U.S. House, Iowa 4th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Iowa's 4th Congressional District?
Dave Dawson has the strongest record in Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Dave Dawson scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Chris McGowan at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Dave Dawson's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Chris McGowan's highest marks are roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Dave Dawson
67 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Chris McGowan
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Dave Dawson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate financial disclosures are on file. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Chris McGowan. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate financial disclosures are on file. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Dave Dawson. Debated Chris McGowan at KTIV on Sept. 30, 2026, is scheduled for an Iowa PBS debate on Oct. 14, and had challenged McGowan to three public debates.
Sources: N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 30, 2026, KTIV via AOL, June 15, 2026
Chris McGowan. Debated Dave Dawson at KTIV in Sioux City on Sept. 30, 2026 and is scheduled for an Iowa PBS debate on Oct. 14.
Sources: N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 30, 2026, Iowa PBS, Iowa Press Debates: 4th Congressional District
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Dave Dawson. Prosecutor in the Woodbury County Attorney's Office since 2002 and a former two-term state representative, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: KTIV via AOL, June 15, 2026
Chris McGowan. Led the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce from 2011 and served six years in the Iowa Air National Guard, with no formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Dave Dawson. Took the oath of the Iowa House for two terms and serves as a county prosecutor. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: KTIV, June 3, 2026
Chris McGowan. Served six years in the Iowa Air National Guard (from 1990), ending as an intelligence officer. No official finding of misuse of office found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Dave Dawson. Served two terms in the Iowa House (District 14, 2013 to 2017) and has been a Woodbury County prosecutor since 2002.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Dave, N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 30, 2026
Chris McGowan. President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce from 2011, chair of the Iowa Chamber Alliance and an economic development professional for about 20 years; law degree, has not held elected office.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Dave Dawson. Publishes specific proposals, including Medicare drug price negotiation, an insulin cost cap, a public option, loan forgiveness for rural health workers and passage of the PRO Act.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Chris McGowan. Lists priorities in general terms: the economy, wasteful spending, border security, national defense and traditional values; opposes eminent domain for private use.
Sources: Campaign site, Des Moines Register via Yahoo News, June 25, 2025
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Dave Dawson. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2025, publishes detailed issue pages, debated on television and holds public town halls.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dave Dawson, Campaign site, Issues, N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 30, 2026
Chris McGowan. Publishes priorities on his site and debated on television. No completed Ballotpedia survey shown.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Dave Dawson. Grew up in Washta, Iowa, has prosecuted in Woodbury County since 2002 and lives in Lawton. About 94 percent of itemized contributions by state came from Iowa ($77,214 of $81,915).
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Dave, Iowa PBS, Iowa Press Debates: 4th Congressional District, FEC contribution totals by state
Chris McGowan. Born and raised in the 4th District; a Sioux City resident and long active in its economic development. About 46 percent of itemized contributions by state came from Iowa.
Sources: Campaign site, Iowa PBS, Iowa Press Debates: 4th Congressional District, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Dave Dawson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no debts reported and no administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Chris McGowan. Led the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce for about 15 years. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no debts reported and no administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Dave Dawson. No public record found.
Chris McGowan. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Iowa's 4th Congressional District?
Dave Dawson has the strongest record in Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Dave Dawson scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Chris McGowan at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Dave Dawson's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Chris McGowan's highest marks are roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Iowa's 4th Congressional District in 2026?
Dave Dawson (Democratic), Chris McGowan (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Dave Dawson a good candidate for Congress?
Dave Dawson scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Chris McGowan a good candidate for Congress?
Chris McGowan scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Iowa race scored, and the Iowa 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.