Oct 23, 2024

Feenstra-Melton rematch in Iowa's fourth congressional district

Posted Oct 23, 2024 7:28 PM

(Radio Iowa) - All four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House are seeking reelection, including fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra.

Feenstra's 2024 race is a General Election rematch with Ryan Melton, a Democrat from Webster City. Feenstra's Republican opponent in the June Primary got 40 percent of the vote and that candidate -- Kevin Virgil -- endorsed Melton in August. The primary reason? Melton and Virgil both oppose the use of eminent domain to seize land for a carbon pipeline. Feenstra says he's also opposed to eminent domain, but the pipeline is a state issue, not a federal issue. Melton says he expects to get some protest votes from Republicans.

However, there are 90-thousand more registered Republicans than Democrats in the district and Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson says that's a big advantage for Feenstra.