Dave Loebsack

Dave Loebsack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Iowa's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded by Jim Leach
Personal details
Born (1952-12-23) December 23, 1952
Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Terry Loebsack
Residence Iowa City, Iowa
Education Iowa State University (BA, MA)
University of California, Davis (PhD)

David Wayne Loebsack (/ˈloʊbˌsæk/; born December 23, 1952) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Davenport, Pella, Iowa City, Clinton, and Ottumwa. He is an Emeritus Professor of political science at Cornell College.[1] He is currently the only Democrat in Iowa's congressional delegation.

Early life, education and career

Loebsack was born in Sioux City, Iowa and was raised in a single parent household of limited financial means. He graduated from East High School and attended college at Iowa State University. There, Loebsack earned both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in political science.

After receiving a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of California, Davis, Loebsack took a job as a political science professor at Cornell College, a small liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, near Cedar Rapids. Today, he serves as a professor emeritus.[2] Loebsack started the Linn Phoenix group, a fundraising arm of the Linn County Democrats.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Voting record

Consistently, David Loebsack has voted in line with the Democratic Party. Out of 1,551 total votes, he has voted with the Democratic Party 90% of the time. He has voted consistently to protect legal access to abortion and to pass measures that instill regulations that aim to protect the environment. He strongly believes in Wall Street reform and regulation, is generally in opposition to bailouts, and has stated that his "role in government is to help stick up for the little guy".

Interest Group Ratings

Economic

David Loebsack’s Interest Group Ratings concerning fiscal (economic) issues reinforce his general allegiance to party lines. Regarding the budget, spending, and taxes, he received 4% from Citizens Against Government Waste (2010), 36% from the National Journal Conservative Economic Policy Score (2011), and 64% from the National Journal Liberal Economic Policy Score (2011). Concerning Business and Consumers, Loebsack received 100% from the American Council of Engineering Companies (2009–2010), 0% from the Alliance for Worker Freedom (2008), and 66% from the National Small Business Association (2011).

Civil liberties

Similar to Loebsack’s Interest Group Ratings regarding the economy, his social ratings also adhere to party lines. Regarding civil liberties and civil rights, Loebsack has received 91% from the Human Rights Campaign (2009–2010), 95% from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2009–2010), and 20% from the Arab American Institute (2009–2010). Loebsack has generally scored high among Interest Groups involved in civil liberties.

Environment

Concerning the Environment, he received 94% from the League of Conservation Voters (2011) and 90% from Environment America (2011).

Abortion

Finally, his Interest Group Ratings concerning abortion reflect the Democratic party position, predictably receiving 100% from NARAL Pro-Choice America (2011) and 0% from the National Right to Life Committee (2011).

Political campaigns

2006

In 2006 Loebsack defeated 15-term incumbent Jim Leach in one of the biggest upsets of the cycle. Loebsack was nominated by a special convention of the 2nd District after failing to get the required number of signatures to be on the primary ballot. Since there was no one qualified for the ballot, the convention was called to determine the nomination. The 2nd had been trending Democratic for some time (a Republican presidential candidate hasn't carried it since 1984), and was reckoned as the most Democratic district in the state. It was taken for granted that Leach would have been succeeded by a Democrat once he retired. Nonetheless, Leach was not on any Democratic target lists. Loebsack won largely by running up an 8,395-vote margin in Johnson County, home to Iowa City.

2008

Loebsack was easily reelected in 2008, taking 57 percent of the vote over Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a doctor from Ottumwa and the former president of the state medical society.

2010

Loebsack faced Miller-Meeks again in 2010 and had a much more difficult time of it than he had two years earlier. He prevailed with only 51% of the vote, largely by running up a 13,900-vote margin in Johnson County. Terry Branstad easily carried the district in his successful bid to reclaim the governorship. Chuck Grassley carried every county in the district except Johnson; in fact, Johnson was the only county Grassley lost in his bid for another term.

