Statehouse Notes

Clearing out the inbox of various news alerts from races around the state:

• Candidates forums are starting up. We had one locally for the House 73 and 77 candidates. The Press-Citizen focused its article almost entirely on... the helmet law? But Blog For Iowa had a more comprehensive look at HD73 contenders Bobby Kaufmann (R) and Dick Schwab (D) and HD77's Sally Stutsman (D) and Steve Sherman (R).

(Speaking of which: I don't usually put up out of district signs at my A+ yard sign location, and I'm in Mary Mascher's district. But when a neighbor up the street set up a Sherman sign I thought Sally deserved equal time.)

•  In Baja Iowa, Senate 42 candidates Rich Taylor (D) and Larry Kruse (R) and House 83 contenders Rich Steffen (R) and incumbent Jerry Kearns (D) faces off.

• In West Liberty, Democrats Sen. Tom Courtney (SD44) and House challenger Sara Sedlacek, along with Dave Loebsack, combined an HQ opening with a food drive so successful that "the Backpack program was able to forgo its’ grocery expense for a week."


• Terry Branstad was also in Muscatine County, helping raise $ for GOP incumbent Shawn "Go Home" Hamerlinck, who is in a tough race with Democrat Chris Brase.


• The Iowa State Daily takes a look at the two Ames House races, both of which have student-age Republicans challenging incumbent Democrats. In HD45 the GOP's Dane Nealson is taking on Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell. In House 46 Democratic incumbent Lisa Heddens faces Stephen Quist.
  
• Another Democratic candidate has dropped out, but it should have approximately zero impact. Some Dude Chris Wilson has apparently moved out of state, but stays on the ballot. Wilson, who was challenging Oskaloosa Republican Guy Vander Linden, had the worst district for any Democrat on the ballot (#7 most Republican). That "honor" now goes to John Rose of Creston, challenging Jack Drake in House 21, the #10 GOP district.
  
  The other two Democratic dropouts still on the ballot are Kasey Friedrichsen in House 18 (job conflict) and Mike McRae in House 42 (health issues).