In addition to the contested gubernatorial election facing Iowa in 2018, Iowa’s four congressional districts are up in the national mid-term elections. A look at the finances for the candidates helps to reveal which campaigns are the most viable in the upcoming primary and general election races.

A total of approximately $1.965 million was raised in the final quarter of 2017, with approximately $756,935 spent in the same time frame. Below is a breakdown of all the numbers raised by district, with each district’s coverage region and largest cities. Iowa’s current Congressional District populations are within proportion to one another, around 760,000 people. Numbers outlined only pertain to fourth quarter financial disclosures, and not cycle-to-date. If a candidate received any contributions from Political Action Committees, their total contributions and top donors are listed. If a candidate made a large donation or loan to his or herself during the quarter, those are also noted.

 

District 1 Summary:

Iowa’s first Congressional District covers the expanse of Northeast Iowa, with borders of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The District’s largest cities are Dubuque, Cedar Rapid, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Marshalltown, with the total population at approximately 763,903.

A total of five candidates are vying for the current Republican-held seat, four democrats and incumbent Republican Rod Blum (2014-present). The total amount of money raised over the fourth quarter in District 1 was approximately $607,468, with approximately $169,353 spent. Below is the candidate breakdown.

Republican
Rod Blum: Blum raised approximately $146,894 in the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $35,399. Next to individual contributions, Blum received approximately $30,250 from PACs. National Restaurant Association PAC, Cornpac, Term Limits Now PAC, ExxonMobil PAC, House Conservatives Fund, were the biggest PAC donors, each donating $2,500. Blum reported approximately $995,274 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting cycle.

Democrat
Abby Finkenauer: Finkenauer raised approximately $302,803 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $92,323. Next to individual contributions, Finkenauer received approximately $90,500 from PACs. AMERIPAC The Fund For A Greater America, End Citizens United, Endeavor Action, Engineers Political Education Committee, IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund, PAC To The Future (twice), United Steel Workers (USW), and Sheet Metal Workers’ Political Action League each contributed $5,000. Finkenauer reported approximately $379,066 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Thomas Heckroth: Heckroth raised approximately $112,765 in the fourth quarter, and spent $28,412. Heckroth’s fourth quarter donations were majority individual contributions. He reported approximately $189,649 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

George Ramsey: Ramsey raised approximately $39,396 in the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $11,433. This quarter, Ramsey gave himself a $19,000 loan, in addition to individual contributions. He reported approximately $28,321 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting cycle.

Courtney Rowe: Rowe raised approximately $5,610 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $1,786. Rowe reported approximately $5,333 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting cycle.

 

District 2 Summary: 

Iowa’s second Congressional District covers the expanse of Southeast Iowa, with borders of Illinois and Missouri. The District’s largest cities are Davenport, Iowa City, Muscatine, Clinton, Burlington, Newton, and Fort Madison, with the total population at approximately 765,120.

Just two candidates are vying for the current Democratic seat, held by David Loebsack since 2007. The total amount of money raised over the fourth quarter in District 2 was approximately $237,782, with approximately $125,936 spent. Below is the candidate breakdown.

Republican
Christopher Peters: Peters raised approximately $17,129 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $30,428. Individual contributions were the majority of Peters’ fundraising, and he reported approximately $13,180 cash-on-hand at the end of the period.

Democrat
David Loebsack: Loebsack raised approximately $220,653 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $95,508. In addition to individual contributions, Loebsack received approximately $123,450 from PACs. Airline Pilots Association PAC, Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association, and United Steelworkers Political Action Fund each were the highest contributors, at $5,000. Loebsack reported approximately $1,624,610 cash-on-hand at the end of the period.

 

District 3 Summary:

Iowa’s third Congressional District covers the expanse of Southwest Iowa, with borders of Missouri and Kansas. The District’s largest cities are Des Moines, Des Moines Metro (West Des Moines, Urbandale, Waukee, Ankeny), Council Bluffs, with the total population at approximately 770,819.

