Michael Schnoes is challenging incumbent Rep. Zach Dieken, R-Granville, for a seat in the Iowa House.

The two Republicans are expected to face off in a primary June 4 to represent District 5, which includes Cherokee, Buena Vista, O’Brien and Osceola counties. Schnoes said he has deep roots in the area. His grandparents and family are from Northwest Iowa, which gives him a historical understanding of his constituency, said Schnoes, who hails from O’Brien County.

“I almost ran against Mr. Dieken in 2022 and looking back I wish I would have,” Schnoes told The Cherokee Chronicle Times on Tuesday. “I have been very passionate about our educational system, our civil rights, equal rights and the lack of what I consider common sense laws in Iowa for years now.”

Schnoes, an industrial tech teacher at Alta-Aurelia High School, said he decided to run after hearing Dieken’s position on abortion. Schnoes believes there should be some exceptions such as rape and incest. Dieken doesn’t.

“If a girl or woman is sexually assaulted exceptionally by a family member (brother, father, uncle or cousin),” Schnoes said. “I feel that it should be the right of the individual, their family, spiritual leader and their physician if they should have the child, not the State of Iowa.”

Dieken voted against signature Republican legislation to restrict abortions to when a fetal heartbeat is detected. This roughly happens at six weeks after conception. Dieken told the Chronicle Times the legislation didn’t go far enough. Schnoes said after reading the bill he would have supported the restriction, considering himself pro-life with realistic exceptions.

“As an educator, we have students in our schools that have been sexually assaulted especially at a really young age,” Schnoes said. “If for some a girl who is really young gets pregnant, that shouldn’t be up to the state. It should be up to the physician.”

Running as a Republican, Schnoes said he would never support eminent domain or allowing a minor to have a sex change in Iowa. Priorities for Schnoes include writing legislation that would allow legal fathers to request DNA tests if there is documented evidence he might not be the biological father.

“I am bringing a voice for thousands of Iowans who have been victims of our state violating their rights,” Schnoes said. “The State of Iowa can be at the forefront of a civil rights movement to give each Iowan their basic God given human right.”

Schnoes said he believes schools should be allowed to retract a student’s license if they are struggling with absenteeism. Currently, county attorneys are responsible for absenteeism.

“Because as a society, I and several other people feel it is our responsibility to make sure students get a decent education,” Schnoes said. “And they can’t do that if they’re not coming to school.”

If elected, Schnoes said he wants to have committees around the district to review proposed bills so he can know how his constituents want him to vote. If Schnoes doesn’t agree, he said he will clarify why his vote may not align with every voter.

“We’re not alway going to agree, but I am not running for myself,” Schnoes said. “ I am running for what’s best for not only District 5, but everybody in the state.”