Bettendorf businessman running for Congress as Republican

BETTENDORF — Political novice and Bettendorf business owner Kyle Kuehl announced Monday he will run for Congress as a Republican in Iowa's new 1st Congressional District.

Kuehl is the first Republican to announce his candidacy in the district, which redistricting has left without an incumbent.

Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor, is also seeking the 1st District seat, which encompasses southeast Iowa, including Johnson and Scott counties.

Kuehl owns and operates FSBO Homes Quad Cities and has launched Code Ninjas Quad Cities, a franchise that teaches computer coding and STEM education to children ages 5 to 14.

Kuehl, who has "absolutely zero political experience," said he is running on his experience serving in the military and as a business owner.

"When I look at Congress, there are way too few veterans in Congress and way too few business owners in Congress, and, honestly, that’s why not much is getting done," Kuehl said. "Whether left or right, that will appeal to a lot of Eastern Iowa folks looking for those attributes in Congress."

Kuehl said in his news release that he served as sniper in the Iowa Army National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.

"As a business owner, you have to be a decisive person and really understand communication," Kuehl said. "If you can do those two things, you’re off to a great start being a successful representative of the people.

“When it comes to Congress making decisions on foreign policy and veterans it surely helps have someone who has been on the front line serving this country."

Asked why he chose to make his first foray into politics in a run for Congress, Kuehl said, "When I look at the problems in government, I think our state is doing a great job. It’s the elected officials on the fed level not getting it done.

"That’s where I see the problem and that’s where I see the opportunity" to reduce federal spending and increase support for veterans, he said.

The new 21-county 1st Congressional District covers much of southeast Iowa, including Johnson, Cedar, Jones, Iowa, Washington, Keokuk, Louisa, Scott, Clinton and Muscatine counties.

Portions of the district are now represented by U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa.

Hinson, a Republican, will likely face state Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, in 2022 in Iowa’s new 2nd District. The 22-county district runs north to the Minnesota border and includes Linn, Black Hawk and Dubuque counties.

Iowa’s new redistricting map puts Miller-Meeks, a Republican, in the 3rd District, now represented by U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat. Neither of them have announced their plans for 2022.