Candidate, Secretary of State, State of Iowa, 2018

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 3, 2016

Vice Chair, Iowa Democratic Party, 2015

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 4, 2014

Veterans Outreach Director, Biden for President Campaign, 2007-2008

Midwest Veterans Director, Obama for America, 2008

No caucus information on file.

Adjunct Professor, Grandview University, 1017present

Former Army Representative, Council of Governors

Special Assistant, Under Secretary of the Army, United States Department of Defense, 2009-2013

Sergeant and Intelligence Analyst, Iowa National Guard, 2003-2009

Civilian Analyst and Advisor, MNC-I, All World Language Consultants, 2009

Major Gifts Officer, Easter Seals Iowa, 2017-present

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I grew up on a family farm in central Iowa where I learned the value of hard work. But when I was 7 years old my father was killed in a farming accident. The basic social safety net, especially social security survivor benefits, is the only thing that kept my family afloat. That experience formed my outlook and ideology from a young age; it's why I'm a Democrat. I believe that we are all better off when we help each other move forward.

My campaign is all about service to the people of Iowa and to our country because my entire career has been about service. After spending twenty three months in Iraq I returned home and worked with Joe Biden as his veteran's director, and in 2010 President Obama appointed me to a position at the Pentagon. While I was working there I saw first-hand how dysfunctional this Tea Party Congress is. My time growing up in Iowa and serving in the military taught me that we do our best when we all work together. I am running because it is time that our government works for everyone, not for special interests and Washington insiders.

We need a congressman who will put the priorities of Iowans ahead of the Washington Insiders and party politics. We need someone who will protect Social Security and Medicare and preserve these vital services that keep our seniors out of poverty. We need a congressman that will work to raise the minimum wage and create a more balanced economy that rewards workers, not CEO's and Wall Street bankers. We need to protect unions and workers' rights to come together and stand up for themselves. I am running to protect women's rights to make their own healthcare decisions and will stand with Planned Parenthood. We need a congressman who will work to ensure that equal pay for equal work is the law of the land and that women are paid the same as men who work in the same job.

I am running to continue my career of service to Iowa, and to build an economy that provides an opportunity for everyone who works to get ahead and build a future for themselves and their families. Please join my campaign and together we will win the 3rd district and move our country forward.

When I was in Iraq I always told my soldiers that our uniforms said US Army on the chest, but what it really meant was simply us. The only thing that mattered when things got bad was us -- that you could only depend on the man or women on your left and right. We were it -- help was a long way away and we couldn't count on it-- we could only count on one another. We were the good guys -- we were the solution and it didn't matter where we came from or what we believed -- Democrat or Republican- we were there to get a job done and work together.

In Congress the job isn't getting done. Too many politicians on both sides of the aisle aren't doing anything to protect middle class Iowa families like the one I grew up in. Instead too many are pushing sound bytes to please the extreme parts of their party and score political points for partisan gain.

Here in Iowa and America it really is just about us. It's our country -- if we don't maintain it and fix our problems, no one else will. There is no backup coming to the rescue. We have to take responsibility for the future of our nation. We complain about Washington and Congress and here in the 4th District we only get one Representative and if we don't get it right then we are the ones responsible. We need the best person in Congress and I know if you elect me, I will work everyday to be the best for you.

I have a proven record of serving Iowa and this Nation, a record of results. I was deployed for 23 months with the Iowa National Guard defending our country in Iraq, returned to Iraq as a civilian to help finish the job and then I went to the Pentagon to make it more efficient. I believe our government needs to give the people their moneys worth and that's why I'm proud of my record of fiscal discipline and governance reform.

These reasons are why I am running for Congress.

Just like the greatest generation who returned from WWII, we need to start working and investing in our future again. We need leaders willing to work together to find common sense solutions.

I can't promise that we will win every battle, but I can promise that I will always put this country first, I will always put Iowa first and I will always put you first.

I want this campaign to be a real debate about what works for Iowa and who works for America. I want it to be based on facts and results.

I look forward to telling you more of my story and hearing yours.

- Jim