DES MOINES, Iowa – A new poll of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District’s Republican primary shows incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, leading State Senator Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, by seven points.
First reported by Iowa Field Report, American Viewpoint, Inc. out of Alexandria, Va. conducting an internal poll on behalf of the Feenstra campaign asked 400 likely Republican primary voters on April 22 and 23 their preference in the upcoming primary on June 2.
In this internal poll, King leads Feenstra 41 percent to 34 percent, with eight percent supporting one of the other three candidates and 15 percent undecided.
According to the released memo, Feenstra gained on King since late January when American Viewpoint last polled. In late January, King led Feenstra by 29 points – 52 percent to 23 percent. In that same period, they note Feenstra’s favorability increased from 33 percent favorable and nine percent unfavorable in January to 53 percent favorable and eight percent unfavorable in April.
They note that among those with an opinion of both candidates (57 percent of those polled), Feenstra leads 53 percent to 29 percent.
From January to April, Feenstra released several ads in the Sioux City market, and America Viewpoint notes that the challenger leads King 40 percent to 32 percent in that market. The Feenstra campaign said that they planned to run ads until the primary.
The memo also states, “51% of GOP primary voters districtwide have seen, read or heard something recently regarding Feenstra and the positive messaging is clearly working. Feenstra leads 51%-29% among those who have seen, read or heard something regarding him, with a favorable to unfavorable ratio of 81:11.”
Last October, King released an internal poll that showed the incumbent congressman leading Feenstra 59 percent to 15 percent. The King campaign has not released internal polling since.
After the first quarter in 2020, Feenstra leads King in fundraising by a wide margin. As of March 31, 2020, Feenstra raised $844,229 and has $415,651 cash on hand heading into what will likely be a lean fundraising quarter for everyone because of the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparatively, King raised $301,372 and has $26,773 cash on hand.
With gatherings and events of ten or more people suspended until May 15, and the ability to campaign restricted due to COVID-19, a campaign’s ability to advertise will be significant in the final weeks leading up to the primary.
