(Radio Iowa) – Former Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque is campaigning to return to the U.S. House in 2027. Blum served two terms in the House, including the first two years of President Trump’s first term. Blum says he was proud to stand with Trump then and serve on the leadership team for Trump’s 2024 Iowa campaign. Blum, who’s a businessman, says congress needs more members who understand the business world and what it means to create jobs, balance budgets, and make tough decisions.

Blum owns a software company called Digital Canal and has announced he’s using 250-thousand dollars dollars of his own money to kick-start his 2026 campaign.

Two other Republicans and three Democrats have announced they’re running in Iowa’s second congressional district. Republican Ashley Hinson, who currently represents the district, is running for the U-S Senate. Blum was first elected to the U-S House in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 with 54 percent of the vote. He lost his 2018 bid for re-election to Democrat Abby Finkenauer.