Meet Melissa
Hi! I am Melissa Vine, and I’m running for Congress in Iowa’s Third District because I want to change the systems that are harming people.
About ten years ago, I got out of an abusive marriage and overnight, I went from being a wealthy small business owner to having $0 to my name – and four little boys, ages 9 and under. Quickly, I began checking groceries for $8.50/hour. I can still remember the shame of poverty and trying to hide my SNAP EBT card in the check-out lane.
Eventually, I finished my master’s degree in mental health counseling, because I wanted to help others work through their own challenging times. After working as a therapist for a few years, I decided to start changing the systems that were causing harm.
I became the Executive Director at The Beacon, a nonprofit for women coming out of trauma. These smart, resourceful, and kind women were being locked up for substance use disorder and mental illness because they couldn’t afford any other option. I received a full ride to Drake Law School – not because I wanted to be a lawyer but because I wanted to change systems. Last year, we launched jail diversion, which provides housing and programming as an alternative to incarceration at one-fourth of the cost.
These systems originate with our government, and I’m running to change them. This race is about abortion; 61% of Iowans believe it should be legal and accessible in most or all cases. We need more women in Congress (currently only 29%) so that we never lose our rights again.
Check out this poll that shows our campaign can beat Zach Nunn, and learn more about our campaign priorities here. I look forward to earning your vote in the June 4 primary and again in the general election!
Meet Melissa
Hi! I am Melissa Vine, and I’m running for Congress in Iowa’s Third District because I want to change the systems that are harming people.
About ten years ago, I got out of an abusive marriage and overnight, I went from being a wealthy small business owner to having $0 to my name – and four little boys, ages 9 and under. Quickly, I began checking groceries for $8.50/hour. I can still remember the shame of poverty and trying to hide my SNAP EBT card in the check-out lane.
Eventually, I finished my master’s degree in mental health counseling, because I wanted to help others in the way that therapy had helped me work through those challenging times. After working as a therapist for a few years, I wanted to start changing systems.
I became the Executive Director at The Beacon, a nonprofit for women coming out of trauma. These smart, resourceful, and kind women were being locked up for substance use disorder and mental illness because they couldn’t afford any other option. I received a full ride to Drake Law School – not because I wanted to be a lawyer but because I wanted to change systems. Last year, we launched jail diversion, which provides housing and programming as an alternative to incarceration at one-fourth of the cost.
These systems originate with our government, and I’m running to change them. This race is about abortion; 61% of Iowans believe it should be legal and accessible in most or all cases. We need more women in Congress (currently only 29%) so that we never lose our rights again.
Check out this poll that shows our campaign can beat Zach Nunn, and learn more about our campaign priorities here. I look forward to earning your vote in the June 4 primary and again in the general election!
