Independent candidate Michael Bridgford enters Iowa's 1st Congressional District race MAYA MARCHEL HOFF Lee-Gazette Des Moines Bureau Apr 21, 2026 14 hrs ago 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save An independent candidate is jumping into Iowa’s highly competitive 1st Congressional District race. kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|:4926= qC:587@C5[ 2 7:?2?4:2= 25G:D@C 7C@> q6EE6?5@C7[ D2:5 96 :D CF??:?8 E@ 8:G6 G@E6CD :? E96 5:DEC:4E H9@ 2C6 “7CFDEC2E65” H:E9 E96 EH@\A2CEJ DJDE6> 2 ?@?A2CE:D2? @AE:@?] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96 <6J AC:?4:A=6 C62==J :D 23@FE 86EE:?8 E96 DJDE6> H@C<:?8] x E9:?< 2=>@DE 2== @7 FD[ 6G6? :7 J@FVC6 :56?E:7:65 2D 2 #6AF3=:42? @C s6>@4C2E[ D66 r@?8C6DD 2?5 (2D9:?8E@? 2D ;FDE 2 3C@<6? DJDE6> C:89E ?@H[” qC:587@C5 E@=5 E96 "F25\r:EJ %:>6D] “pE E96 G6CJ E@A :D ;FDE 92G:?8 E96 2AAC@249 E@ 8@ E@ (2D9:?8E@?[ E@ H@C< E@86E96C H:E9 3@E9 D:56D E@ 24EF2==J D@=G6 AC@3=6>D[ 7:?5 4@>AC@>:D6[ 7:?5 4@>>@? 8C@F?5]” k^Am People are also reading… Clarinda, Shenandoah athletes qualify for Drake Relays Cited for sexual abuse and 23 other violations, Iowa nursing home is fined $500 New documentary explores possibility of serial killer near Omaha Experience, youth in Sandahl, Maher leading Essex girls track and field Rasmussen, Weinreich, Pickens, Dowling medal at Shenandoah Eckhardt resigns after two seasons as Shenandoah's head football coach State Qualifying Track and Field assignments released Meier qualifies for Drake, Clarinda track breaks records, wins team titles at Earlham Shenandoah boys tennis, boys golf, Sidney girls golf earn wins on a busy Monday Baumgart, Bird earn high jump titles, Shenandoah tennis sweeps again Kline, Clarinda boys claim inaugural Larry Scherf Cardinal Classic Studio 5 Beauty Bar holds open house 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Shenandoah earns runner-up honors at Mustang Golf Invitational Shenandoah boys conquer individual events, leading to meet championship at home kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^B4E:>6D]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=602a5e_f_5\f3`d\d_7g\2cd`\e4ahee2fhe`6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC246 7@C E96 `DE s:DEC:4Ek^2m :D 2>@?8 E96 >@DE 4@>A6E:E:G6 :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ H:E9 E96 r@@< !@=:E:42= #6A@CE 2?5 @E96C 7@C642DE6CD =236=:?8 :E 2D 2 “E@DD\FA]” ~? E96 #6AF3=:42? D:56[ :?4F>36?E &]$] #6A] |2C:2??6EE6 |:==6C\|66<D :D 282:? 36:?8 492==6?865 3J s2G:5 !2FED49[ H9@ @C82?:K6D E96 "F25\r:E:6D !C2J6C qC62<72DE 2?5 C2? 282:?DE |:==6C\|66<D :? a_ac] u@C s6>@4C2ED[ r9C:DE:?2 q@92??2?[ 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x@H2 =2H AC@76DD@C 2?5 7@C>6C DE2E6 =2H>2<6C @7 x@H2 r:EJ H9@ H2D E96 a_ac 2?5 a_aa 42?5:52E6[ :D CF??:?8 282:?DE %C2G:D %6CC6==[ 2 962=E9 42C6 H@C<6C 7C@> %:77:?]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$9@F=5 |:==6C\|66<D 2?5 q@92??2? 