Latest news with #RandyFeenstra
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican state Sen. Lynn Evans drops bid for Iowa's 4th Congressional District
Republican State Sen. Lynn Evans has dropped out of the race for Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Evans, of Aurelia, launched an exploratory committee on May 17 as he considered a congressional bid. He announced Wednesday, July 9, that he would instead seek reelection to the Iowa Senate in 2026. "After visiting with hundreds of Iowans over the past six weeks, and much self-reflection, my passion remains with our work in the Iowa Senate and at the Capitol in Des Moines," Evans said in a news release. "I remain grateful for this opportunity given to me by my constituents. I intend to earn their continued support between now and next November." Evans' announcement comes the same week that Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, announced he would seek the Republican nomination in the 4th District. Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan announced his campaign in late June. Iowa's 4th Congressional District is the most conservative of Iowa's four congressional districts, spanning 36 counties in northwestern Iowa and along the full western edge of the state. The seat is expected to be open in 2026 after incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra filed paperwork May 12 to form an exploratory committee to run for governor. Evans was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022, representing Senate District 3, which includes Buena Vista, Osceola and O'Brien counties and portions of Cherokee and Clay counties. He chairs the Senate Education Committee. Evans touted the work he has done in the Iowa Senate on education issues, restricting abortion, cutting taxes, passing "fiscally responsible budgets" and limiting eminent domain use. "This work will continue over the next few years, and I remain as committed to this work as I have been since entering the Iowa Senate in 2022," he said. Democrat Ryan Melton, who ran against Feenstra in 2022 and 2026, had announced he would run again in 2026. But he suspended his campaign in June, citing changes to his health and employment status. Democrat Ashley WolfTornabane announced her campaign on July 4. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: GOP Sen. Lynn Evans won't run for Iowa's 4th Congressional District
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl launches run for Congress in 4th District
Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl is launching a campaign for the Republican nomination in western Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Windschitl, 41, of Missouri Valley, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 at the age of 22 and is serving his tenth term. He represents House District 15, which includes Harrison County and parts of Pottawattamie County. He has served as majority leader, the number two position in House leadership, since his colleagues elected him to that post in 2019 after previously serving as speaker pro tempore. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Windschitl said he wants to focus on "the bread and butter stuff" if elected to Congress. "I want to help get the country back on a track where we don't have rising inflation, we don't have people getting taxed out of their homes, we don't have the global concern about are we the dominant country or not," he said. "I think what the president is doing right now is on that path." Windschitl works for Doll Distributing in Council Bluffs. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 and served a tour in Iraq in 2005 before being honorably discharged in 2009. Iowa's 4th Congressional District is the most conservative of Iowa's four congressional districts, spanning 36 counties in northwestern Iowa and along the full western edge of the state. Windschitl said constituents and friends have been asking him to consider running for the seat after current U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra filed paperwork May 12 to form an exploratory committee to run for governor in 2026. Windschitl said, "I've been thinking about it, praying about it," but the deciding factor was speaking to his two daughters about whether he should run. "Both my daughters have got my back, and those are the two most important people in my life," he said. "So when they said, 'Yeah, Dad, go get 'em.' I said, 'All right, let's do it.'" At least two other Republicans are exploring a run for the party's nomination for Congress. State Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, launched an exploratory committee for the seat on May 17 and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan announced his campaign in late June. Windschitl said he has a record of working on important issues and showing leadership in the Iowa Legislature. "I've got a 19-year track record of being pro-life, pro-2A, pro-business, pro-ag, cutting taxes, getting government out of the way, getting bureaucracy out of the way and helping constituents through different political problems," he said. "But also when we've had the derecho, when we've had floods, being there boots on the ground. You can look at everything I've done. My record stands for itself." Windschitl endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president before the 2024 Republican presidential caucuses. He acknowledged that his endorsement "may be" an issue during the primary, "but that's up to each individual voter." "That's behind us," he said. "I'm not focused on the past. I'm focused on the future. And I believe President Trump is doing a fantastic job, and I want to be there helping move an agenda forward for the people of America." Windschitl said he plans to step down as House majority leader but will continue to serve the remainder of his term as a state representative, which runs through the end of 2026. "The caucus and Iowans deserve an opportunity to have a majority leader that's not trying to serve two masters," he said. Trump hinted that House Republicans may have already agreed on a new majority leader. Speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3, he referred to Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, as "Iowa House majority leader-elect." "Great future," Trump said of Kaufmann. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, has not announced when Republicans will elect a new majority leader. Democrat Ryan Melton, who ran against Feenstra in 2022 and 2026, had announced he would run again in 2026. But he suspended his campaign in June, citing changes to his health and employment status. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican Matt Windschitl running for Congress in Iowa 4th District
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl launches run for Congress in 4th District
Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl is launching a campaign for the Republican nomination in western Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Windschitl, 41, of Missouri Valley, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 at the age of 22 and is serving his tenth term. He represents House District 15, which includes Harrison County and parts of Pottawattamie County. He has served as majority leader, the number two position in House leadership, since his colleagues elected him to that post in 2019 after previously serving as speaker pro tempore. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Windschitl said he wants to focus on "the bread and butter stuff" if elected to Congress. "I want to help get the country back on a track where we don't have rising inflation, we don't have people getting taxed out of their homes, we don't have the global concern about are we the dominant country or not," he said. "I think what the president is doing right now is on that path." Windschitl works for Doll Distributing in Council Bluffs. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 and served a tour in Iraq in 2005 before being honorably discharged in 2009. Iowa's 4th Congressional District is the most conservative of Iowa's four congressional districts, spanning 36 counties in northwestern Iowa and along the full western edge of the state. Windschitl said constituents and friends have been asking him to consider running for the seat after current U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra filed paperwork May 12 to form an exploratory committee to run for governor in 2026. Windschitl said, "I've been thinking about it, praying about it," but the deciding factor was speaking to his two daughters about whether he should run. "Both my daughters have got my back, and those are the two most important people in my life," he said. "So when they said, 'Yeah, Dad, go get 'em.' I said, 'All right, let's do it.'" At least two other Republicans are exploring a run for the party's nomination for Congress. State Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, launched an exploratory committee for the seat on May 17 and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan announced his campaign in late June. Windschitl said he has a record of working on important issues and showing leadership in the Iowa Legislature. "I've got a 19-year track record of being pro-life, pro-2A, pro-business, pro-ag, cutting taxes, getting government out of the way, getting bureaucracy out of the way and helping constituents through different political problems," he said. "But also when we've had the derecho, when we've had floods, being there boots on the ground. You can look at everything I've done. My record stands for itself." Windschitl endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president before the 2024 Republican presidential caucuses. He acknowledged that his endorsement "may be" an issue during the primary, "but that's up to each individual voter." "That's behind us," he said. "I'm not focused on the past. I'm focused on the future. And I believe President Trump is doing a fantastic job, and I want to be there helping move an agenda forward for the people of America." Windschitl said he plans to step down as House majority leader but will continue to serve the remainder of his term as a state representative, which runs through the end of 2026. "The caucus and Iowans deserve an opportunity to have a majority leader that's not trying to serve two masters," he said. Trump hinted that House Republicans may have already agreed on a new majority leader. Speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3, he referred to Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, as "Iowa House majority leader-elect." "Great future," Trump said of Kaufmann. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, has not announced when Republicans will elect a new majority leader. Democrat Ryan Melton, who ran against Feenstra in 2022 and 2026, had announced he would run again in 2026. But he suspended his campaign in June, citing changes to his health and employment status. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican Matt Windschitl running for Congress in Iowa 4th District
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Meet Chris McGowan, Republican candidate for Iowa's 4th Congressional District
DES MOINES, Iowa — On Wednesday, a Republican candidate threw his hat into the primary race for Iowa's 4th Congressional district. Investigation into tampering with Lynnville's water supply underway Chris McGowan is the President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, who is looking to succeed Congressman Randy Feenstra. Rep. Feenstra announced earlier in the year that he was running for Iowa Governor, clearing the way for a new Iowa Republican to represent the district's 36 counties. McGowan was in central Iowa after his announcement on Wednesday. WHO 13's Zach Fisher interviewed the candidate on his decision to run, top campaign issues in the district and how he would represent those Iowans if he was to win the election. View the full interview linked above with Chris McGowan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ryan Melton suspends campaign for Iowa 4th Congressional District
Ryan Melton announced Tuesday he is suspending his campaign for the 4th Congressional District seat in Iowa. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Ryan Melton, a Democratic candidate for Iowa's 4th Congressional District who ran in 2022 and 2024, has suspended his campaign due to personal matters, including his job and family. Melton announced the suspension on social media Tuesday, saying it was one of the 'toughest decisions' he's ever made. 'It was an honor to fight the good fight on your behalf, and I will continue to, just in different ways,' Melton said in his post. 'It's the biggest sacrifice I've ever made for the greater good, but I don't regret a single minute, and am proud of the fact that the party out here in the 4th is in a much better place now than it was when I first began running.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Reasons he gave for stepping out of the race included recently losing his job at Nationwide Insurance due to company reorganization and the need to find a new job to support his family, as well as dealing with a health concern. He added he wants to stay home for his wife and 6-year-old son. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who won elections against Melton for the district in 2022 and 2024, has launched an exploratory committee for a possible gubernatorial run in Iowa. Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, has made a similar move for the 4th Congressional District. The district spans much of northwest Iowa and includes Ames, Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Between his two campaigns, Melton said in his post his vote shares across the district's 36 counties either stayed steady or grew, a fact he is proud of achieving as someone with a full-time job, family and no funding from political action committees representing corporate interests. Melton said in his post he's been happy to hear from first-time political candidates from across the state who have reached out, and said he'll be rooting for them. He also encouraged everyday people to run for office, even if they don't know how everything works or don't have the funds or industry support to get their name out there right away. 'We need more working people that struggle every day along with most Americans to run for every office, and I'll always make time for you if you want to call me to inquire,' Melton said in his post. 'Also, even if you are in a district that may seem unwinnable on Election Day, run anyway, because if you tell the truth and run as a sacrifice for the greater good, you'll find so many wins out there.' Travis Terrell, a Democrat running in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, said in a social media post Melton was one of the first people he called — and one of the few who responded — when launching his campaign. Melton made 'an extremely powerful point' in his announcement that more working people need to get out and run for office. 'We need working class voices to fight, let's be honest, the rich and powerful are not going to save us when they're the one's holding us down,' Terrell said in his post. 'It takes real people to power real change. Thank you Ryan.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
