Primary election slate set for Iowa state and federal contests

DES MOINES --- Sensing an opportunity this year, a sizeable number of challengers have stepped forward to run against incumbent elected officials in Iowa.

Friday marked the deadline for candidates for state and federal office to file papers to appear on the ballot for the June 8 primary election.

As expected, three Republicans will vie for the GOP gubernatorial primary and the chance to take on Democratic first-term Gov. Chet Culver.

The GOP contenders include former governor Terry Branstad, who lists a Boone address, Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Plaats and State Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll.

Des Moines Democrat Jonathan Narcisse shied away from challenging Culver in the Democratic primary after announcing he would do so and now has said he will run as an independent.

Three Democrats have filed papers to compete in the primary for the chance to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. They include Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin, Bob Krause of Fairfield and lawyer Thomas Fiegen of Clarence.

Republicans will have primary contests in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd congressional districts, and Democrats in the 5th.

1st District -- Four Republicans are seeking to challenge second-term Democrat Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo. They are Ben Lange of Independence, Will Johnson of Dubuque, James Budde of Bellevue and Mike La Coste of Waterloo.

2nd District -- Another quartet of Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to face 2nd District Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Mount Vernon Democrat seeking a third term. The candidates are Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, Chris Reed and Rob Gettemy, both of Marion, and Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids.

3rd District -- Seven Republicans have filed for the GOP primary in the 3rd District where Des Moines Democratic Rep Leonard Boswell is seeking an eighth term. They are Scott Batcher and Mark Rees, both of West Des Moines, Pat Bertroche and Sen. Brad Zaun, both of Urbandale, Dave Funk of Runnells, Jim Gibbons of Des Moines and Jason Lee Welch of Grimes.

4th District -- There will be no primary in the 4th District where eight-term Ames Republican Rep. Tom Latham is being challenged by Democrat Bill Maske of Truro.

5th District -- Rep. Steve King of Kiron will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Matthew Campbell of Manning and Mike Denklau of Council Bluffs.

Secretary of State – Secretary of State Michael Mauro, a Democrat from Des Moines, is running for re-election. A trio of Republicans will face off in the primary: Matt Schultz of Council Bluffs, George Eichhorn of Stratford and Chris Sanger of Des Moines.

Secretary of Agriculture – Republican Bill Northey of Spirit Lake is seeking re-election. Francis Thicke, a Democrat from Fairfield, is also running for the post.

Attorney General – Democrat Tom Miller of Des Moines is seeking re-election and faces no primary opposition. Republican Brenna Findley of Dexter faces no primary opponent.

State Auditor – Republican David Vaudt of West Des Moines faces no primary challenger as he seeks re-election. No Democrat filed papers to run for the office before Friday's deadline.

State Treasurer – Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald of Waukee is seeking re-election and has no primary opposition. Republicans James Heavens of Dyersville and David Jamison of Ames will vie in the primary for a chance to take on Fitzgerald.

Iowa Senate – Democrats hold a 32-18 majority in the Senate and Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, notes a vast majority of the incumbents up for re-election are running again.

“We're obviously cautiously optimistic that all of those folks will be able to be re-elected,” Gronstal said.

Senate Republicans like their prospects this year.

Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, praised the crop of GOP candidates that have stepped forward.

“People are so upset and concerned about what has occurred in Iowa in the past three years that organically we are seeing people pop up,” McKinley said.

Iowa House of Representatives – All 100 seats in the House are up for re-election this year, where Democrats hold a 56-44 majority. House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said 48 incumbent Democrats are seeking re-election. He expected Democrats would be competitive in races for seats their members were giving up.

“We still feel good and optimistic about our ability to keep the majority and maybe grow,” Murphy said.

Murphy also pointed to opportunities Democrats see in races for the seats Republicans Rod Roberts and Christopher Rants are vacating.

House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, was bullish on GOP chances in the House.

“I'm finding an amazing amount of energy among conservatives and Republicans who have just had enough, and they want to get engaged and be a part of the solution,” Paulsen said.