Not Quite Final Filing

Maybe there's governor primaries, maybe there's not. After a couple hours of refreshing, the top of the candidate list reads:

This is not the final candidate list for the June 3, 2014, Primary Election.
Filings received on March 14, 2014 that have yet to be reviewed are:
- Paul David Lunde, filed for US Senator, Republican Party
- Gail E. Boliver, filed for US Representative, District 1, Republican Party
- Tom Hoefling, filed for Iowa Governor, Republican Party
- Jonathan Ray Narcisse, filed for Iowa Governor, Democratic Party
These filings will be reviewed Saturday, March 15, and a final candidate list will be posted following that review.

So that bet is yet to be collected. But Paul Dahl is definitely out.

Jack Hatch is in, Matt Schultz and Anesa Kajtazovic are in, and in the 1st CD Republican race we get TWO contenders: Mark Lofgren which was expected and Some Dude Matthew Waldren, who announced months ago but appears to have done nothing except get the signatures. The contest here is for runner-up to Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Dave Loebsack is in - after 2006, I always sweat that - as is Steve King and Democratic opponent Jim Mowrer. But Staci Appel gets the Democratic 3rd CD nod by default as Gabriel de la Cerda dropped out this morning.

There are no Republican candidates for attorney general or state treasurer, slots that remain open for a primary loser. Democrats fielded a full slate for the state offices with only one, maybe, contested primary dependning on what happens with Narcisse.

Moving on to the state senate, only one late change. A second Democrat in Senate District 7: Maria Rundquist filed, joining Jim France; both lost Sioux City council races last year. The winner faces GOP incumbent Rick Bertrand in a top Democratic target.

In the state House:

No Jane No! Jane Jech (pronounced yeccch) is back for the fourth straight cycle. After losing to Democrat Mark Smith in the 2008 and 2010 House races, she upset Larry McKibben in the 2012 Senate 36 primary, before going on to lose to Steve Sodders. This cycle, she's challenging Smith again. Most persistent loser: Jech, Joan Acela, or West Branch David Johnson? At least Jech won a tough primary in 2012 AND made it close in 2010, losing by just 300.

The last two incumbents, Clinton Democrat Mary Wolfe and Boone Republican Chip Baltimore, made it in. Baltimore also picked up a second Democratic opponent, Mark Trueblood.

Brad Condon is the third Democrat to file in the Anesa Kajtazovic seat, House 61 in Waterloo. He joins Timi Brown-Powers and Andrew Miller; the winner will face Republican Nathan Bolton.

Democrat Rick Edwards of Decorah is offical in House 55, seeking to replace the retiring Roger Thomas. And Theresa Meyer of Waverly filed as a Dem in House 63, seeking to challenge GOP freshman Sandy Salmon.

Democrat Megan Suhr is making a second run in in House 28. Suhr won 44% against Greg Heartsill in the open seat 2012 race. This cycle Heartsill has a primary challenge from Jon Van Wyk.

Bettendorf rotary president Mark Ross is the Republican in House 93, challenging Democrat Phyllis Thede. She had a close race in 2010 then drew a weak 2012 opponent.

Kim Robinson of Clive is the second Democrat challenging Republican Chris Hagenow in House 43; Nicholas Dreeszen filed yesterday.

Odd news out of Iowa City in House 85, where a Ron Varner filed a primary challenge to Democratic incumbent Vicki Lensing. Not anybody I know.

Tough missions: Grundy Center Democrat Doris Fritz is challenging Pat Grassley in red turf in House 50. Democrats had no candidate last cycle. Democrat Greg Fritzche of Primghar filed to challenge Republican Rep. Dan Huseman, who hasn't seen an opponent since 2008 (he only won 58% but his new turf is redder). Fritzche ran for O'Brien County supervisor and lost, badly, in 2012. And Democrat Kenneth Mertes of Onawa hopes to silence Matt Windschitl in House 17.

Work on the Comprehensive Overview is underway. Stay tuned.

Ernst tops Filing Day 14

Joni Ernst is our biggest name filing on the day before deadline. That brings the total to five official Republican Senate candidates. Can Some Dude Paul Lunde get the names by tomorrow?

A busy day of filing in the 3rd CD Republican primary: Brad Zaun, David Young, Monte Shaw and Robert Cramer all got their papers in. In the 1st CD Democratic race, Dave O'Brien is in to split the white male Irishman vote with Pat Murphy and the Linn County vote with Swati Dandekar and Monica Vernon.  Which is fine with me because I'm with Anesa Kajtazovic.

