Iowa's 4th congressional district Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative Distribution Population (2023) 796,302 Median household income $68,428[ 1] Ethnicity Cook PVI R+16[ 2]
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the western border of the state, including Sioux City and Council Bluffs. Up north, it extends eastwards into Ames , Boone , Fort Dodge , and Marshalltown . It has been represented by Republican Randy Feenstra since 2021, who defeated longtime incumbent Steve King in 2020 . With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+16, it is the most Republican district in Iowa, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.[ 2]
History
Since the 1880s, there have been major changes in the location or nature of Iowa's 4th Congressional District. From 1886 until 1941, the district was made up of largely rural counties in northeastern Iowa, including the easternmost five counties in the northernmost two rows[ 3] (and, during the 1930s, Buchanan and Delaware counties from the third row).[ 4] During that era, the district included areas from Mason City east to the Mississippi River.
In 1941, Iowa's 5th Congressional District (made up of rural counties in southern Iowa) was renumbered as Iowa's 4th Congressional District, and counties in the old 4th District were placed in the 3rd District and the 2nd District.[ 5] (In 1942, 4th District incumbent, Henry O. Talle , would defeat the 2nd District incumbent William S. Jacobsen in the new 2nd Congressional District). From 1941 until 1960 the 4th Congressional District included the central five counties of each of the two southernmost tiers, plus four counties between Des Moines and Iowa City (Mahaska, Keokuk, Jasper and Poweshiek).[ 5] 5th District incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Karl M. LeCompte was reelected in the reconfigured 4th District in 1942, and was reelected in the next seven races. In 1958, when LeCompte did not run for reelection, Democrat Steven V. Carter defeated Republican John Kyl . A recurrence of cancer would claim Carter's life before the end of his only term, and Kyl won the special election and next general election. In 1961 the 4th Congressional District was expanded to include five central Iowa counties - Warren, Marion, Marshall, Tama and Benton[ 6] - but retained its rural character. Kyl held this seat until he was swept out in the massive Democratic landslide of 1964. However, he regained his old seat in 1966, and was reelected two more times.
The rural character of the district was changed when most of its territory was merged with the Des Moines -based 5th District of Democratic incumbent Neal Smith after the 1970 census. Polk County (home to Des Moines and most of its suburbs) was added, while most of the rural counties were taken out.[ 7] Smith defeated Kyl in the 1972 congressional election. The district became even less rural in 1981, when Story County (home of Ames) was added, and other rural counties were taken out.[ 8] The district was significantly altered after the 1990 census, when it was reconfigured to take in the southwest quadrant of the state from Des Moines to Council Bluffs . Smith was reelected in 1992, but defeated in 1994 by Republican Greg Ganske .
The 2001 remap made the 4th district a north-central Iowa district. It could not be said to be the successor of any of the previous districts. It was a primarily rural district, though it included Ames and Mason City . It did not include any of the state's nine largest cities, and only four of the twenty largest Iowa cities.[ 9] The plan went into effect in 2003 for the 108th U.S. Congress.[ 10] The 5th's incumbent congressman, Tom Latham , had his home in Alexander drawn into the 4th, and was elected from this district five times.
For the 2012 elections, the Iowa Legislature passed a plan that went into effect in 2013 for the 113th U.S. Congress. The district now covers the northwest corner of the state, and essentially merged the northern half of the old 5th District with the western third of the old 4th. The new map placed Latham and 5th District incumbent Steve King in the same district. Although the new 4th was geographically more Latham's district, he opted to move to the redrawn 3rd District, leaving King to take the seat. The current 4th district is by far the most conservative in Iowa - it was the only one of the state's four districts to be won by Mitt Romney in 2012, and Donald Trump carried it by over 25 points in 2016. Additionally, King was the only Republican House member from Iowa during the 116th Congress , although he faced a close race in 2018 due to his long history of controversial comments.
In June 2020, Steve King was defeated in the Republican House primary by challenger Randy Feenstra .
