Stephanie Steiner
Stephanie Steiner (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Iowa's 4th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 3, 2026.[source]
Steiner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Stephanie Steiner was born in Athens, Alabama. She earned an associate degree from Northwest Iowa Community College in 2008. Steiner's career experience includes working as a nurse. As of 2025, she was affiliated with the Iowa Farmers Union.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Iowa's 4th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Iowa District 4
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Iowa District 4 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Randy Feenstra (R) | |
 | Dave Dawson (D)  | |
 | Stephanie Steiner (D) | |
 | Ashley WolfTornabane (D) | |
| Chris McGowan (R) | ||
 | Ryan Rhodes (R) | |
| Christian Schlaefer (R) | ||
 | Matt Windschitl (R) | |
| Jermaine Decker (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Douglas Jensen (R)
- Kyle Larsen (R)
- Ryan Melton (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephanie Steiner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Steiner'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’m married to my best friend, Mark Steiner, and together — along with our three youngest children — we run a small goat livestock operation on our acreage outside Sutherland, Iowa. Life on the farm keeps us grounded in the values that define our district: hard work, family, and community.
My story begins in Athens, Alabama, where I started kindergarten in a segregated school. When I was eight, my father lost his job, and our family began moving frequently in search of work — at one point seven times in six months. I attended six different schools that year, always the new kid, and was bullied relentlessly because of it. Those experiences taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of standing up for others who feel unseen.
As a nurse, I witnessed how broken our healthcare system is. When my ex-husband, Merlin, died from untreated COPD because he couldn’t afford his medication, I knew I had to fight for change. I’m running for Congress to bring empathy, compassion, and common sense back to Washington — to ensure every Iowan has a voice and that policy once again reflects the real lives of the people it impacts.- Putting Families First: I’m a retired women’s health nurse, mother of seven, and small-farm owner running to restore empathy, fairness, and common sense to Washington — ensuring policies put working families ahead of corporate interests.
- Affordability & Dignity: I’ll fight to make healthcare, housing, childcare, and everyday living affordable for all Iowans.
- Justice & Opportunity: I’ll defend civil rights, protect our water and farms, and strengthen rural communities — because every Iowan deserves stability, dignity, and a fair shot at a better life.
I try to carry that same spirit of empathy and service into my own life and work. Whether it was caring for patients as a nurse or listening to families struggling to get by, I’ve learned that real leadership starts with compassion. Mother Teresa’s example reminds me that serving others — especially those who are overlooked or forgotten — is the highest calling any of us can answer.
First and foremost, that means listening — truly listening — to the people you serve. As a retired women’s health nurse, I spent years listening to patients, families, and communities in crisis. I learned that when people are heard and respected, healing and progress can begin. The same principle applies to governing: leadership must start with compassion and understanding.
A member of Congress must also be accessible and accountable, showing up in every corner of the district — rural and urban alike — to understand the real challenges people face. Too many politicians forget who they work for once they arrive in Washington. I believe in government that stays connected, transparent, and grounded in the people’s reality, not political convenience.
It is also the duty of Congress to craft and support policies that improve people’s lives — ensuring affordable healthcare, good schools, fair wages, clean water, and a sustainable future for our family farms and small towns. These are not partisan issues; they are human ones.
Finally, every elected leader has a solemn responsibility to protect democracy itself — defending civil rights, upholding the Constitution, and standing firm against corruption, extremism, and abuse of power. Our democracy only works when leaders honor their oath to serve all people with integrity and courage.
If I can help make healthcare affordable, protect family farms, defend civil rights, and inspire others to get involved in shaping their future, then I’ll have done my job. I want people to remember that I led with empathy, fought for truth and justice, and never stopped believing in the power of people choosing to stand with their communities to create lasting change.
That moment stayed with me because it showed both the risk and the courage that come with striving for progress. It also taught me about unity — how Americans, even in grief, came together to honor those who dedicated their lives to something greater than themselves.
The book taught me that doing the right thing often means standing alone, but silence in the face of injustice is never an option. It’s a timeless reminder that compassion and moral courage are the foundation of true leadership — lessons I’ve carried with me throughout my life.
Her courage reminds me of the quiet strength I’ve seen in so many Iowans — parents working multiple jobs, farmers fighting to keep their land, families helping one another through tough times. Ma Joad’s grit and humanity embody what I believe leadership should be: steady, selfless, and grounded in love for others, no matter how hard the road gets.
Watching my family fight through pain, loss, and instability at such a young age taught me the importance of compassion, resilience, and mental health support. It also gave me a deep understanding of how one unexpected tragedy can ripple through an entire family — and why we need systems that help people heal, not fall apart. That experience shaped who I am and why I fight for others today.
Unlike the Senate, the House is designed to reflect the diversity and energy of the nation. Each representative brings a local perspective that, together, forms a picture of America as it truly is — dynamic, diverse, and grounded in everyday experience.
The House also holds the power of the purse and the responsibility to initiate legislation that impacts people’s lives most directly. It is where debate, negotiation, and public accountability take shape.
The vast majority of members in the U.S. House are lawyers, political insiders, or financial elites. While there is value in understanding the law, this narrow background does not reflect the diverse makeup of the American people. Too often, these individuals are far removed from the struggles that working families face — trying to afford healthcare, childcare, groceries, housing, or simply make ends meet. That lack of lived experience leads to policies that fail to meet the needs of everyday Americans.
We need nurses, teachers, farmers, laborers, machinists, union workers, small-business owners, and parents in Congress — people who understand what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to worry about medical bills, or to fight for fair wages and safe workplaces. These are the voices that can bring balance, honesty, and common sense back to Washington.
