Iowa election 2024: Where 2nd Congressional District candidates stand on key issues

First and foremost, I'm *** minivan driving mom from Marion Iowa. Republican, Ashley Hinson has spent the past four years representing Northeast Iowa. When I look at what we've experienced in the last couple of years, I'm very concerned about the direction of our country. And so that's why I'm running again. She's running for re election campaigning on the economy and immigration. There is more to do to make sure we're protecting taxpayers of this country against Washington D CS, incessant appetite for spending. Um There's more to do to help protect rural economies like ours here in Iowa. And there's more to do to make sure our kids have *** safe community to live in. And so that's why I'm running the political makeup of northeast Iowa has changed dramatically over the past few years. Nearly 70% of the counties in what's now Iowa's second district went to Obama in 2008 and 2012 and then flipped and went to Trump in both 2016 and 2020. Now, Democrat Sarah Corkery wants to bring those swing voters back here in the second district. We don't like to be told what to do. We like to pick our own winners. And that's why Obama won. It was *** surprise and that's why Trump I believe won. But we are ready to make another surprise with Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. We've seen *** surge of new people coming into the offices, people who are excited to become *** democrat looking to unseat Hinson campaigning on abortion access. It's going to be *** tight race. I believe it will come down to abortion rights. That people in Iowa are not happy with the six week ban and want to put more Democrats in place to have common sense legislation. No party candidate Joey Puffet is also on the ballot. This is the right year. This is the time people are frustrated, downright angry. We've become so polarized with two political parties. I'm like, I'm going to go for it. I'm going to try and run as an independent candidate. Pitt was *** lifelong Republican, but she says the party is spending too much on overseas wars instead of investing in their communities. We're not taking care of our mental health community and we're not taking care of our teachers and kiddos in education. And I'm, I'm like, I want more funding to come back to the district and it became *** very passionate issue for me. As of September 1st, voter registration in the second district was almost evenly split. About 37% Republicans, 31% Democrats and 32% no party voters. However Hinson has *** significant fundraising advantage. One ��vlog political analyst, Dennis Gold Ford says would be hard to overcome. It would be really unusual. It would be quite the upset if in fact that Hinson were going to lose. Amanda Rucker KC Eight News, Iowa's news leader. Everybody's doing the best they can with what we've got *** lot of work to do.

