2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the state of Iowa, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

Overview Party Candi-dates Votes Seats No. % No. +/– % Republican Party 4 859,418 52.42% 3 2 75.00% Democratic Party 4 762,271 46.5% 1 2 25.00% Libertarian Party 1 15,361 0.94% 0 0.00% Write-in 2,413 0.15% 0 0.00%Total 9 1,639,463 100.0% 4 100.00%

By district DistrictRepublicanDemocraticOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 212,088 51.25% 201,347 48.65% 434 0.10% 413,869 100%Republican gainDistrict 2 196,964 49.912% 196,958 49.910% 703 0.178% 394,625 100% Republican gainDistrict 3 212,997 47.55% 219,205 48.94% 15,745 3.51% 447,947 100% Democratic holdDistrict 4 237,369 61.97% 144,761 37.80% 892 0.23% 383,022 100% Republican holdTotal 859,418 52.42% 762,271 46.50% 17,774 1.08% 1,639,463 100%

District 1

The 1st district is based in northeastern Iowa, and includes the cities of Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. The incumbent was Democrat Abby Finkenauer, who flipped the district and was elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Abby Finkenauer, incumbent U.S. representative

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ashley Hinson, state representative

Defeated in primary Thomas Hansen, farmer and businessman

Declined Rod Blum, former U.S. representative

Endorsements

Results

General election Debate + 2020 Iowa's 1st congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Abby Finkenauer Ashley Hinson1 Sep. 7, 2020 Iowa PBS C-SPAN

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoSeptember 8, 2020Daily Kos October 15, 2020RCP October 13, 2020NiskanenJuly 26, 2020The EconomistOctober 2, 2020

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AbbyFinkenauer (D) AshleyHinson (R) Other/UndecidedMonmouth UniversityMonmouth UniversityOctober 15–20, 2020352 (RV)± 5.2%52%44%4%352 (LV)54%44% –352 (LV)56%42% –Basswood Research (R)Basswood Research (R)September 26–28, 2020400 (LV)± 4.9%45%45%10%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth UniversityJuly 25 – August 3, 2020391 (RV)± 5%51%41%9%391 (LV)52%41%8%391 (LV)52%40%8%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R) March 3–5, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4.0%45% 44% –Harper Polling (R)Harper Polling (R)January 11–12, 2020400 (LV)± 4.0%44%40%15% 40%48% –

Generic Democrat vs Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedSelzer & Co./Des Moines RegisterSelzer & Co./Des Moines RegisterOctober 26–29, 2020 – (LV)± 7.1%36%51%9%5%Selzer and Co./Des Moines RegisterSelzer and Co./Des Moines Register September 14–17, 2020 – (LV) ± 7.8%47% 41% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines RegisterSelzer and Co./Des Moines Register June 7–10, 2020 – (LV) <= ± 7.7%48% 42% – –Public Opinion Strategies (R) March 3–5, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4% 37%44% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines RegisterSelzer and Co./Des Moines Register March 2–5, 2020 – (LV) – 46%49% – –Harper Polling (R) January 11–12, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4%43%44% – –

Results

District 2

The 2nd district encompasses southeastern Iowa, and is home to the cities of Davenport, Iowa City, Muscatine, Clinton, Burlington, Ottumwa, Fort Madison, Oskaloosa, Bettendorf, Newton and Pella. The incumbent was Democrat Dave Loebsack, who was re-elected with 54.8% of the vote in 2018. On April 12, 2019, he announced that he would not seek re-election.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Rita Hart, former state senator and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa in 2018

Withdrawn Newman Abuissa, engineer

Declined Ken Croken, member of the Scott County Board of Supervisors Cathy Glasson, union leader, nurse, and candidate for governor of Iowa in 2018 Kevin Kinney, state senator Dave Loebsack, incumbent U.S. representative Ian Russell, attorney Veronica Tessler, businesswoman (endorsed Hart) Zach Wahls, state senator

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mariannette Miller-Meeks, state senator; nominee for this seat in 2008, 2010, and 2014

Defeated in primary Tim Borchardt, retail worker Steven Everly, electrician Rick Phillips, businessman Bobby Schilling, former U.S. representative from Illinois's 17th congressional district (2011–2013)

Withdrawn Thomas Kedley, mayor of Osceola

Declined Chris Cournoyer, state senator Bob Gallagher, mayor of Bettendorf Bobby Kaufmann, state representative Barbara Kniff-McCulla, CEO of KLK Construction and member of the National Women's Business Council Mark Lofgren, state senator Chris Peters, surgeon and nominee for Iowa's 2nd congressional district in 2016 and 2018 Brad Randolph, mayor of Fort Madison Roby Smith, state senator

Endorsements

Results

General election Debate + 2020 Iowa's 2nd congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Rita Hart Mariannette Miller-Meeks1 Oct. 8, 2020 The GazetteKCRG-TVKYOU-TV Chris EarlJames LynchC-SPAN

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoSeptember 8, 2020Daily Kos September 25, 2020RCPOctober 13, 2020NiskanenJuly 26, 2020The EconomistOctober 2, 2020