Kajtazovic is not the only big name without the papers turned in: there's Jack Hatch, Dave Loebsack, Steve King, and Matt Schultz, Mark Lofgren and Jim Mowrer. And no GOP challengers yet to Tom Miller and Mike Fitzgerald. Two Democratic challengers came in today: Jonathan Niederbach is official, opposing appointee incumbent auditor Mary Mosiman, and Sherrie Taha, challenging ag secretary Bill Northey.

Former secretary of state, and former a lot of other things, Paul Pate wants his old job, or rather ONE of his old jobs, back. He'll face Democrat Brad Anderson.

Locally, Republican Bobby Kaufmann makes his second run in House 73 official. He'll face the winner of a probably contentious Democratic primary between former Cedar County supervisor Dennis Boedeker and frequent candidate David Johnson.

And county treasurer Tom Kriz is in for a fifth term. (Hardly considered longevity in his office, where deputy Betty Sass just retired after sixty years.) Kriz had a squeaker-close primary when he first won in 1998 but has been unopposed since.




Due March 31.

I'm taking and making bets: which significant announced candidate does not turn in papers tomorrow? Paul Lunde and Paul Dahl don't count. I'll bet Jonathan Narcisse, because he's had trouble with that before when he threatended to primary Chet Culver (he ran in the fall as the head of his own "Iowa Party" instead.)

Also: which primary loser ends up on the November ballot for another office? (Whitaker, who ran for treasurer in 2002 and was in the rumor mill for the attorney general race before, and even after, committing to the Senate run.) And who wins his nuisance primary challenge from a Some Dude by more: Wally Horn, Jack Whitver, or Walt Rogers? I'm not counting Joe Seng because I still hopes he gets a REAL challenger.

Seng filed for another term in Davenport's Senate 45 today . He has a primary challenge from Mark Riley, his 2010 REPUBLICAN opponent who also ran as an independent in 2012. Still a day for a more credible Democrat to get the 100 sigs for a primary challenge to this not so reliable Dem. And we all know Joe the Fibbin' Fisherman likes primary challenges.

Ex-Newton mayor Chaz Allen is official in open Senate 15, where fellow Democrat Dennis Black appears to be the week's big retirement surprise.

Jim France is the Democratic challenger in the top tier race in Senate 7 in Sioux City. Republican incumbent Rick Bertrand won by just a couple hundred voted in the 2010 wave.


Democrat Maria Bribriesco filed in Bettendorf-centered Senate 47 against Roby Smith, who looks like he'll be the first Republican to escape a primary there in a couple cycles. (David Hartsuch knocked off Maggie Tinsman in 2006, but lost to Smith in 2010.) Bribriesco lost a 2012 House race to Linda Miller, but scored a respectable 44.5% in the tougher half of the Senate seat.

And a couple Democratic incumbents in safe seats: Waterloo's Bill Dotzler in Senate 31 and Rob Hogg of Senate 35 in Cedar Rapids.

On the House side, Republican Dave Heaton of Mt. Pleasant is Officially running for re-election in House 84. When Ralph Holmstrom filed for the seat, there was speculation Heaton was retiring but no, it's a primary challenge.

Past Iowa Chair of Young Americans for Liberty Taylor Egly is the second Republican primary challenger to freshman Jake Highfill in House 39. Jerry Kinder was already in. The split vote may help the incumbent, an upset winner in 2012 when he knocked off Erik Helland in the primary.

Some previously mentioned top quality House Democratic challengers turned the papers in today: Hudson school board member Karyn Finn in House 60 (against the self-demoted former congressional candidate Walt Rogers), retired Maquoketa superintendent Kim Huckstadt in HD58 against vulnerable Republican Brian Moore, and attorney Marti Nerenstone in Council Bluffs'  House 16, challenging Mary Ann Hanusa.

A parr of rematches: Democrat Kristi Keast of Mt. Vernon filed in House 95. She lost to Quentin Stanerson by just 200 votes in 2012. And Democratic teacher Kevin Ericson is again challenging Nevada Republican Dave Deyoe. Ericson drew 40% in 2012.

The rumor mill said die-hard medical marijuana opponent Clel Baudler might get a primary opponent from the Big Liberty wing of the party. Not yet but he did draw a challenge from Democrat Steve Roe of Panora, a bike trail advocate.

Just outside of Marshalltown, Iowa Veterans Home employee Ben Westphal is in for the Democrats to challenge GOP freshman Dean Fisher.

Cleaning service owner Nicholas Dreeszen of West Des Moines filed as a Democrat in House 43; he'll face Republican incumbent Chris Hagenow.

Democrat Daniel Fessler of West Des Moines, a recent Iowa State grad, is challenging Peter Cownie in House 42. And Sioux City Republican Nick Noyes is challenging Democrat Chris Hall. All I can find on Noyes is that he's a student and a Sam Clovis co chair (See last definition here and see if it applies.) Looks like an easier race for Hall than last cycle when he was in the only two House incumbent general election race in the state against Jeremy Taylor.

