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.

Living Wage 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.

Paid Family Leave 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.4 It’s a disgrace and we must do better for American families.

In Congress, I’ll fight 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.

Fighting for Women’s Health
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 countless1 bills2 that targeted women’s health and defunded organizations that offered cancer screenings, preventive care, and other essential health services.3 I’ll 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.

Fighting for Good Schools and Affordable College
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.

Expanding Access to Pre-K High-quality Pre-K is proven to be a critical factor in increasing a student’s ability to succeed.1 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.

Affordable Higher Education 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’ll 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.

Career and Technical Education 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.

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’ll 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’ll 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. [24]

”
—Abby Finkenauer’s campaign website (2018)[25]

Thomas Heckroth

Heckroth’s campaign website stated the following:

“

JOBS & WAGES

Iowans deserve good-paying jobs and an economy that rewards work, not just wealth. This includes equal pay for equal work, paid leave, and workplaces free of discrimination. We must grow the middle class by prioritizing infrastructure, manufacturing, research and technology, clean energy, and small businesses to lift the incomes of Iowa’s working men and women.

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Today, for the first time ever, more than 90 percent of Americans have health insurance. We ended discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. It’s time to get everyone covered: to protect women’s health and the right to choose, to put mental health on par with physical health, and to lower out-of-pocket costs.

EDUCATION

Opportunity begins with education. Every Iowan deserves access to early childhood education, an outstanding public school with well-supported and better paid teachers, and the chance at an affordable, debt-free college education or training in a good-paying trade.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Investing in Iowa’s infrastructure creates good jobs now and supports a growing economy for years to come. Modernizing our roads, schools, broadband connections, and energy grid to support businesses and farms will form the foundation for decades of strong economic growth.

ENVIRONMENT

Iowans understand more than most that taking care of our families and communities starts with taking care of our land, water, and air. We can protect our environment, grow the economy, and create jobs through clean energy solutions and responsible land use that also helps us confront climate disruption.

FIXING WASHINGTON

Today, Washington is in turmoil. There’s too much noise and not enough action on our priorities. We need to get special interest money out of politics and reduce their outsized influence over our Congress to finally make progress on the issues Americans care about. That begins by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and taking other common sense steps to reduce outside influence in our elections.

EQUALITY

LGBTQ Iowans have won important victories to secure their rights, but work still remains. We need nothing less than full federal equality and we must protect transgender rights while ensuring that LGBTQ people around the world have our nation’s support. Nobody in America should have to live in fear or face discrimination based on who you are or whom you love.

NATIONAL SECURITY

America must reclaim its moral leadership in the world. That means working for peace while supporting our fighting men and women, ensuring war is a last resort, and only sending American forces into combat when there’s a clear plan, defined objectives, and an exit strategy.

IMMIGRATION

In America, we build bridges, not walls. We need an immigration policy that is humane, that doesn’t divide families, or deport people who were brought to America as children. Our nation grows stronger thanks to immigrants and weaker when we politicize immigration policy.

AGRICULTURE

Iowa’s farm families are the cornerstone of the state’s economy. We must continue to provide our farmers with the tools they need to be the most innovative producers in the world. By investing in a strong safety net, developing fair trade opportunities, expanding market opportunities and incentivizing soil and water protection, we will continue to ensure our farmers provide America with a safe and abundant food supply.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Farm country and Iowa’s small towns are the heartbeat of our state. We need to prioritize investments to expand broadband and economic opportunities in our rural communities. The economic vitality of our rural communities also depends on ensuring affordable access to child care, housing and health care.

MEDICARE & SOCIAL SECURITY

Together, Medicare and Social Security are America’s promise that a lifetime’s hard work comes with retirement security. We must fight any cuts to Social Security and Medicare, allow people to buy-in to Medicare at age 50, and do more to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We must end policies that reduce anyone’s Social Security benefits if a worker left paid work to raise a family or lost a spouse before retirement. [24]

”
—Thomas Heckroth’s campaign website (2018)[26]


Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: Iowa's 1st Congressional District election, 2018
Race tracker Race ratings
October 30, 2018 October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report Lean Democratic Lean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales Lean Democratic Lean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball Lean Democratic Lean DemocraticLean DemocraticLean Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

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.[27]

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.[28][29]

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.

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.[30]

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.[31]

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Iowa heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Republicans controlled both chambers of the Iowa General Assembly. They had a 58-41 majority in the state House and a 29-20 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

  • Iowa had a Republican trifecta, meaning that the Republican Party controlled both chambers of the state legislature and the governorship. Kim Reynolds (R) served as governor; she succeeded Terry E. Branstad, who resigned on May 24, 2017, to take the position of U.S. Ambassador to China.

