State Senator Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) announced that he would run for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District seat in 2020. Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) holds that seat and is Iowa’s lone Republican member in the U.S. House of Representatives after Congressmen Rod Blum (R-Iowa) and David Young (R-Iowa) were defeated by Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts respectfully.
King, who has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike for statements made on social media and media interviews, had an unusually close race in 2018. He won the staunchly Republican district by only 10,430 votes underperforming in the district compared to other Republican statewide incumbents Governor Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Secretary of State Paul Pate, and State Auditor Mary Mosiman (who lost her race).
Feenstra is serving his third term in the Iowa Senate and is an Assistant Majority Leader and chairman of the Iowa Senate Ways and Means Committee. Feenstra was a key architect of the tax reform package passed last legislative session. He also co-sponsored the Voter ID bill that went into effect in 2019. Feenstra is an outspoken defender of life and 2nd Amendment.
Feenstra in his announcement pointed to the need to provide President Trump with a strong voice who can help protect and advance a conservative agenda for America.
“What we’ve seen this past week from the new Democratic majority in Congress is appalling,” Feenstra said. “They’ve made it clear that they want nothing less than to raise taxes to historic levels, ignore the rule of law and undo the successes made by President Trump. The President needs effective conservative leaders in Congress who will not only support his agenda but actually get things done.”
Feenstra then took aim at King.
“Today, Iowa’s 4th District doesn’t have a voice in Washington, because our current representative’s caustic nature has left us without a seat at the table,” Feenstra stated. “We don’t need any more sideshows or distractions, we need to start winning for Iowa’s families.”
Feenstra is a former EMT and Sioux County Treasurer. Feenstra and his wife, Lynette, reside with their four children in his childhood hometown of Hull, IA. Prior to serving Iowans as an elected official, Feenstra spent seven years working in the private sector for the Foreign Candy Company leading a regional sales team. He currently serves his community as a member for the Village Northwest Unlimited Board, Treasurer of the local Kiwanis Club, and as a full-time business professor at Dordt College.
