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Bobby Kaufmann

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Bobby Kaufmann
Member of the
Iowa House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 14, 2013
Preceded byJulian Garrett
Constituency82nd district (2023–present)
73rd district (2013–2023)
Personal details
Born1985 (age 38–39)
Wilton, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Parent
Residence(s)Wilton, Iowa, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Iowa
Occupation
  • Farmer
  • businessman
WebsiteOfficial website

Bobby Kaufmann (born 1985) is an American politician serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives since 2013 as a member of the Republican Party. In 2023, Kaufmann was appointed as a senior advisor on Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in the Iowa caucuses.[1]

Political career

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Kaufmann first ran for office in 2012, winning election to the 73rd district seat previously held by his father Jeff Kaufmann.[2]

Arrests

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His February 2012 arrest and guilty plea for public intoxication became a campaign issue.[3] He received a deferred judgment, and the charge was removed from his record after completing probation.[3] Kaufmann's arrest led to the revelation that Kaufmann had at least 17 citations and arrests, mostly for traffic-related issues.[4][5][6]

LGBT controversy

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Kaufmann ignited controversy by using his position as Chair of the Iowa House Government Oversight Committee to launch an investigation into an LGBT youth conference in Iowa.[7][8][9] After controversy arose over his investigation, Kaufmann claims he read blogs and received an email alleging that Kaufmann was a homosexual himself.[10][11][7] In reaction, Kaufmann testified before the Iowa House Government Oversight Committee that he was not in a homosexual relationship with colleague Greg Heartsill, stating "I am here to announce that Rep. Heartsill and I are not in a homosexual relationship."[11][7][10]

"Suck it Up Buttercup" bill

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Following the 2016 presidential election, Kaufmann announced that he planned to introduce a bill in the January legislative session that would penalize state universities that used public funding to offer election-related counseling and other support services to students that are beyond the scope of existing mental health resources.[12]

The bill, which Kaufmann nicknamed the "Suck it up, Buttercup" bill, would cut the budget of state universities by double the amount they spend on such activities and introduce criminal penalties for protesters that block highways.[13][14]

In an interview with Fox & Friends on November 16, Kaufmann claimed that there were post-election "cry rooms" and that he "was hearing reports of some schools that were bringing in ponies to be able get students through the election."[15] These claims were untrue.[16] When pressed for more details on these reports of coddling students during a live interview later that day with the Canadian radio show As It Happens, Kaufmann hung up and accused the program of having an agenda.[17]

Voting legislation

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In 2021, Kaufmann proposed legislation in the Iowa House of Representatives to restrict voting rights in Iowa.[18] Kaufmann has promoted false claims of voter fraud.[18][19]

Electoral history

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Kaufmann was elected in 2012, defeating Democrat Dick Schwab; he was reelected in 2014 over challenger David Johnson.

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
2012 Iowa House of Representatives elections [20]
District 73
Turnout: 16,084		Republican Bobby KaufmannRepublican9,06856.4
Dick Schwab Democratic7,01643.6

Kaufmann was re-elected in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.[21]

Presidential politics

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Kaufmann supported Marco Rubio's presidential candidacy in the 2016 Republican primary.[22] In 2023, Kaufmann was hired by Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign to serve as a senior advisor for the Iowa caucuses.[1]

Family

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Kaufmann is the son of former Iowa State Representative and current Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann and Vicki Wing Kaufmann.[23] He has two brothers: Jacob and John. He also had a brother that was stillborn. He is a self-employed entrepreneur in demolition and hauling.[2] Kaufmann married his wife Maria in 2023 and they share two sons.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Former President Donald Trump announces Iowa campaign staff". KCCI. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ a b "Kaufmann's son will run for 73rd House district - West Branch Times - West Branch, Iowa - westbranchtimes.com". www.westbranchtimes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  3. ^ a b staff, Times. "Public intoxication charge becomes campaign issue". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  4. ^ "Sue Dvorsky leaving; Bobby Kaufmann's record". CITYVIEW. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  5. ^ Nelson, Trish (2012-10-24). "Why Bobby Kaufmann Would Be Bad For Iowa". Blog For Iowa. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  6. ^ Nelson, Trish (2012-10-19). "Iowa House Candidate Bobby Kaufmann Called Upon To Release All Records Of Arrests And Probation". Blog For Iowa. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  7. ^ a b c "Antigay Iowa Legislator: I'm Not in a 'Homosexual Relationship'". www.advocate.com. 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  8. ^ "Homophobia, Sexism Collide As Iowa Lawmakers Investigate LGBT Youth Conference - Towleroad Gay News". 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  9. ^ "Rabidly Anti-Gay Iowa Lawmaker Assigned To Investigate LGBTQ Youth Conference - Towleroad Gay News". 19 January 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  10. ^ a b "Anti-gay lawmaker 'sick of cr*p' rumours he is in a secret gay relationship with colleague". PinkNews. 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  11. ^ a b Petroski, William. "LGBTQ youth conference divides Iowa House panel". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  12. ^ "Lawmaker offers 'suck it up, buttercup' bill to protesters". KCCI Des Moines. November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  13. ^ "Iowa lawmaker plans "Suck it up, Buttercup" bill to cut counseling for Trump-sad students". CBS News. Associated Press. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  14. ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (November 14, 2016). "Iowa lawmaker's 'suck it up, buttercup' bill targets protests". Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  15. ^ "'Suck it up': Lawmaker wants to cut funding for schools coddling students over Trump". Fox News. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  16. ^ Finney, Daniel P. "Finney: Iowa lawmaker bullies with 'suck it up, buttercup' bill". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  17. ^ "'Suck It Up, Buttercup' lawmaker hangs up on As It Happens". As It Happens. CBC Radio. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Iowa Republicans unveil assault on early voting". Bleeding Heartland. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  19. ^ "Top Iowa Republicans still pushing Big Lie about 2020 election". Bleeding Heartland. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  20. ^ "2012 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 14, 2012. p. 119. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  21. ^ Benson, Claire. "Republican Bobby Kaufmann solidifies fourth term in the Iowa House". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  22. ^ "Rubio in Iowa as questions grow about early-state efforts". WINK News. 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  23. ^ Noble, Jason (December 29, 2014). "How Jeff Kaufmann is reviving the Iowa GOP". Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
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Iowa House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 73rd district
2013–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 82nd district
2023–present 		Incumbent
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