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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04

@melton4iowa.bsky.social

2.5K followers 1.8K following 760 posts

Democratic Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa’s 4th CD in ‘22 and '24. Advocate, activist, and friend.

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · Jun 17

1/Hello friends,

This was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know after a lot of prayer, conversation, and thought that I need to suspend my campaign at this time.

It’s been one of the tougher past few weeks of my life. I was notified due to

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 14h

2/before I started running against him, knowing full well eminent domain is unavoidable if the project is to be done. A good place for him to start would be giving all of his Rastetter money back.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 14h

1/You can’t have the pipeline without eminent domain. As such, Feenstra gets no brownie points here, as he’s taken tens of thousands from the godfather of the pipeline, and often sung the pipeline’s praises www.radioiowa.com/2025/10/17/f...

Feenstra says Summit shouldn't use eminent domain for pipeline - Radio Iowa

Congressman Randy Feenstra — a Republican who’s planning to launch a campaign for governor soon — supports the federal tax credits that could go to the developer of a proposed carbon pipeline, but Fee...

www.radioiowa.com

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 14h

3/and candidate, and not just a weak glancing reference. We need to get to the root without fear of who will be angry about such discoveries. Iowans deserve better.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 14h

2/Once they got to retirement, his wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so their plans were scrapped, as they now stay here in northern Iowa so they can make regular visits up to Mayo, and he works 60 hours a week. The cancer crisis should be at top of mind for any elected

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 14h

1/Just talked to a guy in town today. He and his wife worked hard all their lives, and planned to have a nice retirement down south. Owned a small business for decades.

www.ktiv.com/2025/10/17/i...

Inside Iowa Politics: Reasons why solving Iowa cancer crisis is tough

Iowa remains one of the worst places in the country for new cancer cases.

www.ktiv.com

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 3d

My best advice to any candidate for office: Chase truth, not votes.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 4d

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 7d

I’m watching The Big Short. Feels appropriate for today’s times.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks, Travis! I’m excited by your campaign and look forward to you continuing the good fight!

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 11d

3/pressure of the DC beltway once elected. He has my unflinching support as a true, proud advocate for progressive values. I have yet to see anything from him that would give me pause.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 11d

2/2/washy policy proposals that leave more and more of us behind. Heck, it’s even hard these days to find candidates that will straight up tell us what they will do once elected. I have no such concerns with Travis. He’s a rare creator of good that would not buckle under the

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 11d

1/I proudly endorse Travis Terrell for Congress in his race against Miller-Meeks. It’s unfortunately rare these days to find candidates for office willing to speak the truth without hesitation, who are robust in their rejection of corporate PAC money, or who stop with the wishy

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 18d

2/If my time in Iowa politics is coming to an end, it’d be a nice final win if he decided not to go through with it, as I know our campaigns played a role in showing Republicans up here he’s not an advocate of theirs. He’s rather unpopular among 4th District Republicans.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 18d

1/Randy did not move his exploratory committee for governor to the final official phase in September like he said he would. I’ve long predicted he wouldn’t end up running for Governor.

www.siouxlandproud.com/news/your-lo...

www.siouxlandproud.com

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 20d

Not good.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 21d

Wise words from The Pope.

www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMjoQvQS/

Pope Leo XIV responded to controversy over Chicago Cardinal Cupich's plans to honor Catholic U.S. Senator Durbin who supports legalized abortion, saying that the senator’s record should be considered ...

TikTok video by EWTN News

www.tiktok.com

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 21d

2/doubt the leadership has the spine to fight for those whose human dignity is most threatened, whether it be regarding human rights, economic struggle, health care access, etc.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 21d

1/The path forward for Democrats is not to abandon civil rights and the defense of basic human dignity, as I see some well known pundits on the left are now advocating for. That’s what got us into our current situation as a party. People aren’t voting for the party because they

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

I needed that. Thanks friend. You’ve been quite heroic out there as well.

Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

6/Iowa comes back. I wish I could see it. I hope I’m proven wrong. It’ll take you as caring Iowans to force the accountability needed to turn this around.

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

5/probably won’t have one. In that case, press accountability there, as it continues to blow my mind that rural electeds of a state that is last in GDP growth, that has seen a decades-long rural economic hollowing out, don’t make the issue their number 1 priority. I don’t see how

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

4/is with you. I get how scary it can be out there. Best wishes to you all. Also, I encourage you to attend the town halls of the state electeds in your area in rural Iowa and ask them what their plan is to pull Iowa back from the economic brink. From my experience, they

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

3/I love this state and know many here can’t just pick up and leave easily. Regardless, if I have to go, I’ll remain plugged in how I can and will help to boost the Iowa campaigns of others using this platform. To those struggling financially, of which many of us are, my heart

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

2/leave Iowa soon. This really saddens me but my first obligation is as caretaker of my family, and I need to do what needs to be done. I will say I’ve heard so many people say it’s best to leave Iowa as economic prospects here are rough, as we know. This also saddens me, as

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Ryan Melton: Dem for U.S. House, IA-04 @melton4iowa.bsky.social · 23d

1/Hey all, just a brief personal life update. I don’t have a job offer yet, still looking. Tough job market, for sure. I’ve found that per my career track and experience, the jobs I am most likely able to get are typically going to be out of state, so it is possible I may have to

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