25G2?46 7C@> E96 AC:>2C:6D[ :E H@F=5 36 E96:C E9:C5 E:>6 CF??:?8 282:?DE 6249 @E96C]k^Am Michael Bridgford of Bettendorf is running as an independent candidate in Iowa's 1st Congressional District race. BRIDGFORD CAMPAIGN kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 6>A92D:K:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 3@E9 A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ =@H6C 4@DED[ DFAA@CE 72C>6CD 2?5 6?DFC6 2446DD E@ 962=E9 42C6[ qC:587@C5 D2:5 G@E6CD :? E96 5:DEC:4E ?665 2 ?6H @AE:@? @? E96 32==@E] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 ?@E65 E96 5:DEC:4E’D =24< @7 =@J2=EJ E@ 2 DA64:7:4 A@=:E:42= A2CEJ[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? ?@?\A2CEJ G@E6C C68:DEC2E:@?[ 2?5 A@:?E65 E@ >F=E:A=6 4@F?E:6D :? E96 5:DEC:4E E92E G@E65 7@C 7@C>6C s6>@4C2E:4 !C6D:56?E q2C24< ~32>2 :? a__g 2?5 a_`a 2?5 E96? DHF?8 E@ #6AF3=:42? !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A :? C646?E 6=64E:@? 4J4=6D] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpD @7 pAC:= `[ E96C6 H6C6 `e_[c`d C68:DE6C65 24E:G6 ?@\A2CEJ G@E6CD :? E96 5:DEC:4E[ 4@>A2C65 E@ `eb[e`e C68:DE6C65 24E:G6 #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 `be[gab C68:DE6C65 24E:G6 s6>@4C2ED[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@D]:@H2]8@G^6=64E:@?D^A57^'#$E2EDpC49:G6^a_ae^r@?8pACae]A57Qm244@C5:?8 E@ E96 x@H2 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6’D @77:46]k^2m k^Am k9a 5:ClQ=ECQms67J:?8 a\A2CEJ DJDE6> k^9amkA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC:587@C5 D2:5 9:D 42>A2:8? 7@==@HD 2? :?56A6?56?E DEC62< :? r@?8C6DD:@?2= C246D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ =:<6?:?8 9:D CF? E@ E92E @7 :?56A6?56?E &]$ $6?2E6 42?5:52E6 s2? ~D3@C? @7 }63C2D<2] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp ?@?A2CE:D2? >6>36C @7 E96 &]$] w@FD6 H@F=5 96=A 7@DE6C 3:A2CE:D2? 4@@A6C2E:@? @? :DDF6D =:<6 962=E9 42C6[ 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 277@C523:=:EJ 2?5 96=A 5:DCFAE E96 4FCC6?E A2CE:D2? 8C:5=@4<[ qC:587@C5 D2:5]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x7 :? E9:D 6?G:C@?>6?E[ E96C6 H6C6 ;FDE 2 4@FA=6 :?56A6?56?E C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D[ 2?5 ?6:E96C A2CEJ 925 2 >2;@C:EJ[ E96? H6 4@F=5 D66 A@E6?E:2==J 2 DA62<6C 4@>6 7C@> E96 >:55=6[ 2?5 E92E 4@F=5 E@E2==J 492?86 9@H r@?8C6DD 7F?4E:@?D[” 96 D2:5] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC:587@C5 A@:?E65 E@ 7@C>6C &]$ $6?2E@C y@6 |2?49:? @7 (6DE ':C8:?:2 2D 2? 67764E:G6 6I2>A=6 @7 2? :?56A6?56?E =2H>2<6C :? r@?8C6DD]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|2?49:?[ 2 7@C>6C >@56C2E6 s6>@4C2E[ 492?865 9:D A2CEJ C68:DEC2E:@? E@ :?56A6?56?E :? 9:D =2DE >@?E9D :? r@?8C6DD] qC:587@C5 D2:5 9:D ?@\A2CEJ =236= 2?5 =:EE=6 H:88=6 C@@> 36EH66? E96 EH@ >2;@C A2CE:6D 96=A65 :?7=F6?46 >@C6 3:A2CE:D2? 562=\>2<:?8] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm“w6 H2D AC@323=J E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E D6?2E@C @7 E9:D 564256] sFC:?8 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 96 925 E96 4@?EC@==:?8 G@E6 2?5 925 2? :?4C65:3=6 :?7=F6?46 @? 