Travis Terrell
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Travis Terrell (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Iowa's 1st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Terrell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Travis Terrell was born in Ottumwa, Iowa.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Iowa's 1st Congressional District election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Iowa District 1
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Iowa District 1 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) | |
 | Christina Bohannan (D) | |
 | Bob Krause (D) | |
Travis Terrell (D)  | ||
| Taylor Wettach (D) | ||
 | Grant Hill (R) | |
 | David Pautsch (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Travis Terrell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Terrell'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 Travis Terrell, a working-class Democrat running for Congress in Iowa's 1st District. I grew up in Ottumwa and now live in Tiffin. I have worked most blue collar jobs under the sun and continue to be a part of the paycheck to paycheck working class. I know what it feels like to struggle, to stretch a paycheck, and to be ignored by politicians who claim to represent us.
I launched this campaign with no corporate donors and no political machine behind me—just the belief that regular people deserve a voice in Washington. I’m fighting for Medicare for All, a $17 minimum wage, labor rights, immigration reform, and a real plan to address the doctor shortage hitting our rural communities.
When my mom, who broke her back working and had to go back to work just to get by, told me she was scared of losing her Social Security, I knew I had to do something. This campaign is about people like her, like my sister who walked the picket line during a strike, like the veterans who came home to nothing but broken promises.
I'm not a polished politician. I’m a fighter who’s tired of the corruption, the excuses, and the same old names being recycled while nothing changes. I will not take a dime of corporate PAC money, and I’ll never put my own profits above the people I serve.
We need bold action, not more lip service. If you’re ready for someone who works for you, not the billionaires, I’m ready to fight.- Healthcare is a human right. I support Medicare for All and expanding rural healthcare. I’ve already written policy ready to introduce on day one to get us on that track. I will fight to lower drug prices, increase access to doctors, and make sure no Iowan has to skip care because they can’t afford it.
- Raise wages and protect workers. I support a $17 minimum wage, stronger union rights, fair scheduling, and overtime protections. I will push to put real power back in the hands of working people, not CEOs.
- End corruption and corporate control. I will never take corporate PAC money or trade stocks in office. I support tough reforms to stop lobbyist influence and put everyday people, not billionaires—in charge of our democracy.
I’m passionate about making sure working people aren’t left behind. That starts with healthcare—because nobody should suffer or die just because they couldn’t afford to see a doctor. I’ve already written policy to expand access and lower costs, especially in rural areas.
I care deeply about labor rights. I’ve walked picket lines after picket line I know what it’s like to work long hours and still struggle to get by. That’s why I wrote a Worker Protection and Power Restoration Act to raise wages, strengthen unions, and hold corporations accountable.
I look up to people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders—not because they play politics perfectly, but because they never forget who they’re fighting for. They speak truth to power, call out corruption no matter where it comes from, and refuse to be bought. I admire that kind of courage. But more than anyone, I look up to my mom. She taught my siblings and me the importance of unions and the power of the working class when they stand together. My brother and sister walked the picket line proudly, and that strength runs in our blood. That’s the example I want to follow in Congress
If someone wants to understand my political philosophy, I’d recommend It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders. It lays out exactly how the system is rigged for the wealthy and what we need to do to fix it, universal healthcare, strong labor protections, and a government that puts people before profits. For a film, I’d recommend Inequality for All with Robert Reich. It breaks down how decades of policies favoring the rich have hollowed out the middle class. Both reflect what I believe: the working class deserves better, and we don’t need to settle for scraps while billionaires buy our democracy.
An elected official should be honest, accessible, and unafraid to fight for what's right, even when it's not politically convenient. They should listen more than they talk, and never forget who they work for. I believe the most important thing is staying connected to the people you're supposed to represent. That means showing up in every corner of the district, answering tough questions, and refusing to sell out to corporate donors. We don’t need more polished politicians. We need people with backbone, real-world experience, and a commitment to serve, not climb the political ladder.
I’m not a polished politician, and I don’t pretend to be. What I bring to the table is honesty, persistence, and the lived experience of someone who’s worked most blue collar jobs under the sun. I know what it’s like to struggle, to be ignored by the system, and to feel like no one in power is listening. I’m not afraid to speak the truth, even when it means disagreeing with my own party. I don’t answer to corporate donors, I will answer to the people. What makes me different is that I’m not running for a title. I’m running to fight, to listen, and to bring a voice to Congress that’s been missing for far too long: one that actually comes from the working class.
The core responsibility of a member of Congress is to fight for the people they represent. That means writing and supporting legislation that improves lives, not just for the wealthy or well-connected, but for working families, seniors, veterans, and everyday folks who’ve been left behind. It also means being present, listening, and staying accountable. You shouldn’t just show up for votes in D.C., you should be showing up in your district, answering questions, holding town halls, and making sure your constituents have a voice in every decision you make. That’s the job.
I am not as much worried about my legacy as I am the future of this country, but if anything I would like to be remembered as someone who lived to fight for the working class.
The first historical event I really remember was the 2000 presidential election. I was about 15 when the Supreme Court stepped in and basically decided the outcome, handing the presidency to George W. Bush. Even at that age, I knew something was wrong. It felt like democracy got pushed aside, and the will of the people didn’t matter. That moment stuck with me, it was the first time I saw how power can be manipulated from the top, and it planted the seed that we need leaders who actually fight for the people, not just play the political game.
I was a dishwasher at age 13, and worked there until I got a job at a call center.
One of my favorite books is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It’s an incredible story about resilience, survival, and finding your own path when the odds are stacked against you. The writing is powerful, the world-building is rich, and the main character’s struggle to rise above his circumstances really resonated with me. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you—and reminds you that even when the world tries to break you, you keep pushing forward.
