UPDATED -- Senate District 34 loses a candidate, `Republic of the United States of America' gains a U.S. Senator

So the race to become my state senator in Senate District 34 has taken an odd turn.

Republican candidate Randi Shannon, who was supposed to challenge Democratic Sen. Liz Mathis in November, has announced that she is leaving the race. Apparently, she got a better offer.

From her four-page resignation letter (posted in full below):

Let me now announce to everyone in Iowa, I have become aware of the existence of the Original Republic for The United States of America.“We the People” re-inhabited our lawful de jure (de jur- “by right of lawful establishment”) government on March 30th, 2010. This is The Republic founded in 1787 and then abandoned during The Civil War in the 1860s.

It was then replaced in 1871 by the UNITED STATES CORPORATION. (de facto-without law). This Unlawful Corporate Democracy, established by the forty-first congress, has been acting as though it is the “official government” which clearly it is not! In point of fact, it is the reason why “We the People” Instead of Experiencing Freedom and Prosperity, suffer under the weight of Oppressive Statutes and an Out of Control, Monstrous National Debt which is Robbing Us and All Future Generations of Americans of Our Treasure and Our Legacy for which Our Founding Fathers' so Valiantly Fought and Died.

And Remember This! Where the de jure Republic of The United States of America exists the de facto UNITED STATES CORPORATION, having no standing, must go away! Now, knowing this, and with the best interests of The People of Iowa District 34 uppermost in my heart and out of respect for my own conscience, I am here to announce that I am ending my campaign as of this July 4th, 2012. Trust me this story does not end here nor does my commitment. In fact, my level of service to the good people of Iowa who have been so supportive of me and my campaign will be greatly increased. Please allow me to continue, because I have some great news to share with all of you!

...

Therefore, in order to affect the most good on behalf of The People of Iowa's 34th District and in keeping with my conscience, I have accepted the position of U.S. Senator in The Republic of The United States of America, where I may better serve You and All of The People of Iowa. I want you to know I have taken an Oath to Uphold, Support and Defend The Constitution of The United States of America. This I will do to the best of my ability, So Help Me God.

This is a lot to digest. Our government has been illegitimate since 1871. A new government has been formed. And Randi Shannon is now a United States Senator. I'll give you a moment.

I hope this illegitimacy thing doesn't mean we have to forfeit a bunch of victories, like World War II or our 1980 Olympic hockey gold.

I also hope someone can explain how this candidate was nearly one of two choices to represent my community in the Iowa Senate, and put forward by a major party.

I sent an email to the Republican Party of Iowa asking what happens next. I'll update if I get a response.

UPDATE -- Shannon was unopposed in the June primary, where she won 1,172 votes out of a very low 1,186 cast.

This is a district with 13,995 Republicans, 13,138 Democrats and 16,587 independents, according to July reports on the Secretary of State's Office site. You'd think a party driving hard to retake the Senate could have found a much better candidate in a closely divided swing district.

UPDATE 2 -- Don McDowell, spokesman for  the office of the Iowa Senate Republican leadership, says the Linn County GOP will likely hold a district convention in the next couple of weeks to pick a candidate to replace Shannon on the ballot in November. He said the party has until mid-August to find a new nominee. Shannon's formal withdrawal from the race will be filed with the Secretary of State today or Monday, he said.

"I just want to emphasize that this is a personal decision that Randi made. And I think we still have plenty of time for a replacement candidate to come forward. And I think there are a lot of issues to run on still," said McDowell, citing what he contends are Mathis' misguided votes on state spending, education policy and property tax reform.

Randi Shannon State Senate Resignation Letter 2012