House - IA 1st - Abby Finkenauer

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Democrat representing NE Iowa, including Cedar Rapids and Dubuque

Abby Finkenauer is a first-term Congresswoman who flipped this seat in 2016 in a district that voted for Trump two years earlier. By challenging then beating a 2-term Republican incumbent Rod Blum, Abby became the first woman ever elected to the House of Representatives from Iowa (along with Dem freshman colleague Cindy Axne). At 29, she became the second youngest woman in the House ever (she’s 10 months older than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez). Abby raised $4.6 million, twice what her incumbent opponent raised. She won by 5 points.

The daughter of a pipe fitter-welder, and of an employee of the public school system, Abby earned a reputation for protecting union rights during two terms in the state legislature. She was 25 when she was first elected. Before that, Abby worked for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and Make It Work, which is dedicated to equal pay. She supports women’s reproductive rights, and expanded affordable healthcare, raising the minimum wage and advancing infrastructure reform.

Her district -- with both urban and rural elements -- voted for Obama in both 2008 and 2012, then for Trump in 2016. Some 40% of active voters in the district are not affiliated with any party. “This race isn’t going to come down to Democrats versus Republicans or rural versus urban; it will come down to values,” Finkenauer said to the Des Moines Register after winning her primary in 2018. “We all want the same thing. We want to work hard and make a good life for our family."

Abby is serving on the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Her bill to help rural small businesses create more jobs was the first legislation authored by a freshman House member to win passage in this Congress. It was co-sponsored by a Republican from Utah, reflecting Abby’s commitment to working across party lines to help people in her district.

Abby is running against Ashley Hinson, a former morning news anchor, who campaigned with Trump and was endorsed by him in her Republican primary, tweeting that she is “a true supporter of our #MAGA Agenda!” Hinson spoke at a Trump rally and said, “Similar to our work in Des Moines for Iowans, President Trump is working to provide all Americans with the best deal possible.” Hinson has compiled a distinctively anti-worker record while in the Iowa legislature, voting to cut workers compensation benefits, voting to reduce collective bargaining rights and voting to jeopardize funding of public workers’ retirement benefits. She voted for a bill which would have cut unemployment benefits for workers who lost jobs because their employer went out of business. Hinson is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and has a 92% rating from them. She has a terrible environmental record, with a 0% rating from the Iowa Sierra Club.

Hinson’s record is in sharp contrast to Abby’s record in Congress, where she has voted to increase unemployment benefits for Iowans, pushed for more funds for small business and worked to get more personal protective equipment for workers at her district’s meat packing plants. Abby has a 93% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.

This is a very tough race. As a TV personality Hinson is well known in this district and is a formidable fundraiser. In a district that has 40% independent voters, she has shown she can win over independent voters: she won a state legislative race in 2016 in a district that voted for Clinton. While Abby won by 5 points in 2018, her race will be much different this time, with very partisan Senate and Presidential elections on the same ballot. She has done well so far, but this is considered a toss-up race for good reason. She needs our help to win.