Statewide races since 2000
Election results from statewide races:
Composition
The 4th district includes the entirety of the following counties:
#
County
Seat
Population
9
Audubon
Audubon
5,534
15
Boone
Boone
26,590
21
Buena Vista
Storm Lake
20,567
25
Calhoun
Rockwell City
9,763
27
Carroll
Carroll
20,522
35
Cherokee
Cherokee
11,605
41
Clay
Spencer
16,511
47
Crawford
Denison
16,013
59
Dickinson
Spirit Lake
18,056
63
Emmet
Estherville
9,229
69
Franklin
Hampton
9,875
71
Fremont
Sidney
6,458
79
Hamilton
Webster City
14,729
81
Hancock
Garner
10,615
85
Harrison
Logan
14,670
91
Humboldt
Dakota City
9,500
93
Ida
Ida Grove
6,833
109
Kossuth
Algona
14,396
119
Lyon
Rock Rapids
12,324
127
Marshall
Marshalltown
40,014
129
Mills
Glenwood
14,633
133
Monona
Onawa
8,493
141
O'Brien
Primghar
14,012
143
Osceola
Sibley
5,978
147
Palo Alto
Emmetsburg
8,810
149
Plymouth
Le Mars
25,722
151
Pocahontas
Pocahontas
6,976
155
Pottawattamie
Council Bluffs
93,179
161
Sac
Sac City
9,686
165
Shelby
Harlan
11,806
167
Sioux
Orange City
35,246
169
Story
Nevada
98,566
187
Webster
Fort Dodge
36,485
189
Winnebago
Forest City
10,571
193
Woodbury
Sioux City
105,951
197
Wright
Clarion
12,656
Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people
Sioux City – 85,797
Ames – 66,427
Council Bluffs – 62,799
Marshalltown – 27,591
Fort Dodge – 24,871
Boone – 12,460
Spencer – 11,325
Storm Lake – 11,269
Le Mars – 10,571
Carroll – 10,321
2,500 – 10,000 people
Denison – 8,373
Sioux Center – 8,229
Webster City – 7,825
Nevada – 6,925
Orange City – 6,267
Estherville – 5,904
Sheldon – 5,512
Algona – 5,487
Spirit Lake – 5,439
Cherokee – 5,199
Glenwood – 5,073
Sergeant Bluff – 5,015
Harlan – 4,893
Humboldt – 4,792
Hampton – 4,337
Forest City – 4,285
Huxley – 4,244
Rock Valley – 4,059
Carter Lake – 3,791
Emmetsburg – 3,706
Eagle Grove – 3,601
Story City – 3,352
Milford – 3,321
Garner – 3,065
Onawa – 2,906
Sibley – 2,860
Clarion – 2,810
Madrid – 2,802
Hawarden – 2,700
Missouri Valley – 2,678
Rock Rapids – 2,611
List of members representing the district
Member
Party
Term
Cong ress
Electoral history
Location
District created March 4, 1863
File:Josiah Bushnell Grinnell - Brady-Handy.jpg Josiah B. Grinnell (Grinnell )
Republican
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867
38th 39th
Elected in 1862 .Re-elected in 1864 . Lost renomination.
1863–1873 [data missing ]
File:William Loughridge.jpg William Loughridge (Oskaloosa )
Republican
March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871
40th 41st
Elected in 1866 .Re-elected in 1868 . Lost renomination.
File:Madison Miner Walden.jpg Madison M. Walden (Centerville )
Republican
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
42nd
Elected in 1870 . Lost renomination.
File:HenryOtisPratt.jpg Henry O. Pratt (Charles City )
Republican
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
43rd 44th
Elected in 1872 .Re-elected in 1874 . Retired.
1873–1883 [data missing ]
File:NathanielCobbDeering.jpg Nathaniel C. Deering (Osage )
Republican
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883
45th 46th 47th
Elected in 1876 .Re-elected in 1878 .Re-elected in 1880 . Retired.
File:Luman H. Weller (Iowa Congressman).jpg Luman H. Weller (Nashua )
Greenback
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885
48th
Elected in 1882 . Lost re-election.
1883–1887 Allamakee , Chickasaw , Clayton , Fayette , Floyd , Howard , Mitchell , and Winneshiek counties
File:William Elijah Fuller.jpg William E. Fuller (West Union )
Republican
March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889
49th 50th
Elected in 1884 .Re-elected in 1886 . Lost renomination.
1887–1933 Allamakee , Cerro Gordo , Chickasaw , Clayton , Fayette , Floyd , Howard , Mitchell , Winneshiek , and Worth counties
File:Joseph H. Sweeney (Iowa Congressman).jpg Joseph H. Sweney (Osage )
Republican
March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891
51st
Elected in 1888 . Lost re-election.
File:Walter H. Butler (Iowa Congressman).jpg Walter H. Butler (West Union )
Democratic
March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
52nd
Elected in 1890 . Lost re-election.
File:Thomas Updegraff (Iowa Congressman).jpg Thomas Updegraff (McGregor )
Republican
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1899
53rd 54th 55th
Elected in 1892 .Re-elected in 1894 .Re-elected in 1896 . Lost renomination.
