National marriage group involved in Iowa Senate 18 race

CEDAR RAPIDS - Both candidates in a special election in Iowa Senate 18 are downplaying the issue, but a national group opposed to same-sex marriage is backing the Republican candidate with a series of mailers into the Linn County district.

The National Organization for Marriage is the latest national group to get involved in the race that could change the balance of power in the Iowa Senate. NOM is launching an independent expenditure campaign along with The Family Leader to support Cindy Golding. It described her as supporting “a strong traditional marriage.”

Democrat Liz Mathis has said she agrees with the Iowa Supreme Court's 2009 decision striking down a ban on same-sex marriage. NOM was a major player in the successful effort in 2010 to remove three Supreme Court justices from the bench in connection with that ruling.

The election is seen as pivotal in the debate over placing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage on the ballot. The Iowa Senate, which is controlled by Democrats 25-24, has not acted on a House-passed resolution to put the measure on the ballot. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, has vowed to block any attempt to take up the measure.

If Golding is elected, the Senate would be tied at 25 members per party. Backers of the amendment believe they would then have a better opportunity to get action on the resolution.

NOM will be supporting Golding with a series of mailers and other activities, it said.

One Iowa, the state's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, is mobilizing its members “to ensure that the voice of equality is heard this election,” said Executive Director Troy Price.

“Through our political action committee, we are supporting Liz and asking members to get out and volunteer for her campaign,” he said.

He said he's not surprised that NOM and The Family Leader are trying to “inject their particular brand of extremist politics” into the election.

“They have done it before, and they will do it again,” Price said. “But just as when they tried to make a special election in 2009 about marriage equality, their efforts will not work, and on Election Day, the candidate who has best detailed a vision to improve the lives of each and every Iowan will win.”