2?JE9:?8 E92E A2DD65 E9C@F89 r@?8C6DD[” qC:587@C5 D2:5] “%92EVD H96C6 A6C92AD D@>6@?6 =:<6 9:> E92E 92D E96 C6DA64E @7 3@E9 A2CE:6D[ 2?5 2 >@56C2E6 EJA6 8FJ E92E 4@F=5 DE6A :?E@ E92E C@=6]”k^Am k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmz:E496? E23=6 :DDF6Dk^9amkA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC:587@C5 D2:5 :7 6=64E65 E@ r@?8C6DD[ 96 H@F=5 7@4FD @? <:E496? E23=6 :DDF6D @G6C “4F=EFC6 H2CD]”k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 D2:5 @?6 @7 9:D AC:@C:E:6D H@F=5 36 3C:?8:?8 5@H? :?7=2E:@? E9C@F89 7:D42= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2?5 C6:8?:?8 :? H92E 96 D2JD :D “C64<=6DD” 8@G6C?>6?E DA6?5:?8] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96 >@C6 C64<=6DD H6 2C6[ E96 9:896C :?E6C6DE C2E6D E92E E96 >2C<6E 56>2?5D[ E96 9:896C :?E6C6DE C2E6D 2C6 E92E :>A24E 4@DED[ ?@E ;FDE >@CE8286D 2?5 42C =@2?D[ 3FE 2=D@ 3FD:?6DD6D[” qC:587@C5 D2:5] “(6 ?665 E@ E2<6 2 DE6A E@H2C5D 7:D42= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ] xEVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 3:8 F?56CE2<:?8] xEVD ?@E D@>6E9:?8 E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? @G6C?:89E[ 3FE H6 2E =62DE 8@E E@ DE2CE DE66C:?8 E96 D9:A :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?]” k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 &]$] ?2E:@?2= 563E 4FCC6?E=J D:ED 2E 2C@F?5 Sbh EC:==:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 E96 %C62DFCJ] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC:587@C5[ H9@ 8C6H FA @? 2 D6G6?E9\86?6C2E:@? 72C> ?62C y@J[ x==:?@:D[ D2:5 4@CA@C2E6 4@?D@=:52E:@?[ :?4C62D65 :?AFE 4@DED 24C@DD 3@E9 s6>@4C2E:4 2?5 #6AF3=:42? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D[ 2?5 4@DED :?4FCC65 7C@> E2C:77D 2?5 H2C :? E96 |:55=6 t2DE 2C6 2== DBF66K:?8 72C>6CD] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 D2:5 2? 67764E:G6 A=246 E@ DE2CE :D 86EE:?8 r@?8C6DD E@ A2DD :ED 7:CDE u2C> q:== D:?46 a_`g 2?5 :>A=6>6?E J62C\C@F?5 t`d D2=6D] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQ(6 ?665 E@ 86E 2 ?6H u2C> q:==[ 2?5 H6 ?665 E@ 36 @FE 7:?5:?8 ?6H >2C<6ED E@ 96=A DFAA@CE AC:46D[” qC:587@C5 D2:5] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 2=D@ D2:5 96 H@F=5 324< =:>:ED @? 286 2?5 E6C> =6?8E9D 7@C =2H>2<6CD 2?5 32??:?8 4@?8C6DD:@?2= DE@4< EC25:?8]k^Amk9a 5:ClQ=ECQm&A9:== 32EE=6 E@ 32==@Ek^9am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmyF>A:?8 :?E@ E96 C246 =6DD E92? EH@ >@?E9D 7C@> E96 yF?6 a 7:=:?8 5625=:?6 7@C :?56A6?56?E 42?5:52E6D[ qC:587@C5 ?665D E@ 4@==64E ;FDE @G6C `f[___ D:8?2EFC6D 7C@> E96 5:DEC:4E 3J E92E 52E6 E@ 2AA62C @? E96 }@G6>36C 32==@E] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 2=D@ 92D C@F89=J D6G6? >@?E9D E@ :?EC@5F46 9:>D6=7 E@ 2 a_\4@F?EJ 5:DEC:4E H96C6 EH@ 42?5:52E6D H:E9 ?2>6 C64@8?:E:@? 2C6 CF??:?8] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqFE 96 D2JD 96 766=D 4@?7:56?E 23@FE >2<:?8 E96 32==@E 2?5 >66E:?8 H:E9 G@E6CD 2D 96 D6ED @FE @? 