Linn GOP nominates Thurston in House 33

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Linn County Republicans have nominated Josh Thurston as their candidate in a special election in Iowa House 33.

Thurston, who works at Cargill and is a labor union member, was chosen over Ken Childress and John King at a nominating convention Thursday evening. The vote was Thurston 707, King, 549.5 and Childress 114.5.

 The Iraq war veteran will face Democrat Kirsten Running-Marquardt in a special election Nov. 24 to replace Democrat Rep. Dick Taylor, who resigned earlier this month.

Running-Marquardt works in U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack's Cedar Rapids office and is the daughter of former Cedar Rapids Rep. Rich Running.

Thurston, 27, who grew up in the district, was one of three party newcomers had expressed interest in the vacant House 33 seat. Of the three, only King did not have to change his party affiliation on his voter registration to seek the nomination. He's been registered as a Republican, but according to the Linn County Auditor's Office, was registered as a Democrat for the 2006 primary election.

Thurston switched from having no party affiliation to being a member of the Republican Party of Iowa this week.

Childress, a former Cedar Rapids school board member, was actively involved in the Democratic Party, including a stint on the Linn County Democratic Central Committee. He switched his party registration from Democrat to Republican last week.

Linn County GOP Chairman Tim Palmer called Thurston “a good fit for this district.”

However, Republicans concede winning in House 33, which covers Precincts 1-11 in southeast and southwest Cedar Rapids, will be an uphill battle. Taylor, who succeeded current Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran, a Democrat, and served five terms, won with nearly 70 percent of the vote in 2008.