A total of seven candidates are vying for the current Republican-held seat (David Young, 2014-present), six Democrats and one Republican . The total amount of money raised over the fourth quarter in District 3 was approximately $741,324, with approximately $239,099 spent. Below is the candidate breakdown.

Republican
David Young: Young raised approximately $258,173 in the fourth quarter, while spending approximately $51,653. In addition to individual contributions, Young received $158,750 in donations from PACs. His largest donations came from ICE PAC, National Pork Producers Council PAC, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, American Crystal Sugar Company, Deere & Company PAC, and the Home Depot PAC, each contributing $5,000. Young reported approximately $833,223 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Democrat
Eddie Mauro: Mauro raised approximately $193,815 in donations during the fourth quarter, and spent $22,525. In addition to individual contributions, Mauro’s largest contribution was a $100,000 loan to himself. Mauro reported approximately $333,188 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Theresa Greenfield: Greenfield raised approximately $129,761 over the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $66,703. Greenfield received approximately $4,000 from PACs. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSME) contributed $2,000 and CHERPAC (a Democratic PAC) contributed $1,000. Greenfield also made an approximate $1,256 donation in-kind in the form of using her own vehicle. Greenfield reported having approximately $210,709 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Cindy Axne: Axne raised approximately $109,353 over the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $48,235. Axne reported approximately $165,760 cash-on-hand at the end of the quarter.

Pete D’Alessandro: D’Allessandro raised approximately $35,900 over the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $34,565. D’Alessandro received approximately $1,850 in contributions from PACs, including a $1,500 donation from the Committee to Elect Will Guzzardi (Will Guzzardi is the State Representative of Illinois’ 39th District). D’Allessandro reported approximately $27,956 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Austin Frerick: Frerick raised approximately $12,662 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $14,693. Frerick reported approximately $3,397 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Paul Knupp Jr.: Knupp raised approximatley $1,660 during the fourth quarter and spent approximately $725. Knupp reported approximately $3,172 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

 

District 4 Summary: 

Iowa’s fourth Congressional District covers the expanse of Northwest Iowa, with borders of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The District’s largest cities are Sioux City, Ames, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Boone, and Carroll with the total population at approximately 761,467.

A total of five candidates are vying for the current Republican-held seat (Steve King, who has served in Congress since 2003), three Democrats and two Republicans. The total amount of money raised over the fourth quarter in District 4 was approximately $378,640, with approximately $222,547 spent. Below is the candidate breakdown.

Republican
Steve King: King raised approximately $87,543 over the fourth quarter, while spending $94,714.66. In addition to individual contributions, King received approximately $15,293 from PACs. AT&T Inc. Federal PAC and Valero PAC each contributed $5,000. King reported having approximately $52,578 cash-on-hand after the reporting period.

Cyndi Hanson: Hanson raised approximately $5,771 in the fourth quarter and spent approximately $1,442. Hanson’s biggest donations were a $2,000 loan to herself, and $2,000 from Catherine and Brady Hanson. Hanson reported having $4,328 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

Democrat
John Scholten: Scholten raised approximately $174,343 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $48,413. Scholten’s largest non-individual donor was from the Weaver for Congress Political Action Committee (Kim Weaver was a Democratic candidate for District 4, but dropped out of the race earlier this year). Scholten also made an approximate $4,723 loan to himself. He reported having approximately $133,522 cash-on-hand after the reporting period.

Leann Jacobsen: Jacobsen raised approximately $47,430 in the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $51,376. In addition to individual contributions, Jacobsen made a $12,296 donation to herself, in-kind for using her own vehicle. She reported approximately $34,256 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.

John Paschen: Paschen raised approximately $63,552 during the fourth quarter, and spent approximately $26,600. Paschen made an approximate $1,085 donation to himself, in-kind for using his own vehicle. He reported having approximately $47,886 cash-on-hand at the end of the reporting period.