Democrat Dave Dawson launches bid for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District

Former Iowa state legislator Dave Dawson, a Democrat, is going after the US House seat in Iowa’s most conservative district.

Dave Dawson, a 51-year-old prosecutor from Lawton, announced today he will run for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, jumping into a race that’s expected to draw multiple candidates as current Republican US Rep. Randy Feenstra explores a 2026 gubernatorial bid.

In a release, Dawson said he plans to host a public announcement and press event at noon at the Cherokee Public Library, in the town that he was born. 

The Democrat served two terms in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017, representing District 14 in the Sioux City area.

“As an Iowa prosecutor and attorney for the past twenty-three years, I have been a strong advocate for children and families,” Dawson said in the announcement. “As your next U.S. Representative, I will work to make health care more affordable and accessible, raise incomes for Iowa families, and invest in rural communities.”

Dawson has worked as a prosecutor in Woodbury County for 18 years, specializing in child abuse cases. He graduated valedictorian from Willow Community High School and earned sociology and psychology degrees from Iowa State University before pursuing a law degree from UCLA. He worked at a Chicago law firm for three years before returning to Iowa.

During his time in the Iowa House, Dawson received the Gold Star Award from Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association in 2016 for his work on law enforcement issues.

Dawson ran unsuccessfully for Iowa Senate District 3 in 2018, losing to Republican Jim Carlin 65% to 35%. Carlin is now in a crowded 2026 race for US Senate.

Iowa’s 4th Congressional District covers 36 counties in northern and western Iowa. It runs from the southwestern tip (Fremont County) of the state all the way past Council Bluffs and Sioux City to the northwesternmost tip (Lyon County). It stretches as far east as Marshall County, including Ames, Boone, Fort Dodge and Marshalltown. 

The district votes heavily Republican. President Donald Trump carried it by 26 percentage points in 2020. He carried it by 32 percentage points in 2024. Feenstra has held the seat since 2021, after defeating then-incumbent Rep. Steve King in the 2020 Republican primary.

Several Republicans have already announced or are considering runs for the seat. Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl announced his candidacy in July. Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, also filed paperwork to run, as has farmer Kyle Larsen of Humboldt. State Sen. Lynn Evans of Aurelia has formed an exploratory committee.

Democrat Ryan Melton ran against Feenstra in 2022 and 2024. He has announced that he will not run again in 2026. Ashley WolfTornabane of Strom Lake has announced she is also running for the Democratic nomination. 

The 2026 primary election will be held in June, with the general election in November.