Dave Loebsack

David Loebsack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Jim Leach
Personal details
Born	December 23, 1952 Sioux City, Iowa
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Terry Loebsack
Residence	Mount Vernon, Iowa (1985–2012) Iowa City, Iowa (2012-present)
Alma mater	Iowa State University, University of California, Davis
Occupation	College Professor[1]
Religion	Methodist[2]

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

• Committee on Armed Services^[3]
  • Subcommittee on Military Personnel
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
• Committee on Education and the Workforce^[3]
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
  • Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions

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

Iowa 2nd U.S. Congressional District Election 2006
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Leach	101,386	49
	Democratic	David Loebsack	107,097	51	Winner

Iowa 2nd U.S. Congressional District Election 2008
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.

Iowa 2nd U.S. Congressional District Election 2010
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.

Iowa 2nd U.S. Congressional District Election 2012
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.

Iowa 2nd U.S. Congressional District Election 2014[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mariannette Miller-Meeks	129,455	47.4
	Democratic	David Loebsack	143,432	52.5	Winner

References

1. http://loebsack.house.gov/biography/
2. "News - Across the Church". UMC.org. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
3. "U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack". U.S. Government. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
4. "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 DMOZ
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress