Randy Feenstra IA-04

Randy Feenstra
ix
The Gazette Jan. 6, 2021

Summary

Current Position: US Representative of IA 4th District since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: State Senator from 2009 – 2021; Treasurer of Sioux County from 2006 – 2008
District:   
Upcoming Election:

Feenstra began his career as sales manager for the Foreign Candy Company, known for being the first US company to import Warheads, later serving as city administrator of Hull, Iowa for seven years.  While serving in the Iowa Senate, Feenstra worked for ISB Insurance in Hull, operated by Iowa State Bank. In 2017, he joined the faculty of Dordt University, after having taught there in an adjunct capacity since 2011.

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Iowans #FiredFinkenauer b/c she helped Pelosi pass her radical agenda at every turn – higher taxes & taxpayer funded abortions. We stopped her once and we will do it again. Nobody works harder than @ChuckGrassley. All 99 counties every year, working for Iowa farmers & families.

Meet the Lawmaker: Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa

OnAir Post: Randy Feenstra IA-04

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About

Source: Government page

Randy Feenstra 1Randy Feenstra was born and raised in Hull, Iowa, where he has served as City Administrator, Sioux County Treasurer, and Iowa state Senator. Feenstra received a bachelor’s degree from Dordt University and went on to receive his MPA from Iowa State University. After a successful tenure as head of sales for the Foreign Candy Company, he began teaching business and economics classes at Dordt University. He is married to his wife of 28 years, and they have four children.

Personal

Full Name: Randy Feenstra

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Lynette; 4 Children: Taylor, Erika, Dawson, Savannah

Birth Date: 01/14/1969

Birth Place: Hull, IA

Home City: Hull, IA

Religion: Christian

Source: Vote Smart

Education

MPA, Public Administration, Iowa State University

PhD, Business and Healthcare Administration, Northcentral University, 2022

BA, Communications/ Business Communications, Dordt College, 1987-1991

Political Experience

Representative, United States House of Representatives, Iowa, District 4, 2021-present

Former Assistant Republican Leader, Iowa State Senate

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Iowa, District 4, 2022

Assistant Majority Leader, Iowa State Senate, 2017-2021

Senator, Iowa State Senate, District 2, 2009-2021

Professional Experience

Adjunct Professor, Dordt College, present

Emergency Medical Technician, City of Hull

Former Sales Manager, Foreign Candy Company

Insurance Manager, Iowa State Bank

City Administrator, City of Hull, 1999-2006

Treasurer, Sioux County, 2006

Offices

Washington DC Office
1440 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

Phone: (202) 225-4426
Fax: (202) 225-3193
Sioux City District Office
320 6th Street
Room 112
Sioux City, IA  51101

Phone: (712) 224-4692
Fort Dodge District Office
723 Central Avenue
Fort Dodge, IA  50501

Phone: (515) 302-7060

Contact

Email: Government

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Committees

Legislation

Caucuses 

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

Committees

Caucuses 

New Legislation

Sponsored and Cosponsored

Issues

Source: Government page

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

District

Source: Wikipedia

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.

Wikipedia


Iowa’s 4th congressional district. The district covers the state’s western border and its northwestern quadrant, including Sioux City, Ames, Council Bluffs, and Marshalltown. Feenstra retired in 2026 to run for Governor of Iowa.[1] A member of the Republican Party, Feenstra served in the Iowa Senate from the 2nd district from 2009 to 2021. He was the Sioux County treasurer from 2006 to 2008.

Feenstra defeated incumbent Steve King in the primary election for the Republican nomination for Iowa’s 4th congressional district in 2020. He defeated Democratic nominee J. D. Scholten in the general election by almost 25 points and was sworn into Congress on January 3, 2021.

Feenstra was a candidate in the Republican primary in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election. In an upset, he was narrowly defeated by businessman Zach Lahn.

