Abby Finkenauer defeats Republican Congressman Rod Blum

Posted: Wed, Nov 7, 2018 8:55 AM

Finkenauer at a Decorah campaign appearance. Winneshiek County, Linn County, Dubuque County and Blackhawk County were the four counties won by Finkenauer Tuesday

Democrat Abby Finkenauer--a two-term State Representative--has defeated two-term Congressman Republican Rod Blum.

Finkenauer gathered 169,348 votes in Eastern Iowa's First Congressional District, with Blum getting 152,940 votes.

The campaign had attracted national attention because of polling which showed Blum might be among the most-endangered Republican Congressmen. Finkenauer not only won the election, but became, along with Cindy Axne, the winner in the 3rd Congressional District, the first women from Iowa to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.