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LEGAL NEWSLINE

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Republican seeks to challenge longtime Iowa AG

Brenna Findley (R)

Tom Miller (D)

DES MOINES, Iowa (Legal Newsline)-Republican Brenna Findley says it is time for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to find another job, decrying his seven terms as the state's chief legal officer.

Findley, a 33-year-old attorney and congressional staffer, is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Miller, 65, in the Nov. 2 general election.

A self-described conservative, Findley said she would offer a new leadership style in the attorney general's office.

"Tom Miller has spanned four decades in the job and I think Iowans are ready for a new direction and a fresh perspective," Findley said.

Findley's campaign announcement suggests that creating and keeping jobs in the Hawkeye State would be a priority for her as attorney general.

"Iowa needs an attorney general who is a strong advocate for Iowa's economy and understand what it takes to create private sector jobs in every community and in every county," Findley said. "My background and experience have given me the understanding about what it takes to ensure Iowa is a family friendly state where jobs, opportunity and prosperity can thrive in every community. Small business is the engine for job growth - my office will be small business-friendly."

A senior aide to U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, Findley earned her law degree from the University of Chicago. She received her bachelor's degree from Drake University.

To qualify for the ballot, Findley will need to collect 1,000 signatures, including 50 from at least 10 different counties.

Miller has served as Iowa attorney general since 1979, except from 1991 to 1995, during which time he was a partner at the Des Moines law office of Faegre & Benson. Miller ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1990.

One of the nation's leading state attorneys general, Miller has been at the center of several efforts on behalf of the states.

Miller, for instance, leads the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group, made of a dozen state attorneys general and banking regulators trying to stem the tide of Americans losing their homes.

More recently, Miller has been pushing Congress for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Legislation to create the agency passed the House in December but remains in the Senate. This week, Miller called on senators to approve the agency, sought by the White House.

Miller graduated from Loras College and received his law degree from Harvard Law School.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.

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