If I could be any fictional character, I’d pick Batman—not for the gadgets or the brooding, but because then at least there’d be one billionaire actually doing something good with his money.
The last song that got stuck in my head was “Wake Up” by Llunr. It’s one of those songs that hits you in the gut, quiet but powerful. It’s about seeing through the noise, waking up to what’s really happening around you, and finding your own voice.
One of the biggest struggles in my life was when I shattered my foot my senior year of high school. I had planned to join the Army after graduation—I had been in JROTC, and I wanted nothing more than to serve my country. That injury took that dream away in an instant. I wasn’t even allowed to enlist because I couldn’t pass the physical requirements, and for a long time, it felt like I lost my chance to serve. It was devastating. But over time, I realized there’s more than one way to serve your country. That experience is part of what pushed me to run for office—to fight for the people around me, and to give everything I’ve got for the country I still believe in.
The House is supposed to be the people’s voice. It’s the only place in Washington where regular folks are supposed to have real power, not just the rich, not just the connected.
Experience can be valuable, but it hasn’t meant much for regular people lately. We’ve had decades of experienced politicians in office while wages stayed low, healthcare costs skyrocketed, and corporations took over our democracy. If experience alone fixed things, working-class families wouldn’t still be struggling. What we need now are fresh voices. people who know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and who will fight like hell to make real change. Experience means nothing if it’s not being used to actually help the people who need it most.
One of the biggest challenges we face is whether working people will keep being squeezed while the rich get richer and politicians look the other way. Wages are flat, unions are under attack, and millions are barely hanging on while billionaires buy influence. At the same time, we’re running out of time to repair the environment. Climate disasters are getting worse, and we need bold action now, creating union jobs in clean energy, rebuilding infrastructure, and investing in sustainability.
Another urgent threat is the forced exodus of experts and public servants under Trump. Scientists, doctors, career diplomats, people who spent their lives serving this country, are being pushed out or silenced for doing their jobs. If we want a future grounded in facts, progress, and real solutions, we need to stop the purge of experts and rebuild public trust in our institutions before it’s too late.
Another urgent threat is the forced exodus of experts and public servants under Trump. Scientists, doctors, career diplomats, people who spent their lives serving this country, are being pushed out or silenced for doing their jobs. If we want a future grounded in facts, progress, and real solutions, we need to stop the purge of experts and rebuild public trust in our institutions before it’s too late.
Yes, I believe it should be for both the house and Senate.
Term limits are long overdue, and would work wonders in the fight against corruption and getting dark money out of politics.
If there’s one representative I’d want to model myself after, it’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She came from a working-class background, took on the political establishment, and proved that courage and conviction matter more than money and connections. She speaks up when others stay silent, she holds both parties accountable, and she never forgets who she’s fighting for. That’s the kind of leadership we need more of, and it’s the kind I plan to bring to Congress.
One story that really stuck with me came from a man who told me he had voted Republican his whole life, but said he couldn’t do it anymore in good conscience. At the same time, he said he didn’t feel like he could call himself a Democrat either—because he didn’t see them fighting for people like him. He told me that what stood out about my campaign was that I wasn’t afraid to call out both sides when they fail working people. He said he saw conviction, not party loyalty, and that meant something to him. That conversation reminded me exactly why I’m running.
Why don’t politicians play hide and seek?
Because good luck hiding when you’ve never shown up in the first place.
Because good luck hiding when you’ve never shown up in the first place.
I believe compromise is sometimes necessary. But it depends on what we’re being asked to compromise. I’ll work with anyone, from any party, if it means improving people’s lives. But I won’t water down policies just to protect billionaire profits or make lobbyists happy. Too often, “compromise” in Washington means asking working people to accept less while the powerful keep getting more. Real progress comes when we stand firm on values like healthcare, fair wages, and human rights, and build coalitions that fight for the people who’ve been left out for far too long.
If all bills for raising revenue have to start in the House, then the House should be where we stop billionaires from buying influence and start restoring power to the working class. That constitutional authority means we decide how this country funds itself, and it shouldn’t be on the backs of workers, families, and seniors while the ultra-wealthy get handouts. I would use that power to make sure the richest pay their fair share and to fund policies that actually lift people up, like universal healthcare, better wages, and investment in rural communities. The House should be the people’s check on greed, not a tool for it.
The House should use its investigative powers without bias and without fear—against Republicans and Democrats alike who sell out their constituents and the American people. If you’re using your office to enrich yourself, protect corporate interests, or push policies that hurt working families, then you should be held accountable, no matter your party. These powers aren’t meant for political stunts, they’re meant to protect democracy, expose corruption, and make sure every elected official answers to the people, not their donors. I’ll support any investigation that puts truth and accountability first.
Blue America
Howie Klein
Howie Klein
The Oversight Committee is where I’d be relentless. We’ve watched too many politicians sell out to corporations and billionaires, and I want to be in the room where we shine a light on that corruption. I won’t tiptoe around it, Democrat or Republican, if you're putting profits before people, I will call you out. That’s a promise.
I believe financial transparency and government accountability are non-negotiable. The public has every right to know where their elected officials get their money, who they’re working for, and whether they’re putting personal profit over public service. I’ve pledged not to take a dime of corporate PAC money and to never trade stock while in office, because I’m not here to get rich. I’m here to serve. We need stronger laws to hold politicians accountable, ban insider trading, expose dark money, and prosecute corruption no matter which party it comes from. If you’re afraid of transparency, you shouldn’t be in office.
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Campaign finance summary
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 28, 2025
Senators
Joni Ernst (R)
Chuck Grassley (R)
Representatives
Republican Party (6)