Early life and education

Randy Feenstra was born on January 14, 1969,[2] to parents Lee and Eleanor Feenstra.[3][4] He is of Dutch ancestry.[5] In 1987, Feenstra graduated from Western Christian High School,[2] where he played basketball.[6][7] He received a Bachelor of Arts in business communications in 1991 from Dordt University,[2][8][9] then known as Dordt College. He later earned a Master of Public Administration from Iowa State University.[10][11] In 2022, Feenstra received a Doctor of Philosophy in business[12] from Northcentral University.[2]

Early career

Feenstra began his career as sales manager for the Foreign Candy Company,[3][13] known for being the first US company to import Warheads, later serving as city administrator of Hull for seven years.[14] In 2006, he was elected Sioux County Treasurer, replacing Robert Hagey.[14][15] Randy Jacobsma replaced Feenstra in a 2008 special election,[16][17] as Feenstra won his first term in the Iowa Senate that year.

While serving in the Iowa Senate, Feenstra worked for ISB Insurance in Hull, operated by Iowa State Bank. In 2017, he joined the faculty of Dordt University, after having taught there in an adjunct capacity since 2011.[18][19]

Iowa State Senate

Then-State Senator Feenstra in 2011

Feenstra was elected to the Iowa State Senate in 2008 with 24,595 votes, running unopposed.[20] He was reelected in 2012, again without opposition.[21] He ran for a third uncontested term in 2016.[22] In the Iowa Senate, Feenstra served on the Capital Projects, Fiscal, Tax Expenditure, Transportation, Ways and Means, and State Government Committee.[23]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

In 2019, Feenstra announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Steve King in the 2020 Republican primary in Iowa’s 4th congressional district. His State Senate district included much of the northwestern portion of Iowa’s 4th congressional district.[24] King, a nine-term incumbent, had a record of making inflammatory remarks.[25] More specifically, King was stripped of his House committee memberships for asking why the term “white nationalist” was offensive. Feenstra noted King’s inflammatory rhetoric in announcing his campaign, saying that King’s “caustic nature” had left the 4th district “without a seat at the table.”[26]

Republican Party leadership supported Feenstra in the primary.[27][28][29][30] Feenstra raised more money during the primary than King did, and was supported by the United States Chamber of Commerce and National Right to Life Committee.[31] Feenstra’s candidacy was also supported by conservative political commentator and radio host Ben Shapiro, who donated and urged his Twitter followers to donate to Feenstra’s campaign.[32]

Feenstra won the June 2 primary[33][34] with 45.7% of the vote to King’s 36%.[35][36] Much of Feenstra’s margin came from dominating his State Senate district, which he carried with almost 75% of the vote.[24] He went on to defeat J. D. Scholten in the general election by a large margin.[37][38]

[39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRandy Feenstra 37,329 45.5
RepublicanSteve King (incumbent)29,36635.9
RepublicanJeremy Taylor6,4187.8
RepublicanBret Richards6,1407.5
RepublicanSteve Reeder2,5283.1
Write-in1760.2
Total votes81,957 100.0
2020 election for U.S. Representative of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRandy Feenstra 237,369 62.0
DemocraticJ. D. Scholten144,76137.8
Write-in8920.2

2022

Feenstra ran for reelection in the district for the 2022 elections. He defeated Democrat Ryan Melton and Liberty candidate Bryan Holder by a wide margin.[40]

[41]
PartyCandidateVotes%[42][43] Feenstra won a third House term.[44][45]

[46]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRandy Feenstra (incumbent) 250,522 67.0
DemocraticRyan Melton122,17532.7
Write-in1,1270.3
Total votes373,824 100.0
Republican hold

Tenure and political positions

Foreign policy

In June 2021, Feenstra was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.[47][48]

Feenstra voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[49][50] Feenstra had donations from AIPAC and related Israel affiliated PACs for a total amount of $106,694 as of July 24, 2026.[51]

Trade

In January 2025, Feenstra praised President Donald Trump‘s proposals to implement 25% tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico, saying “Thank you, President Trump! Our country finally has an advocate for American farmers, families, and businesses in the White House!”[52] According to the New York Times, Feenstra’s message “was starkly at odds with the one coming from major groups representing farmers throughout the country, who issued statements warning of dire impacts on the nation’s food producers.”[52]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[53]

Caucus memberships

2026 campaign for governor of Iowa

In May 2025, Feenstra filed paperwork allowing him to begin raising funds for a potential campaign for governor of Iowa in 2026. Incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she would not seek re-election.[12] Feenstra officially launched his gubernatorial campaign in October 2025.[57][58] Feenstra received the endorsement of President Donald Trump,[59] while Republican opponent Zach Lahn‘s campaign was endorsed by former Rep. Steve King and by Turning Point Action.[60]