File:Gilbert N. Haugen 1929.jpg Gilbert N. Haugen (Northwood )
Republican
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1933
56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd
Elected in 1898 .Re-elected in 1900 .Re-elected in 1902 .Re-elected in 1904 .Re-elected in 1906 .Re-elected in 1908 .Re-elected in 1910 .Re-elected in 1912 .Re-elected in 1914 .Re-elected in 1916 .Re-elected in 1918 .Re-elected in 1920 .Re-elected in 1922 .Re-elected in 1924 .Re-elected in 1926 .Re-elected in 1928 .Re-elected in 1930 . Lost re-election.
File:Fred Biermann.png Fred Biermann (Decorah )
Democratic
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939
73rd 74th 75th
Elected in 1932 .Re-elected in 1934 .Re-elected in 1936 . Lost re-election.
1933–1943 [data missing ]
File:Henry O. Talle (Iowa Congressman).jpg Henry O. Talle (Decorah )
Republican
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1943
76th 77th
Elected in 1938 .Re-elected in 1940 . Redistricted to the 2nd district .
File:Karl M. Le Compte.jpg Karl M. LeCompte (Corydon )
Republican
January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1959
78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1942 .Re-elected in 1944 .Re-elected in 1946 .Re-elected in 1948 .Re-elected in 1950 .Re-elected in 1952 .Re-elected in 1954 .Re-elected in 1956 . Retired.
1943–1963 [data missing ]
File:Steven V. Carter (Iowa Congressman).jpg Steven V. Carter (Leon )
Democratic
January 3, 1959 – November 4, 1959
86th
Elected in 1958 . Died.
Vacant
November 4, 1959 – December 15, 1959
File:John Henry Kyl.jpg John H. Kyl (Bloomfield )
Republican
December 15, 1959 – January 3, 1965
86th 87th 88th
Elected to finish Carter's term .Re-elected in 1960 .Re-elected in 1962 . Lost re-election.
1963–1973 [data missing ]
File:Bert Bandstra.jpg Bert Bandstra (Pella )
Democratic
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967
89th
Elected in 1964 . Lost re-election.
File:John Henry Kyl.jpg John H. Kyl (Bloomfield )
Republican
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
90th 91st 92nd
Elected in 1966 .Re-elected in 1968 .Re-elected in 1970 . Lost re-election.
File:Neal Smith politician.jpg Neal E. Smith (Altoona )
Democratic
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1995
93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1972 .Re-elected in 1974 .Re-elected in 1976 .Re-elected in 1978 .Re-elected in 1980 .Re-elected in 1982 .Re-elected in 1984 .Re-elected in 1986 .Re-elected in 1988 .Re-elected in 1990 .Re-elected in 1992 . Lost re-election.
1973–1983 [data missing ]
1983–1993 [data missing ]
1993–2003 [data missing ]
File:Greg Ganske's Official Portrait.jpg Greg Ganske (Des Moines )
Republican
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
104th 105th 106th 107th
Elected in 1994 .Re-elected in 1996 .Re-elected in 1998 .Re-elected in 2000 . Redistricted to the 3rd district but retired to run for U.S. Senator .
File:Tom Latham, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg Tom Latham (Ames )
Republican
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
108th 109th 110th 111th 112th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 .Re-elected in 2008 .Re-elected in 2010 . Redistricted to the 3rd district .
2003–2013 File:United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 4 map.png
File:Steve King official photo.jpg Steve King (Kiron )
Republican
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021
113th 114th 115th 116th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 2012 .Re-elected in 2014 .Re-elected in 2016 .Re-elected in 2018 . Lost renomination.
2013–2023 File:Iowa US Congressional District 4 (since 2013).tif
File:Randy Feenstra 117th U.S Congress.jpg Randy Feenstra (Hull )
Republican
January 3, 2021 – present
117th 118th
Elected in 2020 .Re-elected in 2022 .Re-elected in 2024 .