We must rebuild confidence in government by ensuring accountability, transparency, and respect for the Constitution. Our institutions — the Department of Justice, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Education, and many others — have suffered from political manipulation, neglect, and loss of public faith. These agencies must be repaired and rebuilt to function as fair, ethical, and independent guardians of the public good.
At the same time, we must close the loopholes that have allowed those in power to chip away at democratic norms, manipulate the courts, and exploit weaknesses in the system for personal or political gain. Congress must act decisively to strengthen checks and balances, protect voting rights, defend the rule of law, and prevent future abuses of power.
Equally urgent is repairing the damage to our foreign relations. The United States cannot lead globally if we are divided and unstable at home. We must rebuild trust with our allies, reaffirm our commitments to diplomacy and human rights, and restore America’s credibility as a reliable partner in addressing global challenges — from security and climate change to humanitarian crises and economic fairness.
I believe representatives should serve two four-year terms, with clear term limits to prevent career politicians from holding power indefinitely. A longer term would allow representatives to dedicate their time to legislation, constituent service, and oversight — the work they were elected to do — instead of constantly running for re-election.
I have signed a pledge to introduce legislation that would establish term limits for all federal offices, including both chambers of Congress and the Supreme Court. No one should hold power indefinitely. Term limits help restore balance, reduce corruption, and remind every elected and appointed official that their duty is to serve the people — not their own careers.
John Lewis showed us what it means to make “good trouble” in defense of democracy and human dignity. Barbara Jordan embodied wisdom, grace, and the power of truth spoken with purpose. Both led by example — with service grounded in justice and a deep belief in people’s capacity for good.
One mother shared how her son, born with severe disabilities, depends on Medicaid for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and respite care. She told me through tears that without these services, her son simply wouldn’t survive. No parent should ever live with that kind of fear in a nation as wealthy as ours.
I’ve listened to farmers forced to sell land that’s been in their families for generations, sometimes to trusted neighbors, just hoping they’ll be able to buy it back one day. It’s heartbreaking to see how corporate consolidation and policy failures are driving family farms out of existence.
I’ve also spoken with young adults leaving Iowa because they can’t find good-paying jobs or affordable housing — and perhaps most devastatingly, with members of the LGBTQ+ community who feel they must leave the only home they’ve ever known. Too many live in constant fear of harassment or even physical harm. Some have told me they’ve made the painful choice to move to “blue” states where they can simply exist safely, be themselves, and not live in fear in their own homes.
Good compromise happens when leaders come together to solve real problems — improving healthcare access, rebuilding rural infrastructure, expanding broadband, or strengthening family farms. These are areas where honest dialogue and cooperation can deliver tangible results for the people we serve.
However, compromise should never mean turning a blind eye to injustice or sacrificing human rights, equality, or the rule of law for political convenience. There are principles — such as protecting democracy, defending civil rights, and ensuring every person’s dignity — that must remain non-negotiable.
Healthcare is not a luxury; it’s a basic human right. Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die simply because they can’t afford care or medication. We spend more per person on healthcare than any nation in the world, yet millions remain uninsured or underinsured. That is unacceptable. The House must take the lead in redirecting tax dollars away from corporate subsidies and into healthcare programs that guarantee access for all — regardless of income, employment, or zip code.
I will also fight to close tax loopholes for billionaires and large corporations, ensuring they pay their fair share. Those funds should be reinvested into the people — through affordable healthcare, prescription drug reform, education, clean water, and rural infrastructure that uplifts families instead of burdening them.
If elected, I would support using congressional investigations to hold those in power accountable — regardless of political party. That includes exposing corruption, conflicts of interest, misuse of public funds, and abuses of authority within government agencies or by elected officials. No one should ever be above the law in the United States — not the President, not members of Congress, and not appointed officials.
The House must also ensure that investigations focus on issues that directly impact the public — such as healthcare access, corporate price gouging, environmental negligence, and government waste — rather than endless political theater.
That journey taught me perseverance, discipline, and the value of education. I wanted my children to see that no matter how difficult life gets, hard work and determination can open doors. My greatest pride is knowing they learned through my example that no obstacle is too great when you refuse to give up on yourself or your dreams.
Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and energy efficiency, but it also carries serious risks — from job displacement and privacy violations to bias, misinformation, and misuse by foreign or domestic actors.
I believe we need strong federal standards to ensure AI is transparent, accountable, and used responsibly. That includes protecting workers whose jobs may be impacted by automation, safeguarding personal data and privacy, and preventing AI from being weaponized or used to spread disinformation.
The government should also invest in ethical research and workforce retraining, ensuring that innovation strengthens communities rather than leaving them behind. Technology must always remain under human control — guided by laws, ethics, and the shared goal of improving lives, not exploiting them.
First, I would propose a National Voter Protection and Access Act to guarantee automatic voter registration, same-day registration, and secure vote-by-mail options for federal elections. Every eligible American should be able to vote easily and confidently.
Second, an Election Integrity and Audit Transparency Act would require verifiable paper ballots, risk-limiting audits, and public reporting of results. It would also provide funding for states to modernize election systems and improve cybersecurity.
Third, a Fair Districting and Campaign Finance Reform Act would create independent redistricting commissions to end partisan gerrymandering and require full transparency for campaign and election spending, including eliminating dark money.
Fourth, I would support an Election Oversight and Accountability Act to strengthen federal oversight, prevent misuse of election funds, and hold officials accountable for unethical or illegal conduct.
Finally, I would champion a Protection of Voting Rights and Election Workers Act to safeguard voters and election staff from intimidation, harassment, or disinformation.
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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
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 11, 2025
