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Rod Warnke
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Rod Warnke (Republican Party) ran for election to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 72. He lost in the Republican primary on June 4, 2024.
Warnke completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Rod Warnke was born in Independence, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1983 and a graduate degree from Clarke College in 2009. His career experience includes working in insurance and as a radio news anchor. He has been affiliated with Grace Baptist Church, Iowa Baptists for Biblical Values, and Dubuque County Patriots.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 72
Jennifer Smith defeated incumbent Charles Isenhart in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 72 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jennifer Smith (R) | 53.2 | 8,575 |
 | Charles Isenhart (D) | 46.6 | 7,513 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 26 | ||
| Total votes: 16,114 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 72
Incumbent Charles Isenhart advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 72 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Charles Isenhart | 99.4 | 640 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 644 | |||
| = 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 Iowa House of Representatives District 72
Jennifer Smith defeated Rod Warnke in the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 72 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Smith | 77.1 | 793 |
| Rod Warnke | 22.9 | 236 | ||
| Total votes: 1,029 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Warnke in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rod Warnke completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Warnke's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a born-again believer who cares deeply about the erosion of the family structure in our country and the government's heavy hand taking away the freedoms this nation was built upon. I am someone who will fight tirelessly to protect the unborn, to reduce the size and scope of government, and to move society back to a family-first mentality. I believe the greatest challenge before us is to change hearts, not laws. At every level, we need people with a vision of a loving, caring society that respects differences but does not look to favor one section of the populace to the detriment of all others.
- Faith. We need to admit that America's decline is rooted precisely in its secularization and its embrace of hedonism over faith. Studies have shown over and over again that the happiest people are those who have their lives centered on faith in God and a strong family unit. That's not a coincidence, and it's something we need to promote.
- Family. As goverment policies have undermined the nuclear family, our general quality of life has declined. The socialist idea of elevating the individual above the family and eliminating the need for the family is an abject failure.
- Freedom. It seems you can do very little any more without government involvement, permission, and/or approval. Imagine asking Abraham Lincoln if he had licensed his dog, and what the government would do to him if he didn't? Yet that's just a small tidbit of the freedoms we have seen erode. Now try disagreeing with your government on a policy issue, and they will do everything they can to shut you up. The FBI maintains lists of moms who complain about COVID restrictions at their schools. Kids can't operate a lemonade stand without fearing that someone will come shut them down because they didn't get a permit or collect sales tax. We need to pare back the scope and size of government to restore this as the 'Land of the Free'.
1)Taxation - Iowa needs to reduce its overall tax burden and move from property-focused taxation to consumption-based. 2)Adoption - In a post-Roe world, the need for streamlined adoption processes will become increasingly critical. Infant and foster-care adoptions both need to be less cumbersome. 3)Private Property Rights - The use of zoning and eminent domain to infringe on the reasonable rights of property owners has to cease. Currently, eminent domain is the hot topic, and I am emphatic that no private business should ever benefit from the use of eminent domain, and that it should be used only for clearly public necessities and only as a last resort. 4)Education - Parents of all income levels need to have education options.
I look up to those who stood for what was right even when they had to stand alone or nearly alone. Abraham Lincoln make many very hard choices to lead this nation out of slavery and to win the Civil War. The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they were basically signing their own death warrant when they created this nation, but did it anyway. Many of them were hunted down and killed by the British. All of the Apostles except John the Beloved died painful deaths because they stood for the truth against the liars in power. It will take leaders with similar courage to reverse the decay in America today. No one can do it alone, but if thousands of people stand up and do what they can, we can see great things happen.
The treatise of the wisest man who ever lived is the best handbook any public servant ever could have. The book of Proverbs lays out all of a leader's responsibilities succinctly and with great depth.
In no specific order:
1-Ability to see all sides of an issue before coming to a final decision.
2-Understanding that public opinion is fickle and that right and wrong are not matters of opinion.
3-Willingness to give attention to all constituents, even those with whom they often disagree.
4-Courage to stand for what is right, even if it is unpopular.
5-Love of Country
Tenacity. A fair mind. Compassion. Honesty.
Work for the common good, to support the strengthening of the country's foundations, honor God in all they do.
I remember the moon landing in 1969 vividly. I was 7 and it was the biggest thing ever to happen.
My very first job was as a kitchen hand at a broasted chicken fast food restaurant called "The Wishbone" in Waterloo. I only worked there a couple months, and had to quit when I dislocated my shoulder playing football.
Other than the Bible, I would say my favorite book is "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti. Peretti creates compelling fiction based on his imagination of what warfare between angels and demons looks like, and how it affects the physical world. The book and its sequel "Piercing the Darkness" are masterpieces.
Could there be any better choice than Superman? Always fighting evil, always coming out on top?
'Child Forgiven' by The Gaither Vocal band
The Governor needs to have a frank relationship with the leadership of both chambers, so there is less opportunity for time to be lost while political 'games' take place. The legislative session is limited in time (that's a good thing) and the work that needs to be done cannot get done if time is wasted in posturing. the Governor, the House, and the Senate, are all equals, with the Governor being the only one who cannot independently kill a bill. That power structure means that, theoretically at least, they come to the table as relative equals and ought to bargain in good faith as they plot the course of the legislative session and the agenda for that session. I believe our current Governor and legislative leaders have a good relationship and are working towards basically similar if not common goals.
We must continually adapt to the changing economic environment, and fight to keep the things that make Iowa a great place to live. For the most part, we are a low-crime state and one that values the strength of solid families. Those things are continually under attack and we must continually strive to maintain them.
