Primary 2022: Abby Finkenauer candidate profile
Abby Finkenauer served as Iowa’s U.S. House District 1 Representative from 2019 to 2021. She and fellow Democrat Cindy Axne became the first woman from Iowa elected to the U.S. House. She also served in the Iowa House from 2015 to 2019.
Candidate profile:
Abby Finkenauer grew up in Sherrill, Iowa — the daughter of a school district worker and a pipe-fitter welder.
“As a six-year-old, I would go to bed at night —not in fancy pajamas — but in dad's old white t-shirts that had tiny little holes all over them from the sparks of his welding torch. That's something you don't forget,” Finkenauer said.
She says it was that small-town upbringing that propelled her into politics.
At the age of 24, I ran for state house because I saw my friends, my family, my neighbors being forgotten by the policies in Des Moines, and in Washington, D.C., and I decided it was time we had somebody stepping up willing to raise voices,” Finkenauer said.
She became one of the first Iowa women elected to the U.S. House in 2018 but lost her first district seat to Republican Ashley Hinson in 2020. Now Finkenauer is back, hoping to head to the other chamber on Capitol Hill.
“I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish and do. But I can tell you this, there is plenty more work to do. And it starts in the U.S Senate — where we actually need to have Senators there who want to fight for families like mine, who want to do their jobs and are there for the right reasons. I think we've lost that in this country. And it's part of why I want to do this,” Finkenauer said.
She's running for a seat that's been held by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley for more than 40 years. Grassley will face challenger Jim Carlin in the Republican primary. But before Finkenauer can take on either candidate, she will square off with two other Democrats in June.
She says it's her record in Washington that sets her apart from the pack.
“When it comes to lowering prescription drug prices, I don't just need to tell you that's what I support. I literally took the vote to lower prescription drug prices, not just for our seniors, but for every single American,” Finkenauer said. “You know, who's over in the senate stopping it? Chuck Grassley, I get to talk about that, because I've done the work. It is important to me that Iowans know that this isn't about some title, but it's about the work, it's about the job. It's about representing them in a way that they deserve and haven't had in many, many years.”
Watch: Abby Finkenauer's final pitch to voters:
Watch: Abby Finkenauer discusses her top priorities
Watch: Abby Finkenauer on the economy
Watch: Abby Finkenauer on immigration
Watch: Abby Finkenauer on voting rights
Watch: Abby Finkenauer on education
Watch: Abby Finkenauer on firearms