Iowa congresswoman who hasn’t endorsed a 2020 Democrat engaged to top Warren campaign aide

INDIANOLA, Iowa — A first-term House Democrat from Iowa whose endorsement in the 2020 presidential race is up for grabs got engaged to a top campaign worker for the White House bid of Elizabeth Warren.

Rep. Abby Finkenauer’s engagement to Warren’s Iowa political director Daniel Wasta became public moments before the Massachusetts senator took the stage at Simpson College on Sunday.

“I have an announcement in case you haven’t already heard it: Abby Finkenauer is getting married,” Warren told a crowd of about 475. “And she’s marrying Daniel Wasta, who’s my political director. It just blew up 10 minutes ago, so I have the latest news.”

Finkenauer, 30, represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which covers Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Waterloo. She flipped the district in 2018 to become the second youngest woman elected to Congress after Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who won her seat during the same cycle.

Finkenauer is yet to endorse in the Democratic 2020 presidential primary. Her support is seen by many as helpful in the early-voting state, much like Ocasio-Cortez’s was to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders after his heart attack.

The couple announced their engagement shortly after Warren broke the news.

“It will take a lifetime to fully express just how much she means to me. I’m so happy @Abby4Iowa said ‘YES’ and we get to build a life together,” Wasta tweeted Sunday afternoon.