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James Q. LynchJames Lynch covers politics and state government. For nearly 30 years, he’s covered pork queen contests, papal visits and presidential [...] |
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Parties racing for Dandekar’s open seat
GOP plans nomination process; Dems plan uncontested candidate
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Photo: CAPITOL CHANDELIERS
CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County Democrats and Republicans are taking opposite approaches to a special election in fill Swati Dandekar’s Senate seat.
At least two Republicans — Cindy Golding of rural Cedar Rapids and Mary Rathje of Marion — have announced they will seek the nomination to run in the Nov. 8 special election. On the other hand, Democrats and labor unions are vetting at least two possible candidates but say their nomination will be uncontested.
“I don’t see any benefit in a contest between a number of people that might weaken a prime candidate,” said Diane Hoffmann of Mount Vernon, the Linn County Democratic Party chairwoman.
She declined to identify the candidates the party is considering.
Her GOP counterpart, Steve Armstrong of Cedar Rapids, prefers a “bottom up” nomination process.
“I’m in favor of a robust, vigorous nominating convention,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the folks in Senate 18 to voice their opinion. I see no reason for us to mute that opinion.”
He expects one or two more Republicans to join the race.
Gov. Terry Branstad called the special election to replace Dandekar, a Marion Democrat, who resigned to accept his appointment to the Iowa Utilities Board.
The deadline for candidates to file is Oct. 14. Candidates not affiliated with either political party may get their name on the ballot by submitting a petition with at least 100 signatures, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The race already has received national attention, because it could change the balance of power in the Iowa Senate. Democrats hold a 26-24 majority now.
A Republican win giving each party 25 votes might make it easier for Republicans to take action on issues sent over from the GOP-controlled House but never taken up in the Senate. That would include a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and restrictions on abortions.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, compared the special election to recall elections in Wisconsin in which Democrats failed to flip control of the Senate. “We are Wisconsin now,” he said Sunday at Sen. Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry.
Hoffmann doesn’t buy that, though. “I’m not sure we will be Wisconsin with all that divisiveness,” she said.
Republicans see the Senate seat as winnable, given voter registration swings in their favor, 15,945 to 15,752. Independent voters outnumber either party.
“On the other hand, Democrats and labor unions are vetting at least two possible candidates but say their nomination will be uncontested.
She declined to identify the candidates the party is considering.”
The Politburo knows best.
I find it disturbing that the Democrats are “meeting” with labor unions to “vette” a candidate.
GIve some respect to the GOP, they’re holding an open nomination convention–which will allow for nominations to be made by people who live within that district.
The Democrats are picking their candidate behind closed doors with outside interests participating.
Sweet Home, Chicago.
“The Democrats are picking their candidate behind closed doors with outside interests participating.”
As if that never happens on the GOP side of the fence, Todd. However, I will agree that the Democrats should use an open process to select a candidate.
Now, excuse me while I prepare for the special election: “Liberal elite snooty-nose! Heathen unbeliever! Baby-killer! Pervert coddler!”
Actually Jeff…we don’t select our candidates behind closed doors. In every special election that I’ve been involved with as an activist, its been a FAIR, OPEN process where anyone within that district may be nominated and choose to run for that office.
Your Democrat friends in Linn County have made it very clear that they are not interested in an open process, they are not interested in transparency.
They are only interested in pushing forth a candidate that meets with approval of their special interests–namely, organized labor.
I too find it a bit disturbing that the labor unions and democratic powers are hand picking their candidate and the people in the district don’t get to choose. Is this really the way we want our representatives chosen? No thank you. Rest assured my vote will be with the best Republican candidate that steps forward.
It should be very clear to all, given the statements in the story, that labor unions are seeking greater power and the democrats are only too willing to give it to them.
Point if fact – ONLY the people in the district get to choose. Any Democrat or Republican living in Senate District 18 can choose to run, and try to get nominated at their parties nominating convention. The delegates to that convention – at least on the Democratic side (and I assume the Republican as well) – are the members of the parties County Central Committee in that Senate District elected by caucus attendees at the last precinct caucus. Only those members get to choose the nominee. I’m sure that the Republican Executive Board also looked at many potential candidates before “encouraging” someone to run.
Mr. Arnold…
The Democrats are on RECORD in this paper and elsewhere saying that they will have an “uncontested” nomination. Meaning that anyone other than the approved candidate selected behind closed doors will be pushed out.
The Linn County Democrats Chair also publicly stated that party leaders were meeting behind closed doors with labor union officials to “vette” a candidate.
The Democrat delegates from Senate 18 will have NO choice other than the “approved” candidate to vote from, DJ.
Wrong, Todd. While the Dems leadership and interested stakeholders vet their candidates and may indicate a preference (so do Repubs, or so my friends on that side of the isle tell me), there is no prohibition against other candidates stepping forward to throw their hats in the ring. Indeed, if I wanted to run for the nomination, I could do so…and I know I’d get at least a few votes from those eligible were I to choose to do so. Instead, I’m putting my support behind Liz Mathis for a variety of reasons – among those is her likelihood to win a general election race. Liz is a good fit for the district, is knowledgeable on the issues, and will do well in supporting Iowans’ values.
Maybe someone will step forward and challenge Liz, maybe no one else will. It’s certainly allowed. It just seems to me the Repubs are greatly divided and more susceptible to infighting due in large part to the extreme radical nature of some factions (tea, anyone?) within the party, and that’s why several candidates are jumping at the chance to out-crazy each other.
Mr Johnson.
It appears that since you were not part of the conversation between Mrs. Hoffmann and Mr Lynch you don’t know what you are talking about. Diane Hoffmann said she expected it to be uncontested because at that time nobody had stepped forward, so whomever made the choise to run would probably be the only candidate.
As I stated above however, any registered Democrat in Senate District 18 can go to the convention of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee members from Senate District 18, and try to win the nomination. I know of several people that were thinking about running, but SO FAR only Liz Mathis has thrown her hat in the ring. Since the Democrats convention isn’t until next Wednesday that leaves lots of time for other Democrats to throw their hats in the ring and make it a contested race. At this time however it is still uncontested.