Latest news with #RandyFeenstra
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa Democrat Stephanie Steiner to run Iowa's 4th Congressional District seat in 2026
Democrat Stephanie Steiner has launched a campaign for Congress in Iowa's 4th District, saying she was spurred to act after the passage of Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." She noted that thousands of Iowans are expected to lose their access to Medicaid as a result of the law, and experts say they expect the changes to have a disproportionately negative effect on rural hospitals. "It is going to devastate our state," Steiner said. 'Broadly, that was what pushed me into saying, 'OK, well if somebody needs to do it, I will.'" More: 8 ways Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' will affect Iowans, from rural hospitals to biofuels Current 4th District U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican, is expected to vacate the seat as he eyes a run for governor in 2026. A trio of Republicans have announced campaigns to try to replace him: farmer Kyle Larsen, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan and state Rep. Matt Windschitl. And another Democrat, Ashley WolfTornabane, has also announced a campaign. Democrat Ryan Melton previously said he would seek his party's nomination, but he ended his campaign for personal reasons earlier this year. Steiner, 43, lives on an acreage outside of Sutherland with her husband and three youngest children. She said she worked as a labor and delivery nurse and as a traveling nurse before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Steiner said her younger children's father passed away suddenly in 2019 after losing access to medications. That, paired with her experience in the health care field, drives her passion for protecting access to health care, she said. 'I never want another mother or another father, another set of children to go through that because it's awful," she said. "It's awful.' Steiner said she also wants to focus on protecting civil rights for LGBTQ+ Iowans and other marginalized communities. The 4th District is the most conservative of Iowa's four congressional districts, spanning much of northwest Iowa and the full western edge of the state. Nonpartisan analysts at Cook Political Report rate it as a "solid Republican" district. Steiner said she understands the odds are stacked against Democrats, but she felt compelled to run anyway. 'We will lose 100% of the races we never run," she said. "So, if I don't do it, somebody else doesn't do it, then I can tell you this, we won't win it. But what I hope is to connect with the people in our district." Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Democrat Stephanie Steiner to run for Congress in Iowa's 4th District
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- 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.
