Rod Blum
| Rod Blum | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st district |
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Assumed office January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Bruce Braley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rodney Leland Blum April 26, 1955 Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Alma mater |
Loras College University of Dubuque |
| Occupation | Software executive |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Rodney Leland "Rod" Blum /ˈblʌm/ (born April 26, 1955) is an American politician who was elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. A member of the Republican Party, he took office on January 3, 2015.
Blum attended Loras College where he earned a degree in finance, and the University of Dubuque where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. A businessman, Blum is a former CEO of Eagle Point Software (1990–2000) and owner of Digital Canal, a software company, since 2000.
After winning the Republican primary in June 2014, Blum defeated Democrat Pat Murphy with 51% of the vote in the November 4, 2014, general election. This was considered a surprise Republican victory, as the seat had a D+5 Cook PVI Score. Blum succeeded Democrat Bruce Braley, who vacated his U.S. House seat to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.
Blum ran for re-election in 2016. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. He faced Democrat Monica Vernon in the general election. Blum defeated Vernon with 54% of the vote.
Blum cast his first vote in Congress against John Boehner's speakership.
According to USA Today, Blum has "made it his central focus to change the way Congress treats itself by supporting efforts to strip away the trappings of elective office." Blum and Democrat Beto O'Rourke started the Congressional Term Limits Caucus. He co-sponsored legislation to end lawmakers' access to first class travel and luxury car leases, he supports ending the congressional pension system, and he has introduced a bill to institute a lifetime ban on lawmakers ever becoming lobbyists.
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