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RitaHart (D) MariannetteMiller-Meeks (R) Other/UndecidedMonmouth UniversityOctober 15–20, 2020355 (RV)± 5.2%49%43%8%355 (LV)51%42% –355 (LV)54%41% –Monmouth UniversityJuly 25 – August 3, 2020374 (RV)± 5.1%47%44%9%374 (LV)44%48%8%374 (LV)45%48%7%Harper Polling (R)Harper Polling (R) July 26–28, 2020 406 (LV) ± 4.9% 41% 41% 16%

with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedSelzer & Co./Des Moines RegisterOctober 26–29, 2020 – (LV)± 6.9%40%41%11%8%Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register September 14–17, 2020 – (LV) ± 8.7%50% 46% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register June 7–10, 2020 – (LV) <= ± 7.7%53% 35% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register March 2–5, 2020 – (LV) – 41%49% – –

Results

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was state-certified as the winner over Democrat Rita Hart on November 30 by an extremely narrow margin of 6 votes. On December 2, Hart announced that she would contest the election with the House Administration Committee under the 1969 Federal Contested Elections Act. On December 30, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Miller-Meeks would be seated provisionally on January 3, 2021, with the rest of the incoming new Congress members. Republicans sharply criticized Pelosi's decision to review the race in the House Administration Committee, calling it an attempt to steal the election. It was also criticized by moderate Democrats, who argued it was hypocritical to overturn a certified state election after criticizing attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Hart withdrew her challenge on March 31, 2021. This was the closest House race in 2020 and one of the closest House races in a century.

District 3

The 3rd district encompasses southwestern Iowa, stretching from Des Moines to the state's borders with Nebraska and Missouri. The incumbent was Democrat Cindy Axne, who flipped the district and was elected with 49.3% of the vote in 2018.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Cindy Axne, incumbent U.S. representative

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee David Young, former U.S. representative

Defeated in primary Bill Schafer, U.S. Army veteran

Declined Jon Jacobsen, state representative Zach Nunn, state senator Brad Zaun, state senator

Results

Third parties Candidates Bryan Jack Holder (Libertarian)

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 15, 2020RCPOctober 13, 2020NiskanenJuly 26, 2020The EconomistOctober 2, 2020

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CindyAxne (D) DavidYoung (R) BryanHolder (L) Other/UndecidedMonmouth UniversityOctober 15–20, 2020426 (RV)± 4.8%52%43% –2%426 (LV)53%42% – –426 (LV)55%41% – –Monmouth UniversityJuly 25 – August 3, 2020507 (RV)± 4.4%48%42%2%8%507 (LV)50%42% –8%507 (LV)52%41% –7%The Tarrance Group (R)The Tarrance Group (R) July 7–9, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 43%44% 6% 7%The Tarrance Group (R) March 10–12, 2020 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 48% 48% – 5%

with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedSelzer & Co./Des Moines RegisterOctober 26–29, 2020 – (LV)± 6.6%45%39%8%9%Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register September 14–17, 2020 – (LV) ± 7.7%48% 42% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register June 7–10, 2020 – (LV) <= ± 7.7%52% 36% – –Selzer and Co./Des Moines Register March 2–5, 2020 – (LV) – 42%43% – –

Results

District 4

The 4th district is based in northwestern Iowa, including Sioux City, Ames, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Boone and Carroll. The incumbent was Republican Steve King, who had been re-elected with 50.3% of the vote in 2018.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Randy Feenstra, state senator

Defeated in primary Steve King, incumbent U.S. representative Steve Reeder, businessman Bret Richards, U.S. Army veteran and former businessman Jeremy Taylor, Woodbury County supervisor and former state representative

Declined Rick Bertrand, state senator and candidate for Iowa's 4th congressional district in 2016 Cyndi Hanson, candidate for Iowa's 4th congressional district in 2018 Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Rick Sanders, Story County supervisor Linda Upmeyer, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SteveKing RandyFeenstra SteveReeder JeremyTaylor Other UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R)May 16–18, 2020400 (V)± 4.9%39%41%1%4%3% –41%48% – – – –American ViewpointAmerican ViewpointMay 7–8, 2020350 (LV)± 5.2%39%36% – –9%10%American ViewpointAmerican ViewpointApril 27–29, 2020400 (LV)± 4.9%41%34% – –8%15%American ViewpointJanuary 27–29, 2020 – (V) –53%22% – – – –G1 Survey ResearchG1 Survey ResearchSteve King. A new poll shows me beating my 4 primary opponents 59% to their combined 23%! TwitterOctober 1–3, 2019400 (LV)± 4.89%59% 15% 6% 0% 2% 17%64%24% – – –12%64% – –19% –17%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee J. D. Scholten, former paralegal, former professional baseball player, and nominee for Iowa's 4th congressional district in 2018

Endorsements

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2020 Inside Elections October 16, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 15, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily Kos October 15, 2020RCPOctober 13, 2020NiskanenJuly 26, 2020The EconomistOctober 2, 2020

Polling