Rod Blum launches comeback bid in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District

Republican former Iowa U.S. Rep. Rod Blum is seeking a return to Congress, announcing Thursday he will run for the open seat in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and pledging $250,000 of his own money to jump-start his campaign.

Blum, 70, served two terms in Congress, defeating Democratic former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy in 2014 in a Republican upset and securing re-election in 2016 before losing to Democrat Abby Finkenauer in 2018.

Blum, a longtime software executive and Dubuque native, said he felt called to serve again amid what he described as a pivotal moment for the country.

“Representing the voters of Eastern Iowa in Congress was the honor of my lifetime, and I am ready to serve them again,” he said in a statement. “I was proud to stand with President Trump during my time in Congress and was honored to serve on his Iowa leadership committee for his most recent campaign. I know that President Trump needs more allies in the U.S. House who will support his America First agenda.”

Blum’s platform

Blum said his campaign will center on securing the southern border, deporting immigrants in the country illegally who commit crimes, and strengthening the U.S. economy through fair trade deals that put more money in the pockets of American workers. He also pledged to push for U.S. energy independence, stronger public safety, lower housing costs for first-time buyers, protection of women’s sports, and opposition to abortion rights.

“We need more Representatives in Washington who understand the business world and what it means to create jobs, balance budgets, and make tough decisions,” Blum said.

Blum first won election in 2014 in what was then Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, flipping a Democratic-held seat during the GOP wave that year. He was reelected in 2016 but lost in 2018 to Finkenauer, who capitalized on Democratic turnout in a midterm election widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s first term.

During his tenure, Blum served on the Small Business Committee — chairing its subcommittee on agriculture, energy and trade — and on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Trump ties

After leaving Congress, Blum served on Trump’s Iowa leadership team for the 2024 caucuses.

Blum’s business background is central to his campaign pitch. A graduate of Loras College and the University of Dubuque, he built Eagle Point Software from a five-employee startup into a firm of more than 300 workers, taking it public on the Nasdaq in the 1990s.

Crowded GOP field

Blum joins what is shaping up to be a competitive Republican primary. The seat is open after U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Marion Republican, announced she will run for U.S. Senate to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not seeking re-election.

State Sen. Charlie McClintock of Alburnett, a former Cedar Rapids police officer, and former state lawmaker Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake, who founded an organization to recruit young conservatives to run for office and became one of the youngest members ever elected to the Iowa Legislature at age 21 in 2018, have declared bids on the Republican side.

Republican state legislator Shannon Lundgren of Peosta also has said she is “seriously considering” entering the race.

Several Democrats also are running for the seat, including state Rep. Lindsay James of Dubuque, longtime Cedar Rapids nonprofit leader Clint Twedt-Ball, retired Army nurse and former community college nursing dean Kathy Dolter of Dubuque, and former state park manager Don Primus of Steamboat Rock.

Political landscape

The Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating of Iowa’s 2nd District from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” citing increased Democratic opportunities in the open-seat contest following Hinson’s decision to run for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Still, the district has trended Republican in recent cycles, giving Trump a comfortable margin in 2024 and reelecting Hinson with relative ease.

Blum’s entry adds both name recognition and baggage. He won two terms in Congress but faced criticism during his tenure for ethics issues related to his software company during the 2018 race.

Republicans are eager to keep the district in their column, while Democrats view it as an opportunity to regain ground in Iowa.

“I look forward to working hard every day to earn the Republican nomination, hold this seat for our Republican majority next November, and get to work protecting our constitutional freedoms as Americans,” Blum said.

The primary election is scheduled for June 2026.

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