2018 elections

See also: Iowa elections, 2018

Iowa held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Iowa
 IowaU.S.
Total population:3,121,997316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):55,8573,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:91.2%73.6%
Black/African American:3.2%12.6%
Asian:2%5.1%
Native American:0.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:5.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91.5%86.7%
College graduation rate:26.7%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,183$53,889
Persons below poverty level:13.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Iowa.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Iowa's three largest cities were Des Moines (pop. est. 220,000), Cedar Rapids (pop. est. 130,000), and Davenport (pop. est. 100,000).[32]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Iowa from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Iowa Secretary of State website.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Iowa every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 50.7% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 41.3% 9.4%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.7% Republican Party Mitt Romney 46.0% 5.7%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 53.7% Republican Party John McCain 44.2% 9.5%
2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 49.9% Democratic Party John Kerry 49.2% 0.7%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 48.5% Republican Party George W. Bush 48.2% 0.3%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Iowa from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 60.1% Democratic Party Patty Judge 35.7% 24.4%
2014 Republican Party Joni Ernst 51.5% Democratic Party Bruce Braley 43.3% 8.2%
2010 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 63.4% Democratic Party Roxanne Conlin 32.8% 30.6%
2008 Democratic Party Tom Harkin 61.4% Republican Party Christopher Reed 36.5% 24.9%
2004 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 70.2% Democratic Party Arthur Small 27.9% 42.3%
2002 Democratic Party Tom Harkin 54.2% Republican Party Greg Ganske 43.8% 10.4%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Iowa.

Election results (Governor), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Terry Branstad 58.4% Democratic Party Jack Hatch 36.9% 21.5%
2010 Republican Party Terry Branstad 52.3% Democratic Party Chet Culver 42.8% 9.5%
2006 Democratic Party Chet Culver 53.7% Republican Party Jim Nussle 44.1% 9.6%
2002 Democratic Party Tom Vilsack 52.7% Republican Party Doug Gross 44.5% 8.2%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Iowa 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 3 75.0% Democratic Party 1 25.0% R+2
2014 Republican Party 3 75.0% Democratic Party 1 25.0% R+2
2012[33] Republican Party 2 50.0% Democratic Party 2 50.0% Split
2010 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2008 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2006 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2004 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3
2002 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3
2000 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Iowa Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Eleven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D R R R R R R R R S S D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R
House D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Roll Call, "Ballot Debacle Shakes Up Democratic House Primary in Iowa," March 29, 2018
  2. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Election day registration," accessed January 15, 2018
  3. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee voting by mail," accessed January 15, 2018
  4. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee voting in person," accessed January 15, 2018
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Quad City Times, "Finkenauer gains 3 more union endorsements in 1st District race," March 6, 2018
  6. ↑ The Gazette, "Thomas Heckroth launches TV ads in Iowa 1st District race," March 9, 2018
  7. ↑ Paste Magazine, "Meet a Competitive House Race: Iowa 1st (Rod Blum vs. Probably Abby Finkenauer)," May 2, 2018
  8. ↑ Abby Finkenauer for Congress, "Homepage," accessed March 1, 2018
  9. ↑ The Courier, "Heckroth asks Finkenauer to skip PAC donations," December 14, 2017
  10. ↑ Thomas Heckroth for Congress, "About," accessed March 1, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 DCCC, "Red to Blue Candidates," accessed May 15, 2018
  12. ↑ The Intercept, "THE DEAD ENDERS: Candidates Who Signed Up to Battle Donald Trump Must Get Past the Democratic Party First," January 23, 2018
  13. ↑ The Gazette, "Thomas Heckroth launches TV ads in Iowa 1st District race," March 9, 2018
  14. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Competitive races for governor and Congress add intrigue to typically quiet midterm Iowa caucuses," January 31, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Roll Call, "DCCC names first 11 candidates in 'Red to Blue' program," November 15, 2017
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 DCCC, "House Democrats playing offense," January 30, 2017
  17. ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission", accessed February 13, 2018
  18. ↑ Abby Finkenauer, "Endorsements," accessed January 25, 2018
  19. ↑ Thomas Heckroth, "Team Heckroth," accessed January 25, 2018
  20. ↑ Courtney Rowe, "Endorsements," accessed January 25, 2018
  21. ↑ The Gazette, "Finkenauer scores another labor endorsement," May 21, 2018
  22. ↑ The Intercept, "The dead enders," January 23, 2018
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named campaignfinance
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  25. ↑ Abby Finkenauer for Congress, “Issues,” accessed March 1, 2018
  26. ↑ Thomas Heckroth for Congress, “Issues,” accessed March 1, 2018
  27. ↑ 270towin.com, "Iowa," accessed June 1, 2017
  28. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  29. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  30. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  31. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  32. ↑ Iowa Demographics, "Iowa Cities by Population," accessed September 4, 2018
  33. ↑ Iowa lost one U.S. House seat following the 2010 census.


Iowa's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Joni Ernst (R)
Chuck Grassley (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
Zach Nunn (R)
District 4
Republican Party (6)


v • e
2017-2018 Elections to the United States Congress
Senate by StateCongressLogo.png
House by State
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Election information
Super PACs/Organizations
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Iowa%27s_1st_Congressional_District_election_(June_5,_2018_Democratic_primary)&oldid=10217844"