Joe Bolkcom (D) – Incumbent

Age: 62  

Hometown: Iowa City

Education: St. Ambrose University; University of Iowa, M.A.

Stances:

Health Care: Bolkcom voted against a 2017 bill to reduce state funding for Planned Parenthood. He supported a 2013 bill to appropriate funds for mental health and children’s health services. 

Education:  He criticized yearly budget cuts to regent institutions and supported a bill to increase public school funding. 

Economy: Bolkcom supported a 2012 bill to regulate tax-increment financing in local municipalities.

Environment/Agriculture: Bolkcom supported a natural resource trust fund and a bill to manage greenhouse-gas emissions. 

Patrick Wronkiewicz (R)

Age: 27  

Hometown: Chicago

Education: current University of Iowa senior

Stances:

Education:  Wronkiewicz has made funding or higher-education institutions a staple of his campaign. He believes budget cuts to universities get in the way of students’ education and remove private-sector jobs.

Health Care: Wronkiewicz believes in providing multiple health care options to Iowans. He supports a plan based on a law that expands health-care choices in Iowa. 

Jobs/Economy: Wronkiewicz supports lowering taxes, in a way that both big and small businesses can compete with each other. He believes tax breaks to corporate organizations create an unfair environment in which small businesses cannot succeed.

Environment/Agriculture: Wronkiewicz believes climate change is an important issue. He aims to ensure farmers’ needs are addressed.