HIAWATHA – Aime Wichtendahl was only about five years old, but she could not stop worrying about her single aunt living alone in her apartment.
“She would make herself sick, literally sick, from worry,” recalls Aime’s younger sister, Sara. “She cared so much about other people and other people’s welfare, even as a kindergartner.”
Aime Wichtendahl, Hiawatha City Councillor, aims to make history as Iowa’s first-ever openly transgsender state-level elected official, in her run for Iowa House District 80.
The memory is just one reason why Sara isn’t surprised her big sister is running for Iowa State Representative District 80 in eastern Iowa just north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city. Aime Wichtendahl decided to pursue the seat after eight years (three campaigns) on the Hiawatha City Council in central Iowa.
“I’ve lived here 37 years. I want to make this my home for the rest of my life,” Wichtendahl says. “And no matter who you are, I want your dreams to come true. I want you to be the author of your own story and happiness.”
Victory in Iowa House District 80 would make history
If she’s successful, Wichtendahl would help retain a Democrat seat in an Iowa State Legislature dominated by Republicans. Currently, 64 of Iowa’s 100 state representatives are Republicans. After the Nov. 5 election, projections are that Republicans will outnumber Democrats 6o to 40 in the Iowa House.
Wichtendahl, 44, would also make history as Iowa’s first-ever openly transgender state-level elected official.
The chances of her success are strong: her race is the only Iowa House race one noted by Ballotpedia as “very likely” to go Democratic.
Winning a state House seat is a plateau Wichtendahl approaches with little fanfare — the same way she handled becoming the Iowa’s first-ever openly transgender elected official at any level, when she won her first Hiawatha city council election in 2015. She went on to win two more Hiawatha city council campaigns — again, with almost no fanfare.
Just as she did during her local campaigns, Wichtendahl is focusing her state-level campaign on practical solutions with widespread benefit. Her key campaign stances:
• “Restoring Iowa’s public education system,” and in particular adequately funding Iowa’s public schools. Their funding increases haven’t kept up with inflation for at least four years, reports CBS 2 Iowa. Wichtendahl also wants to return more money and control to Area Education Agencies. “Every year, the schools have less and less resources,” she says, pointing to the state’s $3 billion surplus fund as a potential source to bolster education funding.
• “Keeping government out of people’s private lives,” including restoring abortion rights beyond the state’s six-week ban, one of the country’s most restrictive abortion laws.
• Economic development, with a focus on improving the state’s wages and “not scaring our workforce off with this pointless culture war.”
Wichtendahl believes the constant press from Iowa’s Republican majority and governor to restrict personal rights and delve into social issues is especially damaging to the state’s effort to retain younger residents.
“We are a state that is growing older, so we need a younger workforce here to stay and make sure Iowa’s economy continues to compete not only in the nation, but in the world.”
Aime Wichtendahl, candidate for Iowa House District 80, marches with volunteers in the CR Pride Parade in June.
Leadership in Hiawatha known to be bipartisan, “informed”
Her focus on the economy is one area where Wichtendahl believes she can connect with Republicans even while carrying the banner for Democrats.
Other areas ripe for bipartisan collaboration: building mental health services, including to those who treat substance use disorders; and emphasizing “local control.”
Wichtendahl has also built a reputation for focusing on facts during her eight years in Hiawatha, says former colleague Dick Olson. She was part of a council that repeatedly lowered the city’s property tax levy.
“She was always a very informed, reasoned voice when making council decisions,” says Olson, a 20-year member of the Hiawathat City Council. “She always considered those decisions to the greater good of Hiawatha.
“She’s going to do a great job building coalitions for just causes. People are going to recognize that from both sides of the aisle,” he said.
Wichtendahl’s drive to tackle complex issues was apparent early, says her sister Sara. “If she was interested in it, she knew everything about it, “ she says.
Aime aspired to write for Time Magazine as a teen. While she hasn’t achieved that goal. Wichtendahl has written editorials for The Des Moines Register, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and The Real Mainstream, plus short stories.
She’s also proud to retain a youthful and sometimes silly demeanor. An avid gamer who loves science fiction, Wichtendahl also occasionally drops light-hearted short-form movie reviews on Facebook.
Since her transition in 2012, Wichtendahl has co-parented her son Steven with her ex-wife. “She’s a good, solid parent and role model who’s always there,” says sister Sara.
Growing LGBTQ+ leadership includes recognition by One Iowa
While serving in government, Wichtendahl has also emerged as an advocate for Iowa’s LGBTQ+ community.
Last year and in 2022, she spoke at several state legislative hearings against measures to restrict gender transition care for youth and abortion services.
In 2021, Wichtendahl was named the Donna Red Wing Advocate of the Year by the One Iowa LGBTQ+ rights advocacy group. And in 2023, she was named a 2023 LGBTQ+ Legacy Leader by dsm magazine in Des Moines.
“What entranced me about her, was Aime’s ability to confidently be authentic in her message, herself and everything she does,” says Chad Johnston, spokesperson for the Iowa LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, for which Wichtendahl is a frequent speaker.
She’s projected to win her race, having raised about four times as much money as her Republican opponent John Thompson. District 80 has 6,098 registered Democrats who are active voters, and 5,851 registered Republicans who are active voters, reports The Gazette. Another 5,614 active voters in the district have not registered with either party.
In addition, Thompson received more votes in his uncontested primary in June than Wichtendahl did in her uncontested primary (410 to 383).
That’s why Wichtendahl warns against complacency. “We have a lot of structural advantages going into this race. We’re very confident that we’ll carry the day in November, but I always reiterate to people this is not a slam dunk. This is not a done deal.”
You can learn more about both candidates at their websites (aimeforiowa.org and johnthompsonforiowahouse.com) and their Facebook pages (Wichtendahl and Thompson)
(Editor’s Note: Aime Wichtendahl has written numerous columns for The Real Mainstream. You can read them here.)
This column initially appeared in the September 2024 edition of The Real Mainstream. Photos courtesy of Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce and Aime Wichtendahl)