No. At least it's not important, even if it is somewhat beneficial. We are best served by having citizen legislators, not career politicians.
Yes. Most definitely so. Being a legislator is often reduced to voting 'yes' or 'no'. There are a myriad of forces that will pull you in either direction, and evaluating the merit of those forces is so much easier when you have positive relationships with members of the other party who can freely and honestly present the opposing view without fear of being stabbed in the back. And obviously, members of your own party are a critical resource for facts and opinions that explain and buttress their views.
No. I am not a student of legislators, and many who have made a name for themselves have done so in a bad way. I will strive to be faithful to the constitution and the Bible, and always responsive to my constituents.
No. I do not see myself serving more than 4 terms at this point. I will be 62 at the time of the general election, and would look forward to doing other things with my life at that point.
I was very impacted by the personal story of Mark Houck, who woke up one morning with an FBI SWAT team threatening to knock down his doors over an alleged (single) violation of the FACE act several months earlier. He was arrested and tried, and acquitted of all charges. Houck is now suing the government and running for Congress.
Don't have a single favorite. I am a big fan of the stand up comedy of Michael Junior, Jeff Allen and Mike Goodwin.
Emergency Powers were definitely abused during 2020 and 2021, and from here on out, they will be watched carefully. The definition of 'emergency' should be a lot stricter than it was back then.
My first piece of legislation will likely take some time, but in my mind it should be a comprehensive overhaul of adoption processes designed to benefit the children.
I am very interested in the Agriculture committee, the Education Reform committee, the Government Oversight committee, and the Local Government Committee.
The government needs to spend less and be honest about where the money is going. Obviously, I'm not a democrat. We have way too much government and it spends way too much money and it is very dishonest about what it is doing.
Bad. It is subject to abuse by monied interests.
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 30, 2024
Current members of the Iowa House of Representatives
Leadership
Majority Leader:Bobby Kaufmann
Representatives
District 1
J.D. Scholten (D)
District 2
Robert Henderson (R)
District 3
Thomas Jeneary (R)
District 4
Skyler Wheeler (R)
District 5
Zach Dieken (R)
District 6
Megan Jones (R)
District 7
Mike Sexton (R)
District 8
Ann Meyer (R)
District 9
Henry Stone (R)
District 10
John Wills (R)
District 11
Craig Williams (R)
District 12
Steven Holt (R)
District 13
Travis Sitzmann (R)
District 14
Jacob Bossman (R)
District 15
Matt Windschitl (R)
District 16
David Sieck (R)
District 17
Devon Wood (R)
District 18
Tom Moore (R)
District 19
Brent Siegrist (R)
District 20
Josh Turek (D)
District 21
Brooke Boden (R)
District 22
Samantha Fett (R)
District 23
Ray Sorensen (R)
District 24
Sam Wengryn (R)
District 25
Hans Wilz (R)
District 26
Austin Harris (R)
District 27
Kenan Judge (D)
District 28
David Young (R)
District 29
Brian Meyer (D)
District 30
Megan Srinivas (D)
District 31
Mary Madison (D)
District 32
Jennifer Konfrst (D)
District 33
Ruth Gaines (D)
District 34
Rob Johnson (D)
District 35
Sean Bagniewski (D)
District 36
Austin Baeth (D)
District 37
Barb McCulla (R)
District 38
Jon Dunwell (R)
District 39
Rick Olson (D)
District 40
Bill Gustoff (R)
District 41
Ryan Weldon (R)
District 42
Heather Matson (D)
District 43
Eddie Andrews (R)
District 44
Larry McBurney (D)
District 45
Brian Lohse (R)
District 46
Dan Gehlbach (R)
District 47
Carter Nordman (R)
District 48
Chad Behn (R)
District 49
District 50
Ross Wilburn (D)
District 51
Brett Barker (R)
District 52
David Blom (R)
District 53
Dean Fisher (R)
District 54
Joshua Meggers (R)
District 55
Shannon Latham (R)
District 56
Mark Thompson (R)
District 57
Pat Grassley (R)
District 58
Charley Thomson (R)
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
Jerome Amos (D)
District 63
Michael Bergan (R)
District 64
Jason Gearhart (R)
District 65
Shannon Lundgren (R)
District 66
Steven Bradley (R)
District 67
Craig Johnson (R)
District 68
Chad Ingels (R)
District 69
Tom Determann (R)
District 70
Norlin Mommsen (R)
District 71
Lindsay James (D)
District 72
Jennifer Smith (R)
District 73
Elizabeth Wilson (D)
District 74
Eric Gjerde (D)
District 75
Bob Kressig (D)
District 76
Derek Wulf (R)
District 77
Jeff Cooling (D)
District 78
Angel Ramirez (D)
District 79
Tracy Ehlert (D)
District 80
Aime Wichtendahl (D)
District 81
Daniel Gosa (D)
District 82
Bobby Kaufmann (R)
District 83
Cindy Golding (R)
District 84
Thomas Gerhold (R)
District 85
Amy Nielsen (D)
District 86
David Jacoby (D)
District 87
Jeff Shipley (R)
District 88
Helena Hayes (R)
District 89
Elinor Levin (D)
District 90
Adam Zabner (D)
District 91
Judd Lawler (R)
District 92
Heather Hora (R)
District 93
Gary Mohr (R)
District 94
Mike Vondran (R)
District 95
Taylor Collins (R)
District 96
Mark Cisneros (R)
District 97
Ken Croken (D)
District 98
Monica Kurth (D)
District 99
Matthew Rinker (R)
District 100
Blaine Watkins (R)
Republican Party (67)
Democratic Party (33)