ADDENDUM: I spaced out somewhere in the 90s and left off the three candidates in House 97, where Republican Steve Olson is retiring. Norlin Mommsen of DeWitt is in for the GOP. Democrats have a primary: Carl Boehl of LeClaire faces labor activist Jay Saxon of Camanche.

Filing Day 13

Monday Pat Murphy tweeted that he's filed, but then he didn't show up on the list and the tweet vanished. Today it's official. Also filing in the 1st CD: Steve Rathje, looking to extend his string of GOP primary losses dating back to 2008.

The Official top candidate to file today was Matt Whitaker, going for the US Senate rather than being steered into the AG race against Tom Miller (who also filed). Matt's the fourth official candidate in the senate primary; we're still waiting on Joni Ernst and Some Dude Paul Lunde.

Here in Johnson County, two candidates filed in open Senate 39, completing the known field. Washington Democrat Rich Gilmore will face Kevin Kinney of Oxford. Former Johnson County Republican chair Bob Anderson faces Mike Moore of Washington and former Tiffin mayor Royce Phillips. Republican Sandy Greiner is retiring.

Elsewhere in the State Senate, Republican leader Bill Dix filed for a second term in Senate 25. But 26 is the number he wants.

Mitchellville mayor Jeremy Filbert is running for the GOP in suddenly open Senate 15 where Democrat Dennis Black is retiring. He has a primary with Crystal Bruntz; the winner faces former Newton mayor Chaz Allen for the Dems.

Jason Schultz is leaving House 18 for open Senate 9 where Nancy Boettger is retiring in a safe Republican seat.

An even safer open seat GOP seat is Senate 11 where Hubert Houser is hanging it up. Two Republicans filed today: Tom Shipley of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and Art Hill finance director for the city of Council Bluffs. Looks like a farms vs. exurbs race in the southwest corner.

Iowa Public Health Association president Pam Deichmann is the Democrat in Senate 13, challenging one session Republican Julian Garrett. Deichmann lost 70-30% to Stan Gustafson in the January House special to replace Garrett.


Clinton County Republican supervisor Brian Schmidt of Delmar is challenging half-term Democrat Rita Hary in Senate 49. (The seat was vacant after redistricting so it was on the ballot for an off-cycle short term in 2012.)

Ned Chiodo completes the trifecta of announced Senate 17 Democrats, joining Tony Bisignano and Nathan Blake on the ballot. The winner is a safe bet to replace Jack Hatch. In a less exciting Polk County race: Democrat Matt McCoy filing in Senate 21.


Herman Quirmbach also has a primary challenge, but this one looks more serious. The Ames Democrat faces Cynthia Oppedal Paschen; winner draws ex-city council member Jeremy Davis for the Republicans.

Two Republicans filed in Senate 29. James Budde of Bellevue faces Dyersville mayor Jim Heavens, who lost the 2010 state treasurer primary. The winner faces Democratic incumbent Tod Bowman.

Both of Democrat Amanda Ragan's rivals filed today. Republicans Shawn Dietz and Timothy Junker (a former sheriff) face off in the most Republican seat held by a Democrat.

The most Democratic seat held by a Republican is Senate 41. Mark "Chickenman" Chelgren, a 10 vote 2010 winner, filed today, as did Democrat Steve Siegel, a Wapello County supervisor. Siegel has a primary against Tom Rubel.

Ankeny's Jack Whitver is officially in for Senate 19. He has a Republican primary against perennial candidate Brett Nelson. Whitver has served four full session but this is his first general election in the seat, he won a hurry-up special when Larry Noble resigned to take a Branstad administration job in January 2011.

I'm basically doing this like a liveblog now. Creativity and priority is mostly out the window. Posted what's above and moving on to the House.

Almost all the incumbents are now in, with Ako Abdul-Samad, Dawn Pettingill and Kevin Koester filing today; Mary Wolfe also tweeted, with pics, that she had but isn't listed. Leaving aside known retirements/runs for other jobs, that leaves just Republican Chip Baltimore of Boone; has anyone heard if he's Officially announced? Also, Dave Heaton of Mt Pleasant SAYS he's running again despite a GOP primary challenge, but no papers yet.

Pettingill will have opposition from Democrat Steve Beck of Belle Plaine; always a grudge match when a party switcher is involved...

House 55 is now officially open, with Roger Thomas leaving the most Republican seat held by a Democrat. Darrel Branhagen is officially in for the GOP; Democrat Rick Edwards, former  Decorah Parks and Recreation director. has announced.

