Chelgren to make announcement about congressional bid next week

OTTUMWA - Iowa State Sen. Mark Chelgren, an Ottumwa Republican who has been considering a bid for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District seat, will announce his plans next Tuesday.

Chelgren, who was elected to a second term in the state Senate last year, has scheduled an event in Iowa City, according an advisory sent out Thursday. After the announcement, the advisory notes, he will travel to Scott County for the county GOP's Ronald Reagan fundraising dinner, its largest event of the year.

If Chelgren runs, he would be seeking the right to challenge Rep. Dave Loebsack, an Iowa City Democrat who is serving his fifth term.

Earlier this week, Chelgren told KBIZ radio in Ottumwa: 'I want to let people know that are from southeast Iowa that as their state senator, I really appreciate working at the state level, but I think there's a lot more that I can do. So I'll be announcing that I'm going to try to work harder for them,” according to a recorded interview posted on the station's website.

Chelgren is on the Senate's Human Resources and Veterans Affairs committees. He's also the top Republican on the Senate's Economic Growth Committee.