2012

After redistricting moved Loebsack's home in Mount Vernon to the 1st District of fellow Democrat Bruce Braley, Loebsack moved to Iowa City in the reconfigured 2nd. The redrawn district is no less Democratic than its predecessor; it regained Davenport, which had been the anchor of the 2nd and its predecessors for decades before being shifted out of the district in the 2000s round of redistricting.

Loebsack won the election with 55.4% of the vote. His Republican opponent, John Archer, got 42.5%; Alan Aversa, an Independent candidate, received 2.2%. Braley won the 1st district with 56.9% of the vote.[6]

2014

Loebsack beat Miller-Meeks, 52.5% to 47.5%. The 1st district went Republican, leaving Loebsack the only Democratic House member from Iowa.[7]

2016

In October 2016, the Daily Iowan endorsed Loebsack, saying that while he was "not perfect" he displayed a "willingness to work with the other side" and had "maintained some degree of competence in office."[8] Loebsack beat Christopher Peters, 54% to 46%. Again, Loebsack was the only Democrat that Iowa sent to the House in 2016. The state went for Donald Trump by a comfortable margin, and Republican Chuck Grassley was returned to the Senate by a landslide.[9] Despite the Republican swing in Iowa, Loebsack managed to hold his position as a Democrat.

Tenure

Taxation

In November 2017, Loebsack was the only House member from Iowa to vote against tax reform, claiming the "tax plan that was rushed through the House of Representatives will hurt everyday Iowans."[10]

Immigration

In September 2017, Loebsack told Ottumwa voters that he supports "Dreamers." He said, "We've got do everything we can to protect them."[11]

Electoral history

2006

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack 107,683 51.38
Republican James A. Leach (incumbent) 101,707 48.53
No party Others 196 0.09%
Total votes 209,586 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican

2008

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (incumbent) 175,218 57.19
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 118,778 38.77
Green Wendy Barth 6,664 2.18
Independent Brian White 5,437 1.78
No party Others 261 0.09%
Total votes 306,358 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2010

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (incumbent) 115,839 50.99
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 104,319 45.92
Libertarian Gary Joseph Sicard 4,356 1.92
Constitution Jon Tack 2,463 1.08
No party Others 198 0.09%
Total votes 227,175 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2012

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (incumbent) 211,863 55.57
Republican John Archer 161,977 42.48
Independent Alan Aversa 7,112 1.87
No party Others 323 0.08%
Total votes 381,275 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2014

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (incumbent) 143,431 52.48
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 129,455 47.36
Write-ins 443 0.16
Total votes 273,329 100
Democratic hold

2016

Map showing the results of the 2016 election in Iowa's second congressional district by county
Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (incumbent) 198,571 53.66
Republican Christopher Peters 170,933 46.19
Write-ins 528 0.15
Total votes 370,032 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Politics Faculty | Cornell College". www.cornellcollege.edu. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  2. 1 2 3 "U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack". U.S. Government. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  3. ↑ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "Members". Afterschool Alliance. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Lattman, Peter; Iowa - Election 2012; New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/states/iowa.html
  7. ↑ Iowa Election Results 2014; New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2014/iowa-elections
  8. ↑ Endorsement: Dave Loebsack
    Daily Iowan; http://daily-iowan.com/2016/10/28/endorsement-dave-loebsack/
  9. ↑ Iowa Results; New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/iowa
  10. ↑ Meyer, Elizabeth; Dave Loebsack, Iowa’s lone Democrat, votes no on tax bill; The Hawk Eye; November 17, 2017; http://www.thehawkeye.com/news/20171117/dave-loebsack-iowas-lone-democrat-votes-no-on-tax-bill
  11. ↑ Menon, Aish; Congressman Dave Loebsack talks about DACA and other issues; KTVO; http://ktvo.com/news/local/congressman-dave-loebsack-talks-about-daca-and-other-issues
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jim Leach		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
2007–present		 Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Doug Lamborn
R-Colorado		 United States Representatives by seniority
143rd		 Succeeded by
Kevin McCarthy
R-California
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