Cindy Golding (born 1952) is an American politician, entrepreneur, farmer and former chemist who has represented the 83rd district of the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2023, which consists of much of rural Linn County. She is a member of the Republican Party.[1]

Cindy Golding
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 83rd district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byMartin Graber (redistricting)
Personal details
Born1952 (age 71–72)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJoe
Children6
EducationNorthern Illinois University
Elmhurst University
OccupationSmall business owner, farmer

Early life

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Golding was born in 1952 in Chicago, and was raised in rural northern Illinois. She went to Northern Illinois University before attending Elmhurst University, where she majored in biochemistry.[1]

Political career

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Golding ran for the 18th district of the Iowa Senate in a special election in 2011 to fill a vacancy left by Swati Dandekar's resignation, but lost to Democrat Liz Mathis.[2][3]

Golding announced her candidacy for the 83rd district of the Iowa House of Representatives shortly after decennial redistricting took place in 2021.[4] She won the Republican primaries unopposed on June 7, 2022, and defeated Democrat Kris Nall in the general election on November 8 by over 2,800 votes.[5]

Golding endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2023.[6]

In 2024, Golding filed to run for reelection.[7] She won the Republican primaries unopposed on June 4, 2024, and will face Democrat Kent McNally in the general election on November 5, 2024.[5]

Golding currently serves on the Labor and Workforce, Veterans Affairs, State Government, and Local Government committees, the lattermost of which she is vice chair.[8]

Personal life

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Golding has a husband, Joe, six adult children, and 21 grandchildren. She resides in rural Linn County. She is the co-founder of Advancement Resources, a training services and research company, and also owns several farms. She worked as an analytical chemist prior to her business ventures.[1][4]

Golding has been active in numerous organizations. She is the former chair of the Linn County Republican Party Central Committee and Heartland Youth for Christ, former second vice president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, and is a former board member of the National Federation of Independent Business, Five Seasons Republican Women, Linn County Farm Bureau, and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She has also worked as an FFA judge, cheerleading coach, Academic Decathlon coach and judge, Chemistry Olympiad proctor, Mathcounts coach, church youth leader, and Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader.[1]

Electoral history

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Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa Senate special election, 2011 [9]
District 18
Turnout: 23,797
Democratic Liz MathisDemocratic13,32456
Cindy Golding Republican10,32243.4
Jon Tack Constitution1510.6
Iowa House of Representatives Republican primary elections, 2022 [5]
District 83
Turnout: 1,717
Republican (newly redistricted) Cindy GoldingRepublican1,70699.4
Other/Write-in votes 110.6
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2022 [5]
District 83
Turnout: 15,529
Republican (newly redistricted) Cindy GoldingRepublican9,17259.1
Kris Nall Democratic6,35040.9
Other/Write-in votes 70.05

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "State Representative - All Years". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Lynch, James Q. "Golding wins Iowa Senate nomination". The Gazette. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "Cindy Golding still considering Iowa Senate district 48 bid". Bleeding Heartland. November 14, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Vanessa. "Family-focused candidates vie for Iowa House 83". The Gazette. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Cindy Golding". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Trump announces Eastern Iowa endorsements ahead of Davenport event". The Iowa Standard. March 13, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Barton, Tom. "Challengers file to run for Iowa House and Senate seats". The Gazette. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "State Representative - Bills & Committees". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "November 8, 2011 Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved June 2, 2024.