Former U.S. Rep. Rod Blum is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination in Iowa’s open 2nd Congressional District race.
“It has become clear to me that I can help President Trump in other ways that are more effective than being in the U.S. House,” Blum said in a statement Oct. 13. “I love our country, and despite our challenges, I remain optimistic that under the president’s leadership, America’s best days are still to come.”
The 2nd Congressional District covers 22 counties in northeast Iowa, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo and Mason City.
Blum’s decision to drop out of the race comes less than a month after he announced his candidacy for Congress on Sept. 18 following incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s decision to run for U.S. Senate.
Blum, of Dubuque, was elected to represent northeast Iowa in Congress in 2014 and won reelection in 2016. He was defeated in 2018 by Democrat Abby Finkenauer.
While in Congress, he served on the Small Business Committee and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
When he announced his candidacy, Blum said he would invest $250,000 of his own money into his campaign. Quarterly campaign fundraising reports are due with the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 15.
State Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Dubuque; state Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett; and former state Rep. Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake are seeking the Republican nomination.
Three Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination in the 2nd District: Kathy Dolter, a U.S. Army veteran and former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College; Lindsay James, a state representative and an ordained Presbyterian pastor; and Clint Twedt-Ball, a Cedar Rapids resident and former nonprofit executive.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican former US Rep. Rod Blum drops out of Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District race
Reporting by Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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