After getting rejected by Iowa voters in 2018, Rod Blum wants his old job back. But he’s not running on his record – he’s running from it. Expect him to spend most of this campaign trying to rewrite history: the ethics scandal, the vote to repeal health care, and his inclusion in a racist Facebook group.
Blum is betting on voters forgetting why they kicked him out. He said he’d give away half his salary – then refused to say whether he did. He said he’d fight for Iowa – then voted to take away health care, raise the retirement age, and pass tax cuts for billionaires that jacked up the deficit.
Now, after seven years on the sidelines, Blum wants to go to Congress to do it all over again.
“Rod Blum thinks Iowa voters have short memories,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Nico Delgado. “But Iowans remember exactly who he is – a scandal-plagued, out-of-touch politician who broke his promises, ducked accountability, and pushed policies that would rip away health care and attack Social Security. He didn’t fight for Iowa families, he sold them out.”
Rod Blum helped rig the economy against working families:
- Blum voted to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy and corporations, adding over a trillion dollars to the deficit.
- Backed job-killing tariffs that are hurting Iowa farmers and businesses and told them not to panic while their livelihoods are being threatened.
- Voted to gut the ACA – threatening Medicaid cuts, higher health care costs, and reduced coverage for thousands of Iowans. Blum faced backlash at a townhall for threatening cuts to Medicaid.
Blum tried to cut Social Security – and he’ll try again:
- Blum voted to raise the retirement age, which would push seniors to work longer and reduce their benefits.
Blum is scandal-ridden:
While in office, Blum:
- Got caught hiding his role in a firm that helped other companies hide damaging information online about them, like FDA warning letters, which landed him in front of the House Ethics Committee.
- Tweeted a reporter’s personal cell number after being asked why he was included in a racist Facebook group.
- Walked out of an interview rather than answer a basic question about who was allowed into his town halls.
He lied to voters:
- Blum promised to donate part of his congressional salary to charity. When asked if he followed through, he claimed voters don’t care about promises like that.
- Blum supported term limits and now wants to try to make a career out of Congress.
Published: Sep 19, 2025