Raised on a family farm two miles west of Hawkeye, Andrew Wenthe is a sixth-generation northeast Iowan. Andrew’s great-great-great grandmother, Sophia, moved with two of her sons to Bremer County from Chicago, Illinois in the late 1860s. Generations of Wenthes have remained to work the fertile farmland and enjoy the benefits of rural living.

Andrew was born in West Union, joining three older brothers in a loving and rambunctious household. Andrew’s father, Wayne, began operating the family farm after taking over from his father in 1974- and continues to do so today. Andrew’s mother, Mary, was a homemaker who operated the Sunny Days Preschool until her death in 1993. Andrew and his brothers have since welcomed a stepmother, Cheryl, to the family. Cheryl works as a personal banking officer at First National Bank in Oelwein.

Growing up on the farm, the values of hard work and discipline were instilled in Andrew. He learned from his family the merits of compassion, integrity, and optimism. Andrew was taught at an early age that you face tough times with your back bowed and your chin up, and that a good neighbor is always quick to lend a helping hand when someone else is in need.

Andrew graduated from North Fayette High School, where he participated in football, track, baseball, choir, speech, and student government- among other activities. With the help of his family, student loans, and several part-time jobs, Andrew went on to earn a degree in Political Communications from the University of Northern Iowa.

Following graduation, Andrew moved to Washington, D.C. to work on Senator Chuck Grassley’s legislative staff. Although a proudly registered Democrat, Andrew enjoyed his two years working for Senator Grassley in Washington, where he learned first-hand the importance of representative democracy. His experience in the U.S. Senate taught him how to successfully navigate government bureaucracy, and strengthened his appreciation for the resolve displayed by Iowans facing long odds and adversity.

It was in this spirit that Andrew returned to northeast Iowa to work on the John Edwards for President campaign. Happy to be home again, he savored the opportunity to talk with Iowans about the challenges they faced and also to share ideas about changing the direction of the country.

Following the 2004 elections, Andrew worked in the Iowa Senate as a legislative assistant for Sen. Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls. His hands-on experience in Des Moines, helping to craft legislation and cut through bureaucratic red tape, has prepared him to better serve Iowans.

Andrew lives in Hawkeye, where he is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He works as the Associate Registrar at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys watching football and baseball, reading, and spending time with friends and family.