Rants closer to challenging Culver; Lang not interested

Craig Lang

As one Republican edges closer to entering the 2010 governor's race another possible challengers to Gov. Chet Culver has taken himself out of consideration.

Former Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants said Wednesday he's moving closer to running for governor, saying the party wants someone who can bridge gaps between social and fiscal conservatives.

"I think people realize that we need a candidate who has good credentials in both camps," Rants told The Associated Press. "I've got solid credentials with both groups."

Rants, 41, of Sioux City, is in his ninth term in the Legislature.

Unlike Rants, Brooklyn dairy farmer Craig Lang, who has been mentioned as a possible GOP candidate, says he has no interest in challenging Culver.

Lang, 58, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau and a Culver appointee to the Board of Regents, called it "flattering to have my name mentioned as a potential candidate," but said he has too much going on to think about running for governor in 2010.

Lang's name surfaced during a discussion of potential Culver challengers with longtime Republican activist Doug Gross of Des Moines Republican, who challenged Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2002. Gross said he heard from "pretty good authority" that Lang had been looking at the race.

Lang was aware he was being mentioned as possible challenger, but neither confirmed nor denied he had been looking at the race. He merely said his work with his family farm and the Farm Bureau are his priorities and passion.

"As a fifth-generation dairy farmer and a father who has now has two sons becoming the sixth generation of Lang dairymen, I feel I have a lot of work to do yet on behalf of the hard-working farmers in this state," Lang said after he was mentioned as a possible Culver challenger. "I think that work can best be done in my current position with Farm Bureau."

Rants has been traveling the state since lawmakers adjourned in late April, talking to activists and collecting financial commitments. Those conversations have been encouraging, he said.

"There are some more people I need to sit down and listen to and then have the final conversation with the family," said Rants, adding he'll announce a decision this month.

Other Republicans considering the race are Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Plaats, former House Speaker Christopher Rants of Sioux City, Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll, Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone, former Senate President Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny, Quad Cities restaurateur Mike Whalen, University of Dubuque President Jeffrey Bullock, U.S. Rep. Steve King of Kiron and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey of Spirit Lake.

The nominee, who will be chosen in a June 2010 primary, will face a first-term Democrat with a huge voter registration edge, a well-funded campaign treasury and the likely assistance of President Barack Obama.

Culver, who defeated U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle in 2006, is listed as "currently safe" by the Rothenberg Report political newsletter. However, Taegan Goddards' PoliticalWire.com listed Culver as "not a solid bet" for re-election.