Donahue to face incumbent Rep. Ken Rizer in general election

CEDAR RAPIDS - Democrat Molly Donahue will face incumbent GOP Rep. Ken Rizer in November's general election for House District 68 in hopes of representing Iowans in Marion, Bertram, Ely and Putnam.

Rizer, 51, of Cedar Rapids, was the first Republican elected to the seat in a long line of Democrats. Donahue, 48, of Cedar Rapids, beat Sam Gray, 21, of Marion, in Tuesday night's Democratic primary.

Donahue will put increased funding for education as her top priority for Iowans, she said. As a behavior disabilities teacher, Donahue said she wants to replace what she calls delays and inadequate funding for education with investment in children's educations even beyond high school.

'I teach special needs kids,” Donahue said. 'Not only are they affected by the short on funding for schools, they're also shorted on Medicaid.”

Donahue said she sees the children not given the same medical care they had been provided before the state privatization of Medicaid this year.

As for why she thinks she was more attractive to voters than opponent Gray, she said she was more experienced because of the variety of jobs she has held.

Donahue said voters will find her more electable than Rizer because she will advocate for a higher minimum wage and equal pay for equal work.

Iowa representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $25,000 a year.