Thursday, May 16, 2013
Mayor Steve Gaer was among the local Republicans courted by members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who reportedly liked his consensus-building skills and the city's strong growth through a recession.
West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer announced this morning that he will seek re-election to the city's top leadership spot, eschewing a rare opportunity to campaign for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat. Gaer, one of a dozen Iowans whose names were advanced as possible candidates, said he was flattered to be courted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee to run for a position that rarely turns over. Gaer, a fourth-generation West Des Moines resident, cited family issues and his own desire to continue serving the city as reasons behind his decision not to seek statewide office. Sign up for West Des Moines Patch's free newsletter | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter “We’ve got a lot of momentum going, it’s fun …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Steve Gaer, whose city has seen robust growth during a crippling recession, is considering a U.S. Senate bid, but says uniting Republicans in a primary would be a hurdle.
The mayor of one of Iowa’s most successful cities says he’ll decide early next week whether to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin’s seat. Harkin, a popular Democrat, announced earlier this year he will not seek a sixth term. It’s a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, said West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer, who was approached about six weeks ago by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to recruit and elect Republicans to the U.S. Senate, about seeking the nomination. Gaer said the NRSC credited him with bringing people together to reach consensus, something leaders see as lacking in Congress, and also noted West Des Moines' robust growth during the recent recession. As most of the nation continues …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Iowa had one of the highest voter participation rates among eligible voters in the country, according to new information released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Iowa often gets questions about why the presidential election process should start here with the first in the nation Iowa Caucus. One reason could be that Iowans are among the most active voters in the country. A new report by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 69.4 percent of eligible Iowans voted in the 2012 election, in which Barack Obama earned a second term in the White House. That percentage was one of the highest in the nation, according to new information released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday. Only eligible voters in Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Massachusetts had higher participation. Mississippi had the highest voter turnout at 74.5 percent, and West Virginia the lowest at 47.8 percent. A key point of…
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker, a Republican in the Rand Paul mold, said he plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tom Harkin. State Sen. Joni Ernst and Ames lawyer Paul Lunde also are considering a bid.
With top contenders passing on the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Harkin, a few politicians are now saying they are interested. Former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker, a Republican in the mold of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, said he will file paperwork to run on WHO Radio's Simon Conway show, according to The Iowa Republican. Whitaker, a managing partner at a law firm based in Des Moines, appears to be the first Republican candidate to announce the intention to run after several high profile options declined, including Congressman Tom Latham, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey and Congressman Steve King. Early polls had King as the favorite in the primary. A couple other Republicans …
Saturday, May 4, 2013
U.S. Rep Steve King said a campaign for the Senate would keep him from fighting battles in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Steve King, R-Kiron, who said on Wednesday that he was embarrassed he hadn't made a decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin, apparently made up his mind. King tweeted late Friday that he'd rather concentrate on battles in the House of Representatives than campaign. “I will not run for Senate in 2014. A Senate race takes me out of urgent battles in Congress that can't wait until 2015. Many thanks to all.” - @SteveKingIA King joins other Republicans like Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Rep. Tom Latham and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds who have also said they would not run for the seat, according to the Washington Post. Early polls showed King, a far right conservative and a Tea Party favorite, as …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Braley currently represents Iowa's first district in the House of Representatives. He is seeking the Senate seat that Harkin has held since 1984.
Sen. Tom Harkin has endorsed Bruce Braley to replace him in the 2014 election. Braley currently represents Iowa's first district in the House of Representatives. He is seeking the Senate seat that Harkin has held since 1984. “When I was campaigning for Bruce during his first run for Congress in 2006, I knew he was the real thing: a passionate progressive, a natural-born leader," Harkin said in a press release. "He is someone from humble roots, who in the time he has been in Congress, has fought for working people and the struggling middle class." Earlier this month, 71 Democratic members of the Iowa legislature formally endorsed Braley. In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley for Senate…
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Gabriel De La Cerda, 34, Iowa Political Coordinator for the United Steel Workers Union seeks 3rd District Democratic Nomination.
A Des Moines Area Community College student and former Iowa Political Coordinator for the United Steel Workers Union has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, a position currently held by Tom Latham. Gabriel De La Cerda said in an announcement Monday that his family comes from a long line of migrant workers. “The time for being passive in our democracy is over,” De La Cerda said. “In today’s political climate I will fight for those who have no voice. I will reinvigorate the progressive beliefs which made this country successful for all in the 20th century. I will not apologize for my ideals, and I will fight relentlessly for what I believe in. Never bet against the American working…
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Republicans have the opportunity to pick up a seat in the Senate with Democrat Tom Harkin retiring. The GOP has a problem, though, who to nominate.
Iowa Democrats have a head start, at least for now, in the race to replace Tom Harkin in the U.S. Senate in 2014. Bruce Braley, the first district congressman from Waterloo who declared his candidacy in January, is amassing a roster of supporters and money and appears to have no competition for the nomination. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, there's been speculation but no headliner announced. The question is whether internal rifts between the growing Ron Paul wing, Christian conservatives and moderate Republicans will doom a prime opportunity for Republicans to pick up a seat Harkin had locked down for years. A recent Associated Press report explores the GOP's struggle for a preferred nominee and the divide between factions within the …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Rep. Bruce Braley is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin.
Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley announced two campaign milestones this week. The First Congressional District Democrat is seeking the Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin, who has announced he will retire. On Monday, the Braley campaign said he has raised $1 million for his campaign since Harkin's announcement. Today, another announcement: the campaign said 71 Democratic members of the Iowa legislature have formally endorsed Braley. Of those, 45 are from the Iowa House. The remaining are all 26 Iowa Senate Democrats, including Sen. Matt McCoy, whose district includes part of West Des Moines. In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley for Senate. Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller …
Monday, April 1, 2013
Candidate cites health reasons, says contributions will be returned.
Mike Sherzan, who announced earlier this year that he would seek the Democratic nomination for 3rd District Congress and a chance to go up against Republican incumbent Tom Latham, has suspended his campaign. Sherzan of West Des Moines cited “health reasons” and said his campaign will return all contributions received by supporters. His statement follows: “I regret to announce that I am halting my campaign for Congress of Iowa’s 3rdDistrict. It's been a real honor to meet with Iowans across the district over the past few months. There's a real desire to see a problem solver representing our state in Congress. I had hoped to be that person. Unfortunately, due to personal health issues, my campaign cannot continue. "I am aware this decision…
Deb Thornton
11:21 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013
It's not "Harkin's seat." It is the Senate seat HELD by Harkin! Please, sloppy writing. Plus it should not be a life time job. more ›