Latest news with #DollDistributing
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
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Des Moines police officer suffers minor injuries after driver allegedly strikes patrol car
A Des Moines police officer suffered minor injuries after a driver crashed nearly head-on into the officer's patrol car early on July 4, according to a news release from the Des Moines Police Department. Police officers charged the driver with driving while intoxicated after the man allegedly crashed a red 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air into the patrol car in the 6200 block of Southeast Fifth Street just after 1 a.m. The man drove away from the crash, police alleged, but other officers found him minutes later near Southeast Fourth Street and Payton Avenue. Both the officer and the man suffered minor injuries, police said. The shift report did not specify what injuries the officer received, but he was treated at the scene, Des Moines police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said. Police charged the man with: OWI, a serious misdemeanor Improper lane use, a misdemeanor Leaving the scene of a crash, a misdemeanor Police officials are asking drivers to take precautions over the holiday weekend. Forty percent of the more than 2,500 drivers killed during the Fourth of July holiday between 2019 and 2023 were impaired, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Decide to Ride program, a partnership between Doll Distributing and the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, is offering a $10 Uber voucher to encourage drivers to plan ahead over the holiday, police officials said. Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government and Polk County reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@ Follow her on X at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines police officer suffers minor injuries after patrol car struck
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
GOP congressman takes major step toward gubernatorial announcement
FIRST ON FOX: An Iowa congressman is taking a major step toward running for governor on Wednesday. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, is launching a finance committee comprised of 47 top donors and business leaders in the Hawkeye State, Fox News Digital is learning first. "I am grateful for the overwhelming support that our campaign has received from Iowans who believe in our mission to take our state to new heights," Feenstra said in a statement. "Our finance committee will ensure we have the resources necessary for victory. I cannot thank our supporters enough for their support and confidence in our campaign." Feenstra has not formally announced a campaign for governor, but he's now taken several steps in the process ahead of the 2026 elections. He revealed last month that he is exploring a run for the role after the current governor, Republican Kim Reynolds, said she was stepping aside after serving two terms in Des Moines. Feenstra also filed a "Feenstra for Governor" organizing committee. It's not clear when the official kickoff will be, but Feenstra is all but certain to join an increasingly crowded field of candidates for the open seat. Members of the campaign committee include Kurt Croell, the owner of a concrete company who's donated to both Reynolds and President Donald Trump, and members of the Doll family, who own beer company Doll Distributing. West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble is also on the list, as are Nutratech executives Andy and Russ Kosky, among others. Feenstra has represented Iowa's 4th Congressional District since 2021, and serves key roles in the House as a member of both the Agriculture and Ways & Means Committees. Other Republicans running to lead the state include state lawmaker Eddie Andrews and Brad Sherman, a former state representative. The GOP primary could turn into a high-profile political clash if Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird enters the race. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, grandson of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is also publicly toying with a bid. On the Democratic side, Iowa auditor Rob Sand is among the declared candidates, as is Julie Stauch, who served as Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign Iowa political director.
