Benjamin Olsen

Benjamin Olsen earned a high school diploma from Roland-Story High School. Olsen earned an associate degree from Des Moines Area Community College in 2020 and a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 2025. Olsen's career experience includes working as an engineer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Benjamin Olsen was born in Ames, Iowa. Olsen attended Iowa public schools and then went on to earn an associate's degree in science from DMACC in 2020. Olsen then transferred to Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in 2025.

His career experience includes working as a product order engineer with Emerson, working as a lubrication technician at George White Chevrolet, and as a page in the 87th Iowa General Assembly.

Drawing on these professional and educational experiences, his political journey is driven by a simple belief: that every Iowan deserves a reliable and transparent government that works as hard as they do.

With this belief at the core, Benjamin understands that the best solutions come from listening to the people. His campaign is a call to action for all who believe in the enduring promise of the state of Iowa.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

It is our goal to reduce the nitrate levels in Iowa's drinking water through the use of fertilizer runoff prevention methods outlined by the USDA. Several studies done both locally and internationally have linked high nitrate levels in water to cancer development. We want to reduce Iowa's high cancer rate by working with our agricultural community to implement preventative methods such as fertilizer application, edge row crops, and wetland restoration.We believe that public school funding should be a priority of the state. In recent years, the funding reaching our public schools has not been adequate. Instead, the priority and funding lie with private K-12 schools through the state's voucher program. Approximately 350 million dollars have been spent this school year funding private K-12 schools, while public schools in the state are forced to end long-term programs and relieve staff. It should be the priority of the state to focus on the fiscal needs of our public schools to set up future generations with the opportunities and resources they need for success.Our priority is the expansion and development of jobs in rural Iowa. Not only does it encourage the growth of smaller towns, but it can also aid in the housing crisis facing younger generations. Pushing small business development and encouraging entrepreneurship will increase the opportunities of rural Iowa, strengthening the state at its core.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The area of public policy I am most passionate about would be funding for public schools. A strong educational foundation is needed to set students up for success in life. It is an area of passion not just for myself but also for the state of Iowa, as we are known for providing one of the best public educations in the country. That is why we must continue to invest in the future of our public schools to provide additional resources and opportunities for the next generations to succeed.