Dave Dawson

Dave Dawson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Iowa's 4th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Democratic primary on June 2, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a public servant, a proven leader, a lifelong Iowan, a prosecutor, and former state legislator. I am running to put people before politics and fight for Iowa families.

I grew up in Washta and graduated from the last class of Willow Community High School. During summers while in college, I worked at my parents’ agricultural business. I earned my undergraduate degree at Iowa State University. After receiving my law degree, I worked at a law firm in Chicago for three years.

I current live in Lawton and have lived in Woodbury County for the past twenty-three years. I have been a public servant for the citizens of Iowa for 18 years, working as prosecutor for Woodbury County, where I specialize in cases involving child abuse.

I have been an active member of my community. I was a former coach at Sioux City West High School and previously served as a church elder. I have been a union member with AFSCME for over twenty years. I have served on several non-profit boards, including serving as legal counsel for the Community Action Agency of Siouxland, which oversees local programs for Head Start and Early Head Start.

In 2012 and 2014, I was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, where I earned a reputation as someone who worked across party lines to achieve positive outcomes for my constituents. In 2016, I received the Gold Star Award from Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association for leadership in the legislature on law enforcement and public safety issues.

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?

I will work to expand health care options and research. I will fight to lower prescription drug costs, expand rural healthcare access, and invest in medical research that saves lives. I will work to keep rural hospitals and nursing homes open and ensure mental health services are available close to home.I will invest in rural communities. I will work to expand broadband, repair roads and bridges, strengthen family farms, make housing more affordable, and support small businesses, all to keep our communities strong. When farmers do well, the whole community does well.I will work to raise incomes and increase competition. I will push for policies that raise wages, support working families, and crack down on corporate monopolies that hurt farmers and small business owners. I believe in an economy where hard work pays off.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe the Constitution should be a safeguard, not a political weapon. I will oppose attempts to restrict personal freedoms, weaken voting rights, undermine equal protection, or interfere with individual property rights. I will work to ensure that the government protects individual liberty, stays transparent, and remains accountable to the people, not to special interests or partisan agendas.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Your next U.S. Representative should care more about people than party politics, should work for constituents rather than corporate interests, and should fight for the needs of the district and not donors.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I can remember is the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. I was 7 years old and in the first grade. It was very impactful as I could not have imagined why anyone would want to shoot our president.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe having prior legislative experience at the State level is a huge advantage for anyone seeking to become a U.S. Representative.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The ever-increasing national debt is a major challenge that needs to be directly addressed by Congress. Any federal spending needs to be paid for without adding to the debt.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

The Constitution has been amended to limit the terms of the U.S. President and should be similarly amended to impose term limits on U.S. House and Senate members.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I believe U.S. Representative Berkley Bedell is someone to aspire to be like. He was known for his support of representative democracy and his populist style. For example, he would hold town halls and let constituents vote on motions to decide what he would do in Congress on their behalf and these meetings helped Bedell understand the problems of his constituents.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Any bill to raise revenue should be carefully considered before passed in the U.S. House. The impact of any tax bill on individual citizens should be fully understood before passed into law.