2 a_\4@F?EJ E@FC :? E96 4@>:?8 H66<D] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xEVD 2 >2DD:G6 F?56CE2<:?8 2D 2? :?56A6?56?E 42?5:52E6 E@ ;F>A :?E@ 2 C246[” qC:587@C5 D2:5[ ?@E:?8 96 5:5?’E H2?E E@ CF? 2 J62C\=@?8 42>A2:8? E92E 96 D2JD G@E6CD 2C6 H62CJ @7] “(6 ?665 E@ 92G6 2 C6EFC? E@ 5646?4J 2?5 9@H H6 2AAC@249 42>A2:8?:?8] x E9:?< H6 ?665 E@ 92G6 >@C6 C6DA64E 7@C E96 G@E6C[ 36:?8 @FE[ =:DE6?:?8 E@ E96>[ ?@E ;FDE C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 A2CEJ 3@DD6D 2?5 DA64:2= :?E6C6DED]”k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC:587@C5 =:G6D :? CFC2= q6EE6?5@C7 H:E9 9:D H:76 2?5 EH@ 52F89E6CD] k^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Iowa House Republicans add anti-red flag provision to gun legislation House Republicans added language branded the “Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act,” drawn from a bill passed by the House but not taken up in the Senate. More cannabidiol dispensaries bills bouncing in Iowa Legislature The Iowa Senate approved a bill 42-5 to allow the state to license up to 10 medical cannabidiol dispensaries — double the current allotment. Zach Nunn backs Donald Trump on Iran war, calls for fast end as 2026 race nears Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said he wants to see the conflict with Iran "resolved speedily" and defended the Trump administration's objecti… Iowa bill requiring parental consent for minors to receive HPV vaccine goes to governor The Iowa House passed the bill on Tuesday, after the state Senate passed it last year. JD Vance will campaign with Zach Nunn in Iowa ahead of midterms Vice President JD Vance will campaign in Iowa alongside U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn ahead of a competitive midterm election. Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories for April 21 Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer Former ally implies Trump is the Antichrist Former ally implies Trump is the Antichrist
Iowa House Republicans add anti-red flag provision to gun legislation House Republicans added language branded the “Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act,” drawn from a bill passed by the House but not taken up in the Senate.
More cannabidiol dispensaries bills bouncing in Iowa Legislature The Iowa Senate approved a bill 42-5 to allow the state to license up to 10 medical cannabidiol dispensaries — double the current allotment.
Zach Nunn backs Donald Trump on Iran war, calls for fast end as 2026 race nears Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said he wants to see the conflict with Iran "resolved speedily" and defended the Trump administration's objecti…
Iowa bill requiring parental consent for minors to receive HPV vaccine goes to governor The Iowa House passed the bill on Tuesday, after the state Senate passed it last year.
JD Vance will campaign with Zach Nunn in Iowa ahead of midterms Vice President JD Vance will campaign in Iowa alongside U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn ahead of a competitive midterm election.