On June 3, 2026, Feenstra was narrowly defeated by Lahn in the Republican primary.[61] Feenstra conceded the race that evening and later endorsed Lahn in the general election.[62] Feenstra’s defeat marked the second time during the 2026 midterm elections that a Trump-endorsed candidate[a] lost a Republican primary.[63] Politico described Feenstra’s defeat as a “shocking upset”.[64]

Personal life

Feenstra has been married to his wife Lynette since 1996. They have four children.[65][66]

Feenstra is a Christian.[67]

Notes

  1. ↑ Including candidates for governor, the House, or the Senate.

References

  1. ↑ Jacobs, Jennifer; Gómez, Fin Daniel; Hudak, Zak (May 12, 2025). “Iowa’s GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra launches campaign for governor – CBS News”. www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 “Feenstra, Randy”. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. April 15, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Mahoney, Mark (January 12, 2019). “Hull state senator to run for Congress”. N’West Iowa Review. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ Visser, Jeanne. “Feenstra will run for State Senate”. Sioux County Index–Reporter. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  5. ↑ Kampeas, Ron (May 20, 2020). “Jewish Republicans tackle a thorny question: What to do about Republicans like Steve King?”. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved June 6, 2020. Alternative URL
  6. ↑ Geleynse, Jesse (April 24, 2011). “Iowa legislature needs to continue eligibility debate”. Le Mars Daily Sentinel. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ Kilen, Mike (March 15, 2016). “The Iowa town where basketball is king”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ Votzmeyer, Colin (November 8, 2022). “Randy Feenstra reelected representative for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District”. The Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ↑ “What the 3 candidates running for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District say about abortion, guns”. Des Moines Register. October 1, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  10. ↑ “Feenstra touts conservative record in Legislature”. The Messenger. May 16, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ Kealey, Katherine (June 3, 2020). “Randy Feenstra beats Steve King in the Republican 4th District primaries”. Iowa State Daily. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Henderson, Kay (May 12, 2025). “Congressman Feenstra files paperwork for campaign for governor”. Radio Iowa.
  13. ↑ Kealey, Katherine (May 24, 2020). “Congressional Republican candidates speak on constitutional rights, abortion and COVID-19”. Iowa State Daily. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  14. 1 2 “Hull city administrator now county treasurer”, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, September 3, 2006, page 12.
  15. ↑ “Feenstra announces bid for Senate seat”. Le Mars Daily Sentinel. March 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  16. ↑ “Minutes of Sioux County Board of Supervisors Meeting Held On November 12, 2008” (PDF). Sioux County Board of Supervisers. November 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  17. ↑ “Primary: Voters will select who faces Culver”. Sioux County Index Reporter. June 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  18. ↑ Lawrence, Tom (August 1, 2017). “Feenstra to become Dordt professor”. Sioux Center News. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  19. ↑ “Feenstra leaving insurance business for college position”. Sioux County Index Reporter. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  20. ↑ “Democrats keep Senate, House”. Des Moines Register. Newspapers.com. November 5, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  21. ↑ “2012 General Precinct Vote Totals by County”. Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  22. ↑ Hoogland, Steve (November 8, 2016). “Wheeler wins Iowa House seat”. N’West Iowa Review. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  23. ↑ “Senator Randy Feenstra“. The Iowa Legislature. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  24. 1 2 J. Miles Coleman (July 30, 2020). “House Primaries: A Little More Action This Year Than Usual”. UVA Center For Politics. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  25. ↑ Gabriel, Trip (January 15, 2019). “A Timeline of Steve King’s Racist Remarks and Divisive Actions”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  26. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (January 11, 2019). “How in the world is Steve King still in Congress?”. CNN. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  27. ↑ Easley, Jonathan (May 17, 2020). “GOP rallies behind effort to defeat Steve King”. The Hill. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  28. ↑ “Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King gets a GOP challenger, Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  29. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (January 11, 2019). “How in the world is Steve King still in Congress?”. CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  30. ↑ Hayworth, Brett (April 16, 2020). “Scholten, Feenstra continue to dwarf King in Iowa 4th District congressional fundraising”. Sioux City Journal. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  31. ↑ Gabriel, Trip (May 27, 2020). “Despite Racist Remarks, Steve King Might Win Tuesday’s Iowa Primary”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  32. ↑ Fisher, Alyssa (January 10, 2019). “Ben Shapiro Condemns Steve King For Asking Why ‘White Supremacist’ Is Offensive”. The Forward. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  33. ↑ Zhou, Li (June 2, 2020). “Embattled Rep. Steve King has lost his primary”. Vox. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  34. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (June 2, 2020). “Steve King loses Republican primary race to Randy Feenstra, ending King’s decades long political career”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  35. ↑ Mutnik, Ally; Arkin, James; Montellaro, Zach (June 2, 2020). “Steve King ousted on historic primary night”. Politico.
  36. ↑ Forgey, Quint (June 3, 2020). “Trump congratulates Randy Feenstra for unseating Rep. King”. Politico. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  37. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (November 4, 2020). “Feenstra takes office in January after routing Scholten to succeed King in Iowa’s 4th district”. Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  38. ↑ Richardson, Ian; Akin, Katie (November 2, 2020). “Republican Randy Feenstra defeats Democrat J.D. Scholten in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  39. ↑ “Primary Election – 2020 Canvass Summary” (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  40. ↑ Hernandez, Samantha (November 8, 2022). “Incumbent Republican Randy Feenstra easily wins Iowa’s 4th Congressional District race”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  41. ↑ “2022 General Election Canvass Summary”. November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  42. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (May 30, 2024). “Randy Feenstra, Kevin Virgil spar over conservative credentials before 4th District primary”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  43. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (June 4, 2024). “Rep. Randy Feenstra defeats Kevin Virgil in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District GOP primary”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  44. ↑ Joens, Philip (November 5, 2024). “Randy Feenstra defeats Ryan Melton in Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District”. Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  45. ↑ Opsahl, Robin; Koons, Cami (November 5, 2024). “Randy Feenstra easily wins re-election to U.S. House 4th District”. The Gazette. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  46. ↑ “2024 General Election CANVASS SUMMARY” (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State.
  47. ↑ “House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization”. NBC News. June 17, 2021.
  48. ↑ “Final Vote Results for Roll Call 172”. clerk.house.gov. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  49. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  50. ↑ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ↑ “Iowa”. Track AIPAC. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  52. 1 2 Miller, Maya C. (February 3, 2025). “Republicans Cheer Trump Tariffs as Their Voters Brace for Pain”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  53. ↑ “Randy Feenstra”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  54. ↑ “Members”. RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  55. ↑ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  56. ↑ “Caucus Memberships”. Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  57. ↑ Fortinsky, Sarah (October 28, 2025). “Rep. Randy Feenstra formally launches Iowa governor bid”. The Hill. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  58. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (October 28, 2025). “Randy Feenstra launches run for governor, promises ‘America First agenda in Iowa’“. Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  59. ↑ Allen, Jonathan (June 2, 2026). “MAHA-backed Zach Lahn defeats Trump-backed Randy Feenstra in Iowa GOP primary for governor”. NBC News.
  60. ↑ Knowles, Hannah; Allison, Natalie (June 2, 2026). “Trump’s pick for Iowa governor loses GOP primary in upset”. The Washington Post.
  61. ↑ “Rep. Randy Feenstra concedes to Zach Lahn in 2026 Iowa GOP gubernatorial primary”. News From The States. June 2, 2026.
  62. ↑ Fingerhut, Hannah (June 3, 2026). “Trump Suffers Rare Loss In Iowa Gubernatorial Race”. HuffPost.
  63. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (June 3, 2026). “Lahn, Sand poised for head-to-head matchup for Iowa governor”.
  64. ↑ Benson, Samuel (June 3, 2026). “Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra loses Iowa governor primary”. Politico.
  65. ↑ “Feenstra launches re-election bid”. Chronicle Times. January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  66. ↑ “Iowa Senator Feenstra files for re-election”. Chronicle Times. March 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  67. ↑ “Feenstra talks faith, more at Unity Christian”. January 21, 2023.
Iowa’s 4th congressional district
2021–present


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Feenstra

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