Branstad sets Oct. 22 special election to fill House District 33 seat

Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday announced that an Oct. 22 special election will be held in Polk County to fill the House District 33 seat being vacated by state Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

McCarthy, a Democrat who was first elected to the Iowa House in November 2002 and served four years as the chamber's majority leader, has announced that he will resign his legislative seat effective Aug. 15 to accept a post in the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

House Democrats plan to meet Saturday to select a new caucus leader to replace McCarthy.

Also Friday, Joe Henry, a life-long resident of Des Moines' south side and a third-generation Latino who has advocated for union workers, announced that he will run for the open seat in the House District 33, which encompasses portions of Polk County. Previously, Karl Schilling, a Des Moines retiree who spent over 25 years with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, announced he would seek the House seat being vacated by McCarthy.

Both Henry and Schilling are Democrats. No other candidates have announced, but more people are expected to get into the race before nominating conventions are held by both parties prior to the Oct. 22 special election.