Dave Loebsack
David 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 | thumb December 23, 1952 Sioux City, Iowa |
Died | thumb |
Resting place | thumb |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Terry Loebsack |
Parent |
|
Residence(s) | Mount Vernon, Iowa (1985–2012) Iowa City, Iowa (2012-present) |
Alma mater | Iowa State University, University of California, Davis |
Occupation | College Professor[1] |
David Wayne "Dave" Loebsack (born December 23, 1952) is the U.S. Representative for Iowa's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes such cities as Davenport, Iowa City, Clinton and Ottumwa. Prior to entering Congress, he was a professor of political science. He is currently the only Democrat in Iowa's entire 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's and a master's degree in political science.
After receiving a PhD 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.[3]
Loebsack started the Linn Phoenix group, a fundraising arm of the Linn County Democrats.
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee assignments
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Cement Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
Voting Record
Consistently, David Loebsack has voted in line with the Democratic Party. Out of 1551 total votes, he has voted with the Democratic Party 90% of the time. He has voted consistently to protect a woman's right to get an 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”.
Economic Interest Group Ratings
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).
Social Interest Group Ratings
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). Interestingly, Loebsack has generally scored high among Interest Groups involved in civil liberties. Concerning the Environment, he received 94% from the League of Conservation Voters (2011) and 90% from Environment America (2011). 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.
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Leach | 101,386 | 49 | ||
Democratic | David Loebsack | 107,097 | 51 | Winner |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mariannette Miller-Meeks | 119,165 | 39 | ||
Democratic | David Loebsack | 174,942 | 57 | Winner |
- Green Party candidate Wendy Barth received 4% of the 2008 vote.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mariannette Miller-Meeks | 104,046 | 46 | ||
Democratic | David Loebsack | 115,332 | 51 | Winner |
- Libertarian Party candidate Gary Sicard received 2% of the vote.
- Constitution Party candidate Jon Tack received 1% of the vote.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Archer | 161,977 | 42.5 | ||
Democratic | David Loebsack | 211,863 | 55.6 | Winner |
- Independent candidate Alan Aversa received 2% of the vote.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mariannette Miller-Meeks | 129,455 | 47.4 | ||
Democratic | David Loebsack | 143,432 | 52.5 | Winner |
References
- ^ http://loebsack.house.gov/biography/
- ^ "News - Across the Church". UMC.org. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ a b c "U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack". U.S. Government. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ "Iowa Election Results 2014". iowa.gov. Retrieved 5 Jan 2015.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack official U.S. House site
- Dave Loebsack for Congress
- Dave Loebsack at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- 1952 births
- American expatriates in Iceland
- American Methodists
- Cornell College faculty
- Iowa Democrats
- Iowa State University alumni
- University of California, Davis alumni
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa
- Politicians from Sioux City, Iowa
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives