The candidates for Iowa’s fourth congressional district differ on farmland ownership, immigration, artificial intelligence and Social Security. Both called for FEMA reform and supported year-round E15.

, Iowa —

Republican Chris McGowan and Democrat Dave Dawson faced off in an Iowa PBS debate Wednesday, outlining different approaches to the Iran war, tariffs and several issues affecting Iowa farmers and communities.

The candidates are running to represent Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Republican Randy Feenstra. McGowan is the former president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and the Siouxland Initiative. Dawson is an assistant Woodbury County attorney who served in the Iowa House from 2013 to 2017.

Iran war and fuel costs

Dawson said Congress should vote to end the war with Iran, which he called illegal and unconstitutional. He argued that the conflict has increased fuel prices and put American service members at risk, and said presidents cannot continue an armed conflict for more than 60 days without congressional authorization.

McGowan said he supported President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran but believes the U.S. has been in the conflict too long. He said the goals should include preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, and that U.S. troops should come home once those objectives are met.

Asked how he would vote on a bill requiring further congressional approval to continue the war, McGowan said he would need access to classified information about the threat before deciding.

The candidates also opposed Trump’s temporary lifting of an embargo on Russian diesel imports. McGowan said the U.S. should not make economic deals with Russia while it is at war with Ukraine. Dawson said the move was the wrong decision and that the U.S. should support Ukraine.

Both expressed support for Ukrainian refugees remaining in the country. McGowan said people fleeing war should be able to seek refuge in the U.S. Dawson criticized the revocation of immigration status without court hearings and said people who entered legally and contribute to their communities should be allowed to stay.

Tariffs, wages and the farm economy

Dawson argued that Trump’s tariffs have raised costs for consumers and farmers, pointing to fertilizer costs and reduced soybean sales to China.

“We are selling less soybeans today to China as a result of these tariffs,” Dawson said.

McGowan said tariffs are intended to make U.S. manufacturing more competitive and bring jobs back to the country, though he acknowledged they add to financial pressures for Iowans.

“President Trump, through these tariffs, is trying to make it more attractive to bring that manufacturing back to the United States,” McGowan said.

The candidates also offered different ideas for addressing everyday costs. Both support year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel. McGowan said broader E15 access could lower fuel costs and create a larger market for Iowa farmers. Dawson said ending the Iran war should be the first step in stabilizing fuel prices. He also called for action against corporate consolidation and an increase in the federal minimum wage.

McGowan opposed a federal minimum-wage increase, arguing it could raise costs for consumers and saying the issue should be left to state governments.

On the farm bill, Dawson said he would have supported the version under consideration, despite wanting more support for supplemental food programs. He said farmers need a long-term bill to plan for the future.

McGowan credited Iowa’s congressional delegation with advancing farm policy and E15. He said the House had passed a farm bill but that the Senate still needed to act. He also cited the role of value-added agriculture in creating jobs and investment.

Data centers, farmland and energy

McGowan said data centers should pay for their own infrastructure, limit light and noise, avoid raising utility costs or straining the electric grid, and make a philanthropic commitment to the communities where they locate. If they meet those conditions, he said, local residents should decide whether to welcome them.

Dawson also said local governments should make zoning decisions. He called for federal environmental standards to protect air and water quality and said the government should help ensure data centers do not increase utility rates. Both candidates said they would support requiring data centers to pay for electric-grid expansion.

The candidates split over private-equity ownership of farmland. McGowan opposed a federal ban, questioning whether the government should prevent a farm family from selling land to the highest bidder. He said policy should help younger farmers buy land, including through access to capital and U.S. Department of Agriculture loans.

Dawson supported banning private-equity purchases and out-of-state or foreign ownership of Iowa farmland. He said the state needs more family farms and owners who live in Iowa and work the land.

Both candidates opposed using eminent domain to build a proposed carbon-capture pipeline through Iowa. Dawson said he supports tax credits that benefit ethanol but does not believe private property should be taken for a private company’s project. McGowan also said the project should not come at the expense of property rights and criticized the federal tax credits.

On coal-fired power plants, Dawson said emissions rules should remain in place and plants should reduce pollution by changing how they operate. McGowan called for reliable, affordable energy and pointed to Iowa’s mix of wind, solar, ethanol and biodiesel.

AI, immigration and other issues

Both candidates said the federal government has a role in regulating artificial intelligence. McGowan said the U.S. must keep pace with China while protecting Americans from potential harms, including risks from foreign technology. Dawson said companies should not regulate themselves and called for safeguards and human oversight.

Dawson said he would support barring children under 16 from social media accounts, citing online bullying and mental-health concerns. McGowan said government has a role in protecting children but warned against excessive federal regulation or replacing parents’ role.

Both candidates said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not done enough for northwest Iowa flood victims and needs reform. Dawson called for faster payments based on local recovery estimates, along with audits. McGowan called for bipartisan reforms to make the agency more responsive.

Both also supported increasing penalties for companies that knowingly hire workers who are not authorized to work in the U.S. McGowan called for stronger border security and a faster, less expensive legal immigration process. Dawson said immigration enforcement should apply to employers as well as workers, and called for a legal pathway that better meets employers’ needs.

On rural health care, McGowan supported expanding skilled-worker visas, including for physicians. Dawson emphasized making health care education more affordable and training more workers in the U.S.

The candidates also differed on Social Security. McGowan said changes may be needed to keep the program solvent, including considering a higher retirement age for future generations, while protecting people already in the system. Dawson opposed raising the retirement age or cutting benefits. He proposed lifting the income cap so higher earners pay Social Security taxes on all their income.

The debate ended with both candidates praising the tone of their campaigns and saying they would seek common ground in Congress. Both supported 12-year term limits for the House and Senate. McGowan said term limits should apply to all members, while Dawson also called for banning congressional stock trading and overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling Citizens United v. FEC.

This content is imported from infogram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from infogram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.