Meet Ty Bopp, a Democrat running for Iowa House in Johnson and Washington counties

Editor's Note: Southeast Iowa Union reported on April 21 that Bopp will be dropping out of the Democratic primary for House District 92. Bopp will still be on the ballot June 7 after submitting the necessary paperwork and signatures required to do so.

Ty Bopp of Riverside will be the only Democrat on the ballot for Iowa House District 92 in Johnson and Washington counties.

Bopp, 23, is a farmer and a service manager at the Waterfront HyVee in Iowa City. He grew up in Iowa City and is a graduate of Iowa City West High School and Cornell College. He is pursuing a master's in business administration online at Eastern Illinois University.

"I want Iowa to get back to the basics," he told the Press-Citizen. "This state was founded on agriculture, and I think that, while it shouldn't be the main mission, agriculture should be one of the main priorities and it shouldn't take the back seat anymore."

Bopp said that, while living on a farm the past six years, he's come to know the business and questions why Iowa is focused on passing policies affecting cities when the majority of land is used for agriculture. He said both political parties need to shift their focus to policies affecting rural areas of the state.

Bopp also interns with state Rep. Dave Jacoby and state Sen. Zach Wahls once a week in Des Moines. Bopp said Jacoby encouraged him to run after redistricting created this new open seat.

Iowa House District 92 was created when Iowa redrew its congressional and state legislative maps after the 2020 U.S. Census. The district covers all of Washington County and portions of southern and western Johnson County, including the cities of Lone Tree and Hills.

State Reps. Amy Nielsen, Jarad Klein and Joe Mitchell currently represent parts of this district.

Bopp faces no challenger on the ballot for the Democratic Party nomination, but two Republicans will face each other in their party's primary. Heather Hora of Washington and Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien will both appear on the ballot June 7.

One issue that Bopp said he'd like to address as a state representative is easing red tape and regulations on upgrading and adding new technology to concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Washington County, with 205 animal feeding operations, has the highest density of any eastern Iowa county and is eighth-highest in the state, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Bopp said the process to upgrade a CAFO is too long and tedious.

"As a farmer, I think it should be as simple as saying, 'Hey, I need to upgrade my CAFO,'" he said.

Bopp also wants state revenue from biofuel production to benefit farmers and hopes to expand renewable energy in the state. He said he also thinks investing in rural broadband access would be an issue he'd be interested in tackling.

This race takes place in a wider statewide trend of turnover due to retirements and redistricting after the 2020 U.S. Census. Four Iowa House seats and one Iowa Senate seat within Johnson County are on the ballot without an incumbent and all are set to be contested either in the June primary or in the November general election.

Bopp said he'd be excited to join the large group of freshman representatives and senators set to take office next year. He said it is also good to see many young people, like himself, running for these seats.

"It will be exciting to see what new people will bring to the table," he said.

The primary election is June 7. Early voting begins May 18.

More information on this election can be found at the Johnson County Auditor's Office website, including information about how to register to vote and vote early.

More: Meet the 6 Republicans vying for Iowa and Johnson County's new House District 91

George Shillcock is the Press-Citizen's local government and development reporter covering Iowa City and Johnson County. He can be reached at (515) 350-6307, GShillcock@press-citizen.com and on Twitter @ShillcockGeorge

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Ty Bopp to run for Johnson and Washington County seat in Iowa House