# David Pautsch Self-described MAGA Republican running for Iowa's 1st Congressional District in 2026, challenging incumbent Republican [[Mariannette Miller-Meeks]] from the right. A 70-year-old Army veteran (1972–1976) from Davenport with a background in marketing communications and as executive director of Thy Kingdom Come Ministries, Pautsch previously ran against Miller-Meeks in the June 2024 Republican primary, losing 56%–44%. Pautsch is endorsed by [[Mike Lindell]] and [[Eric Metaxas]] — placing him in the MAGA-loyalist lane that treats incumbent Republicans as insufficiently aligned with [[Donald Trump]]. His candidacy represents the persistent intra-party primary challenge dynamic where Trump-movement figures contest seats held by Republicans they view as establishment. ## See Also - [[Mariannette Miller-Meeks]] — the incumbent he's challenging - [[Donald Trump]] — the political movement he claims