Cedar Rapids pastor and nonprofit founder launches congressional campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS — Clint Twedt-Ball was born and raised in Iowa, the son of a small-town pastor and stay-at-home mom, who would go on to follow in his father’s footsteps, serving churches in Cedar Rapids before starting a nonprofit with his brother in 2006.

  Buy Photo

“I see every day the real challenges and problems people face, right?” Twedt-Ball said. “I sit with people that can hardly afford to pay rent, that have dreams of what their kids can do when they grow up, and yet it just feels so far away from them.”

The longtime Matthew 25 leader, who stepped down this summer after nearly 20 years at the helm, launched a campaign Tuesday for the U.S. House seat currently held by Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

He’s the second Democrat this month to announce their campaign for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, setting up a potential primary.

Kathy Dolter, a U.S. Army veteran and former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, filed paperwork earlier this month to run as a Democrat to challenge Hinson for the northeast Iowa U.S. House seat in 2026. State Rep. Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, said she is “seriously considering” launching a campaign to seek her party’s nomination to challenge Hinson for the congressional seat.

Hinson, a former TV news anchor and state lawmaker, was first elected to the seat in 2020, ousting then-Democratic incumbent Abby Finkenauer. She won re-election in 2022 and 2024 and is serving in her third term.

Iowa’s 22-county 2nd Congressional District includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City.

Hinson, 42, of Marion, has not officially announced a formal re-election campaign, but earlier this year ruled out running in Iowa's open gubernatorial race, citing a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" with Republican control of Congress and the presidency.

  Buy Photo

Twedt-Ball, 54, a first-time candidate, said he’s running to oppose “cuts to programs that impact working families that I've spent my entire career trying to help.”

That includes Medicaid reforms contained in President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. The new law, which narrowly passed with Republican support in Congress, significantly alters SNAP food assistance and Medicaid, with a focus on work requirements and cost-sharing.

Twedt-Ball said the changes will likely lead to a significant rise in uncompensated care costs for hospitals and other health care providers, putting strain on the health care system and threatening rural hospitals, which often rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements. He worries that will lead to increased health care deserts and difficulties for Iowans, particular those with disabilities, in accessing care.

Hinson joined the rest of Iowa's all-Republican congressional delegation in voting for Trump's "big beautiful bill.“ They argue the bill will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy.

Medicaid program spending still will grow roughly 3 percent per year. Republicans argue the program has been massively expanded over the last 16 years, and as a result many medical practices are unable to take on new Medicaid patients, causing recipients to wait longer and travel farther for the care they need. The bill’s Medicaid reforms, they say, will allow the program’s resources to be focused on those who truly need assistance, giving them better access to medical care.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal will add $3.3 trillion to the nation’s debt over the next decade, and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.

Twedt-Ball said voters are tired of career politicians and he’s running as someone who can bring practical, community-focused solutions to Washington, D.C.

“I just feel like for so long, I've watched Congress be dysfunctional, right, kicking the can down the road on big problems that we face, spending more time screaming at each other than caring about the communities that they serve,” he said.

Twedt-Ball and his brother launched Matthew 25 — a nonprofit which has led neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, after school programs and disaster relief efforts in northeast Iowa — part-time while being stay-at-home dads. They started out of the basement of Trinity United Methodist Church, with regular sermons and a roster of community services such as free summer lunch distributions and tax preparation assistance.

  Buy Photo

The nonprofit grew significantly after the 2008 flood, eventually raising more than $6 million to support more than 250 flood-affected residents across 25 city blocks. It has since expanded to 40 employees and a $3 million annual budget.

By showcasing his practical experience in neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing and community development, Twedt-Ball said he aims to demonstrate that he's not just another political candidate, but a community problem-solver who can translate local needs into effective congressional representation.

He criticized current Congressional policies for neglecting rural communities and working families.

“I grew up in small-town Iowa. I care about small-town Iowa,” said Twedt-Ball, who was born in Harlan. “It taught me the value of community and caring for one another. And we're in a time and place where we have shrinking small towns. The main streets don't look like they used to when I was growing up.”

If elected, he said he would focus on expanding funding to support main street businesses, restoring Community Development Block Grant funding, preserving Medicaid coverage, and creating strategies to invest in affordable housing and economic development in small towns.

Twedt-Ball said he’s committed to bringing community-focused problem solving to Congress to lower drug prices and medical costs, improve home ownership opportunities, protect social safety net programs, and create economic policies that benefit middle and working-class families.

His strategy involves listening to people across all 22 counties, including areas where Democrats haven't traditionally been strong. As a pastor and nonprofit leader, he emphasizes his ability to bring people together, work across different backgrounds, and focus on solving real community problems rather than engaging in political gridlock.

He acknowledged the challenge of running against a well-funded incumbent but remains optimistic that his grassroots approach will resonate with voters more than traditional political maneuvering.

Hinson raised more than $850,000 in the second quarter of 2025 and has more than $2.8 million cash on hand.

“People are tired of Washington. They're looking for somebody that is service-oriented, that will have integrity, that has practical on the ground experience, and I have all of that,” Twedt-Ball said.

Grace Nieland of The Gazette contributed to this report.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com