Independent Bridgford believes Iowa would have more power in DC if he’s elected to 1st Congressional District

This week's countdown to the election leaves us 72 days away from the midterms. This morning, we revisit the race for Iowa's 1st Congressional District seat. History tells us it should be close.

Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks seeks a fourth term in office. She faces Democrat Christina Bohannan for the third time in a row. Miller-Meeks won the race two years ago by a narrow margin of 799 votes. There is also independent candidate Michael Bridgford on the ballot. We will get to know the independent candidate Michael Bridgford a little better this morning.

He was born and raised in Aledo, Illinois. Michael Bridgford moved to Bettendorf, Iowa five years ago. He got his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Illinois and earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Michael Bridgford hasn't held elected office before. He's had a variety of jobs in finance. Among them, Bridgford was the managing partner for Cobalt Transport Services and later the director for Valley Wine Warehouse. He's currently a financial advisor with Bridgford Wealth Advisory, a small business he runs with his father.

Michael Bridgford is far behind in the money race in what will be an expensive campaign for the major party candidates. He has about $125,000, far behind the more than $5 million of Christina Bohannan and the more than $4.5 million dollars for Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Bridgford has some support in polling. One conducted by The Bulfinch Group in the middle of July has him registering 11 percent among likely voters. Christina Bohannan is in front with 40 percent, and Miller-Meeks is at second at 35 percent.

It's not impossible for independent candidates to break through and win a seat in Congress. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is a good example. However, the odds are stacked against them. That clearly isn't stopping Bridgford from making that gamble Host Jim Niedelman got into the issues with Michael Bridgford.

"I believe we need a secure border. I think that's a policy that Republicans support. I think with the trade wars, we need to step away from those. I think that's a policy Democrats support," Bridgford said. "At the end of the day, we're at a moment where we need a lot of common sense."

To hear more, click on the video above.

Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you.  It’s a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on what’s happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.