GOP shows team spirit at Marion pep rally

MARION - Gov. Terry Branstad says he hasn't decided whether he'll run for re-election in 2018, but the longest-serving governor in the nation said he senses Republican enthusiasm.

'I wish I were on the ballot this year. I'm doing it vicariously,” Branstad told a Republican pep rally Thursday in Marion.

It was of about 50 stops Branstad and other GOP elected officials and candidates are making ahead of the Nov. 8 election to fire up campaign activists and encourage early voting, which is underway.

Chief among the governor's goals is a GOP takeover of the Iowa Senate where there are 25 Democrats, 23 Republicans, one no party and one vacancy. Republican need to pick up three seats to take control and Branstad told his Marion audience that they are in one of the districts both parties are targeting. In Senate 34, Rene Gadelha is challenging Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Cedar Rapids.

'Rene is the pathway to the majority,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who suggested the momentum, energy and issues are on Republicans' side.

If Gadelha wins and here is a Senate Republican majority, 'You ain't seen nothing yet,” Branstad said.

The Senate will debate issues such as a water quality improvement plan that had bipartisan support in the GOP-controlled House, he said.

Republicans have a slight edge in voter registration. They hope that Ashley Hinson's campaign for an open-seat race in House 67, now held by Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, and Cedar Rapids Republican Rep. Ken Rizer's re-election campaign in the other half of the Senate district - House 68 - will help Gadelha win a Senate seat.

Branstad also mentioned Cedar Rapids Democrat Monica Vernon, who is running for Congress against incumbent Republican Rod Blum of Dubuque and who, two years ago, was Decmorat Jack Hatch's running mate in the gubernatorial race against Branstad and Reynolds.

'The same loser who lost the Democratic primary for Congress and then turned out to be Hatch's running mate is running against (Blum). Let's make her a three-time loser,” Branstad said.

Secretary of State Paul Pate of Cedar Rapids told the 100-plus Republican gathered at the Aurora Coffee Co. that Republicans are increasing their voter registration numbers more than Democrats and closing the gap on absentee ballot requests.

When it comes to registered voters, Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque, faces an uphill re-election race in Iowa's 1st District where Democrats have a voter registration edge over Republicans of nearly 27,000, according to the Iowa Secretary of State Office. He said he's banking on the hard work and enthusiasm of GOP activists.

'You all are turning Iowa from a purple state to a red state,” he said, noting that both U.S. senators, three of four House members, the governor's office and Iowa House all are in GOP control.