Des Moines, IA – On Tuesday, farmer, 20-year educator, and former state senator Rita Hart filed her petitions and affidavit of candidacy to qualify for the ballot in Iowa’s Second Congressional District.
The Hart campaign filed 3,961 signatures from all 24 counties in the 2nd District, more than twice the necessary 1606 to qualify for the ballot. The campaign achieved the threshold number of signatures in 19 counties, far more than the required 12.
“I am a teacher and farmer I am running for Congress because now more than ever, we need leaders that lean in and listen to every voice, not the loud and powerful interests that keep us from getting things done in Washington,” said Hart. “This filing is another big step for our campaign. I am proud of the strong, grassroots campaign we are building around lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, supporting the ag economy so we create jobs in rural Iowa, and improving educational opportunities for Iowans at every stage in life.”
Since announcing her campaign for Congress in May, local leaders from all of the 24 counties in the district, every member of the Iowa congressional delegation including Dave Loebsack, and State Auditor Rob Sand endorsed Rita Hart. In February, Hart was placed on the DCCC’s Red-to-Blue list for the most competitive races in the country.
Rita Hart is a lifelong Iowan, farmer, and 20-year educator. A graduate of North Iowa Area Community College and the University of Northern Iowa, Rita taught in the Calamus-Wheatland and Bennett Community school districts. After leaving the classroom, she led programs that facilitated career pathway opportunities for students with local businesses and served as an active volunteer in her eastern Iowa community. Rita is also a former member of the Iowa Senate where she represented a swing district and worked with both parties to deliver results for hard-working Iowa families, small businesses, and farms. Rita and her husband Paul have five grown children. She and Paul live on their family corn and soybean farm near Wheatland, which they’ve owned and operated since 1986.
