District Of The Day 3: Iowa Senate District 30, Iowa House District 59 & 60

Senate District 30
Registration: D 10142, R 11620, N 13162, total 34967, R +1478
Incumbent: Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls

The road to the Senate majority goes through Cedar Falls.

Jeff Danielson has had a target on his back ever since he won his second term by just a recount-close 22 vote margin over Walt Rogers. Republicans recruited rising star Matt Reisetter, who fell just 98 votes short of knocking off House Democrat Bob Kressig in the bad GOP cycle of 2006. Lately Matt has been working for BVP over at the famIly leader.

Danielson has the toughest turf of any Senate Democratic incumbent running this year. By the numbers this is the number 30 Democratic Senate district. But it's familiar turf, as almost his entire old district is contained within the new one. The whole city of Cedar Falls, which makes up about two thirds of the seat. He drops two townships north of Cedar Falls and the line shifts just a little in Waterloo. Danielson's kept a high profile and plays up his firefighter day job and his efforts for UNI.

July 19 Campaign Finance Report: Matt Reisetter for Iowa, Danielson for Senate Danielson built up a $75,000 warchest over the last couple years and added $18,983.56 to it in June and July for a balance of $83,183.28. Reisetter raised a remarkable $44,212 during the reporting period and has $43,946.17 on hand. That includes a $10,000 check from Foster Friess, the Rick Santorum financial angel famous for suggesting aspirin between the knees as contraception.

House District 59
Registration: D 4734, R 4803, N 6008, total 15575, R +69
Incumbent: Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls

Kressig has seen three tough races in four terms, winning 52% to 48% over bar owner Darin Beck in 2010. His district keeps a similar configuration: the northern two-thirds or so of the city geographically and 3/4 of the city's population, including the campus. He gains a couple hundred Democrats, which could be important.

Republican James Kenyon, a veterinarian and school board member, easily beat Howard Lyon Jr. 73-27% in the primary.

July 19 Campaign Finance Report: Kenyon for Iowa House, Kressig for Iowa House 59 Kressig is geared up for another tough race, raising $16,030 in the filing period (including $7,500 from the credit union PAC) . He has $29,657.10 on hand. Kenyon raised $7,885 post-primary and has $10,276.34 on hand.

House District 60
Registration: D 5408, R 6817, N 7154, total 19392, R +1409
Incumbent: Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls

After Rogers missed it by THAT much against Danielson in 2008, he set his sights on the House and Six Pack conservaDem Doris Kelley. She had picked up this seat in the 2006 Democratic wave and beat a late starter easily in 2008. No recount this time for Rogers, as he beat Kelley by almost 1000 votes.

Little changes in The Map for Rogers. He keeps the same piece of south Cedar Falls, the city of Hudson, and a similar chunk of southwest Waterloo. The district's Republican Registration edge improves by about 400 voters. In practice this has been a swing seat.

Bob Greenwood of the Waterloo city council is hoping to make Rogers a one term wonder. Greenwood knocked off an incumbent once before, in 2001 to win his council seat.

July 19 Campaign Finance Report: Friends for Bob Greenwood, Walt Rogers for Iowa Rogers took in $25,717 during the filing period. $5000 was from the credit union PAC, working both sides in Cedar Falls, and there were a fair number of four figure checks in Rogers' basket. He has $29,048.68 on hand. Greenwood has $7,989.94 in the bank.

Senate District 30, House District 59 & 60: District of the Day 1 - 6/03/2011 | District of the Day 2 - 3/16/2012