In the race for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson faces Democratic challenger Sarah Corkery and Independent candidate Jody Puffett. The second district covers northeast Iowa and includes Dubuque, Mason City and Waterloo.Watch the videos below to hear more from each candidate and scroll to see where they stand on key issues.What action would you take to lower costs for Iowans?Corkery: "We need to make sure that we understand where the high prices are coming from. Some came from supply chain problems with COVID. Some came from corporations raising their prices. There's a lot we can do to bring costs down, especially in Iowa. If we are focused on locally buying our foods and, you know, growing vegetable gardens, there's a lot we can do and pinch our pennies. But, in addition, we need good policies in place to make sure that inflation doesn't get out of control."Hinson: "I've done a town hall in every county I represent and inflation comes up at every single town hall. So that means reducing government spending, which I have a front-row seat to being on the Appropriations Committee. I can help go in and try to make sure we're carving out wasteful spending while still focusing on targeted investments to Iowa, and I think that when you look at that very real threat, inflation is driven by energy. I think if we can do more to have support for all of the above, all of the below energy strategy, including prioritizing Iowa biofuels, that's what I want to get back to Congress to work on."Puffett: "We've got to cut that spending. We've got to get a handle on our debt. One of the things I would love to see is a congressional amendment that says if our debt becomes more than a certain percentage of GDP, Congress is required by law to build in a pay down of that debt as part of annual spending packages. So it's got to start there. There's big hurdles, absolutely, but we've got to start."How would you secure the U.S. southern border and improve the federal immigration system? Corkery: "We cannot talk about these problems if we are not willing to stand up and fix them and hold everybody accountable all the way up to the top. That's how we get things fixed. We also need to realize that America was built off immigration, and diversity is a strength. We need to stop vilifying people that look different than ourselves and focus on what brings us together. Also, there are a lot of jobs here in Iowa at packing plants and others where we have people filling those jobs who are immigrants, and if they all went away, we would have a huge problem here in Iowa. So we need to focus on solutions."Hinson: "We need to build the wall. Physical structures work. We need to support policies like Remain in Mexico and Title 42 that helped to control the flow at our southern border. We need to fund our border security. Iowa relies heavily on legal immigrants for workforce, right, legal. And we need to absolutely look at visa programs. We've done some work on that, on appropriations, to try to expand opportunities for some of these workforce pathways that already exist. I think we're going to have to secure the border before we can have those conversations in a productive manner."Puffett: "I'm a true believer in legal immigration. I have friends and family in my career that live in this country from all over the world and so I fully support that. People who want to be here, be a part of the community and be productive members of our society, but we got to be safe first. And so the first thing we need to do, we've got to close that border until we have processes in place where we can truly vet the individuals coming across that border. And then we've got to have a better process for a path to citizenship."Should Congress pass a federal abortion policy? And if so, what specifically do you think a federal abortion policy should include?Corkery: "I believe all health care decisions should be between a person and their doctor. I believe it should be a protected health conversation. I think that is truly where it belongs, that there should be no weeks or months talking about an abortion. It should be between a doctor and a patient. We've got a long way to go from where we are right now with that. But I believe, I trust women to make their decisions. And I trust doctors to make these decisions. I don't trust legislators to make these decisions."Hinson: "I will always stand on the side of life, and I've supported exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. very common-sense exceptions I think most Iowans support. And I'll take a look at every piece of legislation to make sure it meets what Iowans are telling me they want to see happen here...My whole goal is to do more than just have a talk about the abortion conversation because I don't think being pro-life is just that. I think it's about all of these issues: maternal health care, supporting IVF, supporting families and supporting healthy moms and healthy babies."Puffett: "I think the states need to set some guidelines, and every state's going to be a little bit different. I wholeheartedly believe and think women need to have options for terminating pregnancies very early on in their pregnancies. And on the other hand, I find it completely barbaric some of the late-term abortions that that go on. Now, I'm setting aside all the exceptions that we need to make, right? If a mother's life is at risk, if there's rape, if there's incest."What specific policy do you think needs to go in the next farm bill?Corkery: "I understand two things holding up the farm bill. One is conversation whether they should cap the SNAP benefits. So, if they cap it, maybe protects it longer. But we all know capping anything is not the solution. Even at the food bank, we have to get to the systemic problems that cause poverty, not just continually throw food at it. So, we have to do better with that. We need to get the farm bill passed. The other thing that's holding up is something with climate change, and we need to finally acknowledge climate change is real and follow science and protect our resources."Hinson: "I would like to see the House farm bill continue. It has many of my priorities for Iowa included in that bill, including a fix for pork producers who have experienced dangerous overregulation from the state of California. It includes my legislation to focus on precision agriculture equipment and to stand up to Communist China. So, there are a number of provisions in that bill that I am very supportive of and want to see get across the finish line. I would like to see a point where we're not having extension after extension. I think that's irresponsible and, frankly, a disservice to taxpayers."Puffett: "When we're looking at an ag bill, for example, let's make sure that we're focused on agricultural issues. I actually have a son who is a multi-generational family farmer. got three boys, and I know those boys are already farmers at heart. And I want to make sure whatever we do from an ag perspective, we are protecting those family farms. And one of the big concerns I have is that we get big corporations coming in, and the family farms are going away. And I want to make sure that continues, especially for my own grandsons."What action would you take to improve the education of Iowans?Corkery: "I'm sure we could put in laws to make sure we are funding schools, at least at the rate of inflation. And so, they are just so far behind. There are so many ways we can do it and fully funding them. Also, making sure that there's accountability. We need oversight over tax dollars. And right now, that is not happening for millions of dollars that are going to private schools in Iowa. It just doesn't make sense."Hinson: "All the conversations have been around forgiveness of student loans, but our conversation really needs to be around, how do we lower that cost across the board? So, there are several pieces of legislation that I can point to that are designed with that in mind, to actually hold colleges accountable for the amount of counseling they're giving students to make sure that they're ending up in career paths where they are actually going to get a return on their investment."Puffett: "I think when you try and get these one-size-fits-all rules and regulations at the federal level, that's where things just don't work, and they start falling apart because Iowa is very different than California and very different than New York. And even within the state, there are differences in the communities and what their needs are and what works best for them. So, I'm a true believer keeping the decision-making as close to where the issue or the problem or the challenge is, and you probably have better outcomes."Iowa congressional resultsElection results will begin to come in around 8 p.m. when polls close in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Watch the videos below to hear more from each candidate and scroll to see where they stand on key issues.

What action would you take to lower costs for Iowans?

Corkery: "We need to make sure that we understand where the high prices are coming from. Some came from supply chain problems with COVID. Some came from corporations raising their prices. There's a lot we can do to bring costs down, especially in Iowa. If we are focused on locally buying our foods and, you know, growing vegetable gardens, there's a lot we can do and pinch our pennies. But, in addition, we need good policies in place to make sure that inflation doesn't get out of control."

Hinson: "I've done a town hall in every county I represent and inflation comes up at every single town hall. So that means reducing government spending, which I have a front-row seat to being on the Appropriations Committee. I can help go in and try to make sure we're carving out wasteful spending while still focusing on targeted investments to Iowa, and I think that when you look at that very real threat, inflation is driven by energy. I think if we can do more to have support for all of the above, all of the below energy strategy, including prioritizing Iowa biofuels, that's what I want to get back to Congress to work on."

Puffett: "We've got to cut that spending. We've got to get a handle on our debt. One of the things I would love to see is a congressional amendment that says if our debt becomes more than a certain percentage of GDP, Congress is required by law to build in a pay down of that debt as part of annual spending packages. So it's got to start there. There's big hurdles, absolutely, but we've got to start."

How would you secure the U.S. southern border and improve the federal immigration system?

