Abby Finkenauer

Abby Finkenauer
United States Special Envoy
for Global Youth Issues
In office
December 1, 2022 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Iowa's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byRod Blum
Succeeded byAshley Hinson
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
January 12, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byPat Murphy
Succeeded byLindsay James
Personal details
Born
Abby Lea Finkenauer

(1988-12-27) December 27, 1988 (age 37)
Sherrill, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Daniel Wasta
​
(m. 2020)​
EducationDrake University (BA)

Abby Lea Finkenauer (born December 27, 1988) is an American politician who was the United States Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues from 2022 until 2025. She is a member of the United States Democratic Party. She was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Iowa's 1st congressional district from January 3, 2019 until January 3, 2021.

Political career

In 2015, she became the member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 99th district.

In the United States House of Representatives' 2018 election, Finkenauer was the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 1st Congressional District. She won the election. She lost her re-election in November 2020 to Republican Ashley Hinson.

In July 2021, Finkenauer announced her candidacy for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Iowa, for the seat held by Chuck Grassley. On April 11, 2022, a judge ruled that she could not appear on the Democratic primary ballot because her nominating petitions did not have enough verified signatures. Four days later, the State Supreme Court ruled Finkenauer can appear on the ballot. However, she lost the nomination to retired vice admiral Michael Franken in June 2022.

In November 2022, Finkenauer was nominated to be a United States Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues. She took office on December 1, 2022.

Personal life

Finkenauer was born in Sherrill, Iowa. She was raised in Dubuque, Iowa. In 2011, Finkenauer graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in public relations.

Finkenauer married Daniel Wasta, the Iowa Political Director for the Elizabeth Warren 2020 presidential campaign in 2020.

Finkenauer has endometriosis and has supported endometriosis research funding.

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa's 1st Congressional District". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ The Fight For Iowa's White Working Class Soul (Report). The Atlantic. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  3. ↑ Quinn Scanlan (July 22, 2021). "Former Rep. Abby Finkenauer announces run for GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley's Iowa seat". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  4. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (April 11, 2022). "Abby Finkenauer can't appear on Democratic primary ballot, Iowa judge rules". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (April 15, 2022). "U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer will appear on primary ballot, Iowa Supreme Court rules". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Michael Franken to challenge Chuck Grassley in November 2022 election". Desmoinesregister.com. June 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ Blinken, Antony J. (December 1, 2022). "Appointment of Abby Finkenauer as Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues". United States Department of State.
  8. ↑ Looker, Rachel (September 1, 2023). "A State Department office gives young people a voice. Abby Finkenauer leads the effort". USA Today. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Iowa Congresswoman Engaged to Marry Presidential Candidate's Staffer". whotv.com. October 20, 2019. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Rep. Abby Finkenauer married on Saturday in private ceremony". KWWL. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. ↑ Longman, Molly. "Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer: Why I Fought To Double Endometriosis Funding". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.

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