DES MOINES, Iowa — After months of speculation and an exploratory campaign from Congressman Randy Feenstra (R), he officially launched his bid to be Iowa’s next governor.

Feenstra had been floating the idea around, running generic ads during the summer months. He told WHO 13 News on Wednesday what he learned during that period to make him want to step in the statewide election.

“What I learned is I love this state,” said Rep. Feenstra, representing Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District. “I care for this state. And I want to take this state to new heights.” Feenstra grew up in Hull, he is a fourth generation Iowan, noting that he met his wife while working at a Pizza Ranch location. He has been married for 33 years and has four children.

Feenstra said there are specific points that he wants to hit on during the campaign to keep the American dream he grew up with the same for younger generations. Feenstra called them visionary points, the first is making sure Iowa is the most business and agriculture friendly state in the country, adding that means lowering and freezing property tax rates. The second is having world class education in the state from PreK through college, with hopes of having students stay and work in the state, which he said means keeping quality of life at a certain standard and having jobs available. And the last point is having quality, accessible and affordable healthcare.

The Congressman served for three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and before that was a state senator in the Iowa Statehouse since 2009. He touted the state’s largest income tax cut he authored at the end of his tenure at a state senator. He also emphasized his work to pass the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill Act’ that extended the Trump tax cuts from 2017.

In the full interview, which you can find in the video link above, Feenstra outlined his opposition to the use of eminent domain for private companies, while saying the state does need to be business-friendly; what freezing property taxes would look like; and how would he get Iowa’s education to a world class level.

Feenstra joins the field of three other republicans running in the Iowa GOP primary: Eddie Andrews, Brad Sherman and Adam Steen. Democrats have a field of multiple candidates of their own: Rob Sand and Julie Stauch.

To learn more about Feenstra and what policy he would push for as governor, visit his website.