Loebsack: Democrats must do well this fall

JOHNSTON - Embracing his role as Iowa's highest-ranked elected Democrat, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said Friday he will do what he can to help fellow Democrats win elections in this fall's congressional and Statehouse races.

Loebsack, who has represented portions of Eastern Iowa in Congress since 2007, also declined to rule out a run for governor in 2018.

Loebsack made the comments Friday during taping of an episode of 'Iowa Press” that will air next weekend on Iowa Public Television.

The 2014 elections rendered Loebsack the last Democrat standing in Iowa's six-member congressional delegation. He said Friday that in addition to focusing on his own re-election, he will attempt to help Democrats win what are projected to be competitive races in the two congressional districts neighboring his and in competitive races for state Capitol seats as well.

And although he said he's 'not considering it,” he also declined to rule out running for governor in 2018 when asked.

'That's pretty far off,” Loebsack said. 'I'm not really thinking about that.”

Loebsack added, however, that he thinks it's important Democrats are active and do well in 2016 in order to set the stage for the gubernatorial race in 2018, because longtime Gov. Terry Branstad may retire at the end of this term.

When pressed that he did not rule out a run for governor, Loebsack said, 'I'm not considering it, for sure. I'm just running for re-election. That's my job.”

Showing a focus on the state Capitol, Loebsack said he also plans to help Statehouse candidates, including one in his district who will face one of the state's most critical re-election campaigns.

Both parties likely will focus resources on the state Senate district in Scott and Muscatine counties, where Democratic incumbent Chris Brase of Muscatine will face Republican challenger and former state legislator Mark Lofgren.

That race in a politically balanced district will go a long way toward deciding party control of the Iowa Senate; Democrats go into the election with a razor-thin 26-24 advantage in the Senate.

'I'm looking at state House and state Senate seats. I've been somewhat active helping some of those folks, doing what I can to attend fundraisers so they can have folks come in and try to raise money,” Loebsack said. 'Chris Brase is one of our incumbent senators over in Muscatine and Scott counties, a really great state senator, and he's going to be in a tough race, so I'm doing some things for him.

'That's what I think I can do.”

Loebsack said he cannot predict how the impact of Donald Trump, with his high unfavorable ratings with voters, as the Republican presidential nominee will affect down-ballot races, including his congressional race. But Loebsack said he will not take any race or any opponent for granted.

Loebsack will face Republican challenger Christopher Peters, a Coralville surgeon, this fall.

'I think it's hard to say at this point. I always assume things are going to be competitive. I think that's the best approach to any election,” Loebsack said. 'There's no question, certain parts of my district (Trump) is going to have a significant appeal. I have no doubt about that at all. In the end, we'll see.

'I just don't know at this point. As I said, I don't want to make predictions because I've been wrong throughout this cycle. Just about everybody has been.”

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The episode of 'Iowa Press” featuring U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack will air on Iowa Public Television at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, and at noon Sunday, May 15.