A retired Army nurse who led the nursing program at Kirkwood Community College for a decade is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run against second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in 2026.
Kathryn Dolter said she’s concerned about the health, safety and economic welfare of Iowans. “I’m a patient advocate,” Dolter said, “and I’ve advocated for patients and students and so I want to apply for the job in the second district just to advocate for Iowans.”
Dolter said the “Big Beautiful Bill” President Trump signed July 4th will create problems in a variety of areas. “All Iowans are going to be hurt by the cuts to health care, by the cuts to education,” Dolter said.
Dolter is the only Democrat to have an active campaign in the second district after former U.S. Attorney Kevin Techau ended his campaign in June. “We’ve got to flip the House to stop the Republican machine,” Dolter said.
Dolter, who lives on the west side of Dubuque in the town of Asbury, served 23 years in the Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel. She is currently serving as a coordinator and advisor to the nursing program at Mount Mercy University. Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann called Dolter “a far-left political activist” who will be “no match” for Republican Congresswoman Hinson, who Kaufmann said is “an America-first proven leader.”
(Reporting by James Kelley, Iowa Public Radio; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)