Corkery: "We cannot talk about these problems if we are not willing to stand up and fix them and hold everybody accountable all the way up to the top. That's how we get things fixed. We also need to realize that America was built off immigration, and diversity is a strength. We need to stop vilifying people that look different than ourselves and focus on what brings us together. Also, there are a lot of jobs here in Iowa at packing plants and others where we have people filling those jobs who are immigrants, and if they all went away, we would have a huge problem here in Iowa. So we need to focus on solutions."

Hinson: "We need to build the wall. Physical structures work. We need to support policies like Remain in Mexico and Title 42 that helped to control the flow at our southern border. We need to fund our border security. Iowa relies heavily on legal immigrants for workforce, right, legal. And we need to absolutely look at visa programs. We've done some work on that, on appropriations, to try to expand opportunities for some of these workforce pathways that already exist. I think we're going to have to secure the border before we can have those conversations in a productive manner."

Puffett: "I'm a true believer in legal immigration. I have friends and family in my career that live in this country from all over the world and so I fully support that. People who want to be here, be a part of the community and be productive members of our society, but we [have] got to be safe first. And so the first thing we need to do, we've got to close that border until we have processes in place where we can truly vet the individuals coming across that border. And then we've got to have a better process for a path to citizenship."

Should Congress pass a federal abortion policy? And if so, what specifically do you think a federal abortion policy should include?

Corkery: "I believe all health care decisions should be between a person and their doctor. I believe it should be a protected health conversation. I think that is truly where it belongs, that there should be no weeks or months talking about an abortion. It should be between a doctor and a patient. We've got a long way to go from where we are right now with that. But I believe, I trust women to make their decisions. And I trust doctors to make these decisions. I don't trust legislators to make these decisions."

Hinson: "I will always stand on the side of life, and I've supported exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. [They're] very common-sense exceptions [that] I think most Iowans support. And I'll take a look at every piece of legislation to make sure it meets what Iowans are telling me they want to see happen here...My whole goal is to do more than just have a talk about the abortion conversation because I don't think being pro-life is just that. I think it's about all of these issues: maternal health care, supporting IVF, supporting families and supporting healthy moms and healthy babies."

Puffett: "I think the states need to set some guidelines, and every state's going to be a little bit different. I wholeheartedly believe and think women need to have options for terminating pregnancies very early on in their pregnancies. And on the other hand, I find it completely barbaric some of the late-term abortions that that go on. Now, I'm setting aside all the exceptions that we need to make, right? If a mother's life is at risk, if there's rape, if there's incest."

What specific policy do you think needs to go in the next farm bill?

Corkery: "I understand [there are] two things holding up the farm bill. One is conversation [on] whether they should cap the SNAP benefits. So, if they cap it, maybe [that] protects it longer. But we all know capping anything is not the solution. Even at the food bank, we have to get to the systemic problems that cause poverty, not just continually throw food at it. So, we have to do better with that. We need to get the farm bill passed. The other thing that's [it] holding up is something with climate change, and we need to finally acknowledge climate change is real and follow science and protect our resources."

Hinson: "I would like to see the House farm bill continue. It has many of my priorities for Iowa included in that bill, including a fix for pork producers who have experienced dangerous overregulation from the state of California. It includes my legislation to focus on precision agriculture equipment and to stand up to Communist China. So, there are a number of provisions in that bill that I am very supportive of and want to see get across the finish line. I would like to see a point where we're not having [this] extension after extension. I think that's irresponsible and, frankly, a disservice to taxpayers."

Puffett: "When we're looking at an ag bill, for example, let's make sure that we're focused on agricultural issues. I actually have a son who is a multi-generational family farmer. [He's] got three boys, and I know those boys are already farmers at heart. And I want to make sure whatever we do from an ag perspective, we are protecting those family farms. And one of the big concerns I have is that we get big corporations coming in, and the family farms are going away. And I want to make sure that [family farming] continues, especially for my own grandsons."

What action would you take to improve the education of Iowans?

Corkery: "I'm sure we could put in laws to make sure we are funding schools, at least at the rate of inflation. And so, they are just so far behind. There are so many ways we can do it and fully funding them. Also, making sure that there's accountability. We need oversight over tax dollars. And right now, that is not happening for millions of dollars that are going to private schools in Iowa. It just doesn't make sense."

Hinson: "All the conversations have been around forgiveness of student loans, but our conversation really needs to be around, how do we lower that cost across the board? So, there are several pieces of legislation that I can point to that are designed with that in mind, to actually hold colleges accountable for the amount of counseling they're giving students [and] to make sure that they're ending up in career paths where they are actually going to get a return on their investment."

Puffett: "I think when you try and get these one-size-fits-all rules and regulations at the federal level, that's where things just don't work, and they start falling apart because Iowa is very different than California and very different than New York. And even within the state, there are differences in the communities and what their needs are and what works best for them. So, I'm a true believer [in] keeping the decision-making as close to where the issue or the problem or the challenge is, and you probably [will] have better outcomes."

Iowa congressional results

Election results will begin to come in around 8 p.m. when polls close in Iowa.

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