"I have enjoyed beyond my expectations serving the people of Iowa’s Second District for the past 13 years," Rep. Dave Loebsack said in a statement. | David Greedy/Getty Images Campaigns Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack to retire in 2020

Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack announced today that he will retire from the House at the end of his term, potentially setting up a competitive race for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District in 2020.

Loebsack’s district, which he will have represented for 14 years by the time he exits Congress, went for President Donald Trump by 4 percentage points in 2016, though it was strongly Democratic in other recent presidential elections. The district was one of the 55 initial targets announced by the National Republican Campaign Committee in February.


“Having grown up in poverty, I never would have imagined having the honor of serving as the voice of Iowans in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Loebsack said in a statement. “To best achieve that, I made it a point to meet with folks where they live, work and play in order to focus on improving their lives. I have worked hard to ensure ALL Iowans have had their voice heard.”

“When first elected, I had planned to serve no more than 12 years,” Loebsack continued. “However, after Donald Trump assumed the presidency, it became apparent that I needed to run for at least one more term in the hopes that I could provide a check on his worst impulses. Currently, there are nearly two years remaining in this term and I look forward to playing an important role in the new House majority, not only to prevent further damage done by President Trump, but to also help set the stage for a new Democratic president to be inaugurated in January of 2021.”

In a statement, NRCC spokesman Chris Pack tagged the Democratic Party as a haven of socialism and said that with the incumbent stepping aside, Loebsack’s district “immediately becomes a top tier pickup opportunity for Republicans in 2020.”

The House Republican campaign arm plans to use the socialist tag against all vulnerable Democrats in 2020 — even if their voting record differs from new liberal stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). In Iowa, the NRCC is also targeting freshman Democratic Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne, who flipped two GOP-held districts in 2018.

Loebsack’s announcement comes as a number of Democrats in battleground seats posted big fundraising hauls in the first three months of the year. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also raised a record sum for the first quarter of an off-year, bringing in $32.5 million.

“As we head into 2020, the DCCC is running an aggressive effort to fortify and expand our new Democratic Majority,” DCCC Chair Cheri Bustos said in a statement. “As a Midwesterner who shares a border with Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, I am confident we will nominate and elect a Democrat worthy of succeeding Congressman Loebsack.”

Democrats currently hold a 235-seat majority in the House after flipping 40 seats in 2018 to gain control of the chamber.