Dave Loebsack facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave Loebsack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Jim Leach
Succeeded by	Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Personal details
Born	David Wayne Loebsack (1952-12-23) December 23, 1952 (age 72) Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Terry Loebsack
Children	4
Education	Iowa State University (BA, MA) University of California, Davis (PhD)

David Wayne Loebsack (born December 23, 1952) is an American politician. He was a U.S. Representative for Iowa's 2nd district from 2007 to 2021. This means he was elected to represent a part of Iowa in the U.S. Congress.

He is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a politician, he was a retired professor of political science at Cornell College. He taught there since 1982. In 2019, Dave Loebsack announced that he would not run for re-election.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Dave Loebsack worked in the United States House of Representatives for many years. This is one of the two main parts of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made. He represented the people of Iowa's 2nd district.

What Committees Did He Join?

When politicians are in Congress, they join different groups called committees. These groups focus on specific topics. Dave Loebsack was part of these important committees:

• Committee on Armed Services: This group works on issues related to the military and national defense.
• Committee on Education and the Workforce: This committee deals with schools, jobs, and training.

What Other Groups Did He Join?

Members of Congress also join caucuses. These are informal groups that share common interests or goals. Dave Loebsack was a member of:

• Congressional Progressive Caucus: A group that supports progressive policies.
• Congressional Arts Caucus: This caucus supports arts and culture.
• Afterschool Caucuses: This group focuses on programs for kids after school.

His Political Races

Dave Loebsack ran in many elections to become a U.S. Representative. Here's a look at some of his campaigns.

2006 Election: A Big Win

In 2006, Dave Loebsack won a big election. He beat Jim Leach, who had been a Republican representative for 15 terms. This was a surprise victory. The area he ran in, Iowa's 2nd district, was starting to vote more for Democrats. Dave Loebsack won by getting many votes in Johnson County, which is where Iowa City is located.

2008 Election: Re-elected Easily

Dave Loebsack was re-elected easily in 2008. He won with 57% of the votes. His opponent was Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a doctor.

2010 Election: A Closer Race

In 2010, Dave Loebsack ran against Mariannette Miller-Meeks again. This time, the election was much closer. He won with just over 50% of the votes. He again got a lot of support from Johnson County.

2012 Election: Moving Districts

After some changes to the district maps, Dave Loebsack moved to Iowa City. This kept him in the 2nd District. The new district was a bit less Democratic than before. He won this election with 55.4% of the votes.

2014 Election: The Only Democrat from Iowa

Dave Loebsack won against Mariannette Miller-Meeks again in 2014. He won with 52.5% of the votes. After this election, he was the only Democrat representing Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2016 Election: Holding His Ground

In 2016, Dave Loebsack won again, beating Christopher Peters. Even though the state of Iowa voted more for Republicans in other elections that year, Dave Loebsack kept his seat. He was still the only Democrat from Iowa in the House.

2018 Election: No Longer the Only Democrat

In 2018, Dave Loebsack won against Christopher Peters once more. He won with 54.8% of the votes. In this election, other Democrats from Iowa also won seats in Congress. So, Dave Loebsack was no longer the only Democrat from Iowa in the U.S. House.

What He Focused On

During his time in Congress, Dave Loebsack worked on several important issues.

Taxes

In 2017, Dave Loebsack voted against a new tax plan. He believed that the plan would not help everyday Iowans. He was the only representative from Iowa to vote against it.

Immigration

In 2017, Dave Loebsack spoke about his support for "Dreamers." These are young people who were brought to the U.S. as children. He said, "We've got to do everything we can to protect them."

2020 Presidential Election

Dave Loebsack speaking at a rally for Pete Buttigieg in January 2020.

Before the 2020 presidential election, Dave Loebsack supported Pete Buttigieg for president. After Buttigieg stopped running, Loebsack then supported Joe Biden, who later became president.

Images for kids

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  Map showing the results of the 2016 election in Iowa's second congressional district by county.