2023–present :File:Iowa's 4th congressional district (since 2023).svg
Historical election results
Year[ 11]
Winner
Second
Percentage
Party affiliation
Candidate
Votes
Party affiliation
Candidate
Votes
1920
Republican
Gilbert N. Haugen
53,083
Democratic
Carl Evans
18,104
75%–25%
1922
32,586
A. M. Schanke
24,532
57%–43%
1924
50,850
J. M. Berry
20,636
71%–29%
1926
30,611
Frank E. Howard
20,076
60%–40%
1928
50,488
Erwin Larson
31,968
61%–39%
1930
29,224
Wilbur L. Peck
20,236
59%–41%
1932
Democratic
Fred Biermann
62,598
Republican
Gilbert N. Haugen
42,207
59%–41%
1934
49,504
C. A. Benson
43,794
52%–46%
1936
56,308
Henry O. Talle
51,805
51%–47%
1938
Republican
Henry O. Talle
48,640
Democratic
Fred Biermann
44,601
52%–48%
1940
66,691
Morgan J. McEnaney
51,558
56%–44%
1942
Karl M. LeCompte
52,258
Thomas L. Curran
28,745
65%–35%
1944
59,658
Harold J. Fleck
49,098
55%–45%
1946
43,753
A. E. Augustine
31,203
58%–42%
1948
53,384
Steven V. Carter
49,894
52%–48%
1950
51,168
38,649
57%–43%
1952
73,317
Earl E. Glassburner
44,900
62%–38%
1954
49,608
Herschel C. Loveless
39,652
56%–44%
1956
58,024
Steven V. Carter
56,406
51%–49%
1958
Democratic
Steven V. Carter
42,479
Republican
John Henry Kyl
39,233
52%–48%
1960
Republican
John Henry Kyl
65,016
Democratic
C. Edwin Gilmour
49,918
57%–43%
1962
65,538
Gene W. Glenn
51,810
56%–44%
1964
Democratic
Bert Bandstra
85,518
Republican
John Henry Kyl
73,898
54%–46%
1966
Republican
John Henry Kyl
65,259
Democratic
Bert Bandstra
61,074
52%–48%
1968
83,259
71,134
54%–46%
1970
59,396
Roger Blobaum
49,369
55%–45%
1972
Democratic
Neal Edward Smith
123,431
Republican
John Henry Kyl
85,156
59%–41%
1974
91,755
Chuck Dick
53,756
61%–35%
1976
145,343
Charles E. Minor
65,013
69%–31%
1978
88,526
48,308
65%–35%
1980
117,896
Donald C. Young
100,335
54%–36%
1982
118,849
Dave Readinger
60,534
66%–34%
1984
136,922
Robert R. Lockard
88,717
61%–39%
1986
107,271
49,641
68%–32%
1988
157,065
Paul Lunde
62,056
72%–28%
1990
127,812
unopposed
2,778
98%–2%
1992
158,610
Republican
Paul Lunde
94,045
62%–37%
1994
Republican
Greg Ganske
111,935
Democratic
Neal Edward Smith
98,824
53%–46%
1996
133,419
Connie McBurney
119,790
52%–47%
1998
129,942
Jon Dvorak
67,550
65%–34%
2000
169,267
Michael L. Huston
101,112
61%–37%
2002
Tom Latham
115,430
John Norris
90,784
55%–43%
2004
181,294
Paul W. Johnson
116,121
61%–39%
2006
120,512
Selden Spencer
89,994
57%–43%
2008
184,529
Becky Greenwald
119,927
60%–39%
2010
152,588
Bill Maske
74,300
64%–31%
2012
Steve King
200,831
Christie Vilsack
168,323
53%–45%
2014
169,141
Jim Mowrer
104,873
62%–38%
2016
226,719
Kim Weaver
142,993
61%–39%
2018
157,275
J. D. Scholten
146,737
50.3%–47.0%
2020
Randy Feenstra
237,369
144,761
62.0%–37.8%
2002
Note: Jim Hennager ran on the Earth Federation Party platform on the ballot.
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
File:2018IA04.svg Results of the 2018 Iowa's 4th congressional district election
2020
File:2020IA04.svg Results of the 2020 Iowa's 4th congressional district election
2022
File:Iowa's 4th Congressional District 2022 results.svg Results of the 2022 Iowa's 4th congressional district election
See also
References
General
↑ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District" . www.census.gov .
↑ 2.0 2.1 "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List" . Cook Political Report . July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
↑ "The Congressional Districts," Waterloo Courier, 1886-04-14 at 4; Iowa's Official Register (1930).
↑ Iowa's Official Register, 1933-34, at 6.
↑ 5.0 5.1 Iowa's Official Register, 1943-1944, at 15.
↑ "Another redrawing," Ames Daily Tribune, 1970-07-07 at 4.
↑ Iowa Official Register, 1973-74, at 30.
↑ Iowa Official Register, 1983-84, at 46.
↑ Iowa League of Cities,Population of Iowa Cities of 8,000 or More Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 2008-07-27.
↑ "2001 Iowa Redistricting Plan" . 2001. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2006 .
↑ "Election Statistics" . 2005. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007.
↑ "Iowa General Election 2014" . Iowa Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014 .
↑ "Iowa General Election 2014" . Iowa Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2014 .
↑ "Iowa General Election 2018" . Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved November 11, 2018 .
↑ "General Election - 2020 Canvass Summary" (PDF) . Iowa Secretary of State .
↑ "2022 General Election CANVASS SUMMARY" (PDF) . Iowa Secretary of State .
Specific
42°37′43″N 94°38′42″W / 42.62861°N 94.64500°W / 42.62861; -94.64500