Mathis rules out running for Iowa governor in 2018

DES MOINES - Never say never, Sen. Liz Mathis says about running for governor, but not in 2018.

The Cedar Rapids Democrat has ruled out seeking her party's nomination next year, saying the timing isn't right for her and her family.

Mathis, first elected in 2011, said Wednesday she had been thinking about running. Some considered her the front-runner among several Democrats seen as potential challengers to Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is set to become governor when Gov. Terry Branstad's nomination to be ambassador to China is approved. Over the past several months, Mathis said, she was approached by several groups asking if she was interested in the job. However, she was focused on winning re-election.

After the November election, she continued the discussion with more than two dozen people and groups 'about everything from what the financials would look like to my possibility of running to the dedication it would take to run a campaign over 18 months.”

'I came to the conclusion that it probably wasn't the right time for me to do that for a number of reasons,” she said.

A gubernatorial bid would be 'quite a big leap” for her family, Mathis said, and while they are comfortable with her serving in the Senate, 'as a gubernatorial candidate, you're wide open to scrutiny and I don't think I want to do that and I don't think they want to do that.”

Mathis, a former television news reporter and anchor in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who now works for a child welfare agency, said she was concerned about the $10 million to $15 million estimated cost of a campaign.

'That's a very steep climb” even with the support she would expect to receive, Mathis said.

She's also committed to rebuilding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Iowans voted out six Democratic senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, giving the GOP a 29-20-1 majority.

When she made her announcement Tuesday night at a Des Moines Democratic gathering, Mathis suggested Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, as a possible candidate.

'I'm not endorsing anyone at this point,” she said Wednesday, adding she believes Petersen would be a good candidate. 'I don't know what she thinks about that, but she's tenacious.”

Mathis expects several other people to step forward, but doesn't plan to endorse anyone until after the June 2018 Democratic primary.

Among those expected to run are Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire, Polk County Conservation Director Rich Leopold, Rep. Todd Prichard., D-Charles City, and former Sen. Steve Sodders of State Center.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who was elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as minority leader, reiterated his position Wednesday that he 'has no plans” to run for governor in 2018.

In ruling out a bid for governor, Mathis did not close the door on challenging second-term Rep. Rod Blum in 2018.

'Who knows what happens?” she said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com