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The end of the filing period for state and federal offices means one thing: Campaign season has arrived in Iowa.
Most of the candidates for state and federal offices in western Iowa will be uncontested in the June 8 primary.
But the race for the Republican nomination for governor will see two western Iowans and a former four-term governor competing to face off against Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in the fall.
Culver will be unopposed in the primary. Jonathan Narcisse, a businessman and former Des Moines school board member, made a last-minute decision this week to run as an independent instead of opposing Culver as a Democrat.
On the GOP side, Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats, State Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll and former Gov. Terry Branstad have been campaigning for months. They’ve held town halls and other events, but things are about to get a little more high profile.
Their first debate is scheduled for April 7 in Sioux City. A May 1 debate in Cedar Rapids and a yet-unscheduled debate in Des Moines will follow.
To date, the GOP candidates have focused on what separates them from Culver, not what separates them from one another. On Friday, campaign spokesmen said they expect that to continue.
“Governor Branstad has said he will abide by Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment and not speak ill of another Republican,” said Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht.
Culver plans to focus on his work. “I will continue to do the job Iowans elected me to do govern,” he said.
Other notable primary races include Iowa House and Iowa Senate races in the Sioux City area, where all three incumbents decided not to run for re-election.
The filing deadline for county offices is March 31.
Contact the writer:
444-1310, elizabeth.ahlin@owh.com
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