Jeff Danielson considering bid for Rod Blum’s U.S. House seat

WATERLOO - Iowa State Sen. Jeff Danielson of Waterloo says he's mulling a run for the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Rod Blum in 2018.

'We're considering it thoughtfully, doing some homework to arrive at a decision sometime in September,” said Danielson, now in his fourth term in the Iowa Senate.

Meanwhile, he said Democrats need to change their strategy to win and reach out to independents and moderate Republicans in lieu of ideological 'purity” tests.

So far, other announced candidates for the Democratic nomination to challenge Blum are state lawmaker Abby Finkenauer of Dubuque and Linn County Democratic activist Courtney Rowe.

'You'll have six or seven (Democratic candidates) by the time it's all over with,” Danielson said. 'Competition is good. And we need it. I'm absolutely convinced Democrats need to make some improvements in their campaign message and turnout mechanics. I think we need to have a public, family discussion. We're not real good about winning right now. And that's because campaigns have been driven from Des Moines and D.C.”

Danielson said if he runs, 'I'm absolutely adamant this will be a campaign that people can be a part of, and be run locally.” He said it would be a 'base-plus” campaign, reaching out beyond the party base.

'You have to speak to a larger audience,” he said. 'We're wishing for voters that aren't there, rather than understanding the voters that are in front of us,” seeking their ideas on issues and solutions to problems 'and still keep our values.”

Danielson said there doesn't have to be another of a string of election losses 'to apply some lessons learned.”

Danielson, a Cedar Falls firefighter first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004, is a graduate of Hawkeye Community College and the University of Northern Iowa, with a master's degree in public policy. He is a U.S. Navy veteran. He also served on the Waterloo Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission and Iowa Department of Transportation Commission.

He previously served as Iowa Senate president pro tempore.