Two Republicans file in open House 18 where Jason Schultz is leaving for a Senate run. Steve Holt had a co-announcement when Schultz announced for the Senate, the very day Nancy Boettger retired. Joining Holt: student Dillon Malone, "a young conservative guided by traditional values." Democrats are running Paul Thelen in this red seat. 

A second Republican in open House 15: Council Bluffs school board member Troy Arthur. He faces Jim Blue in the primary; winner gets Democrat Charlie McConkey. Incumbent Mark Brandenburg (R) is running for recorder.

Abby Finkenauer is in for Dubuque's House 99, the Pat Murphy seat. She faces Steve Drahozal in a primary and I seem to be the only person in the state to have noticed his 2000 run as a Libertarian. Here's more.



Former Grinnell school board president  Eric Pederson filed for the Dems in House 76, challenging GOP freshman David Maxwell.

James  Butler joins the GOP field in House 26; the Des Moines cop faces Eric Durbin in a primary to face Democrat Scott Ourth.

Camanche Democrat Jay Saxon is running in open House 97, where Republican Steve Olson is retiring.

The persistent Joan Acela is back, making her fourth try in House 25. The former Madison County supervisor lost the primary to Julian Garrett when the seat was open in 2010, primaried him again in 2012, then lost to Stan Gustafson at the nominating convention when Garrett went to the senate. So, naturally, she's now primarying Gustafson. I may be wrong but there seems to be a Warren vs. Madison thing here, at least based on the past primary returns. Or maybe she just announced first and thinks that entitles her to the seat. I've heard that one before.

Jacobs, Appel top Day 12 filing

Dvorsky, Boedeker file

Two top tier candidates in open seat races top today's filing: Mark Jacobs in the Republican Senate primary and Democrat Staci Appel in the 3rd CD. Jacobs faces three other major contenders and a couple Some Dudes in the primary; Appel is a strong favorite over Gabriel de la Cerda.

Also filing today was Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, a Republican seeking a third term. Northey's lack of ambition for the Senate race may have thwarted the ambition of Grandson Grassley, looking for another resume builder. Pat had to settle for filing today for another run in House 50.

Locally. Bob Dvorsky filed, completing the set of Johnson County Democratic incumbents seeking re-election. And it's now officially a contested primary for the Democrats in House 73 as Dennis Boedeker of Lowden, a former Cedar County supervisor, files. He's hoping to face Republican incumbent Bobby Kaufmann in the fall but first he has to get past the tenacious David Johnson. (The OTHER David Johnson also filed today: the GOP incumbent senator from up northwest in District 1.)

Another Democratic in-fight sure to be heated: Senate 17, the safe seat that Jack Hatch is leaving. Tony Bisignano, who's career has had more than its share of drama, filed today. He'll face Nathan Blake and Ned Chiodo.

DINO Joe Seng, who lost a bizarre 2012 primary challenge to Dave Loebsack 80-20%, got a primary challenger of his own in Senate 45... but not the viable progressive we were hoping for. Some Dude Mark Riley was Seng's Republican opponent in 2010, then ran against Rep. Cindy Winckler as an independent in 2012.

Senate 13 is looking way less interesting than it did six months ago when Dems were hoping the fatally damaged Kent Sorenson would stay viable just long enough to get through a primary. But Sorenson resigned in the fall, Julian Garrett easily won the special, and filed today for the full term.

Also facing the voters sooner than your average senator: Clinton Democrat Rita Hart in Senate 49. That was the only odd-number seat up for a shortened two year term in 2012. Redistricting left the turf with no incumbent.

On the House side both Democrats filed today in open House 61 in Waterloo. Timi Brown-Powers and Andrew Miller are looking to replace Anesa Kajtazovic when she goes to Congress. The primary winner is favored over Republican Nathan Bolton. (Not to be confused with Des Moines attorney and Louisa County native Nate Boulton, who was a great doorknocking partner way back when.)

Council Bluffs Dems seem to have done better in recruiting this cycle than last. Labor activist Charlie McConkey filed today in House 15, where Mark Brandenburg is leaving to run for recorder. And an announcement in House 16 from attorney Marti Nerenstone. She's challenging Republican incumbent Mary Ann Hanusa who filed today.

In southern Iowa's House 27, we have a Democratic candidate who looks pretty good on paper: Fred Diehl, mayor of Osceola, will challenge Republican Joel Fry. Democrat Mike Reasoner held a version of this seat till Fry upset him in 2010.

Three western Iowa Democrats filed in strong Republican seats. Democrat Tim Ennis of Corning, a farmer active in the National Farmer's Organization (the progressive alternative to Farm Bureau) is challenging Jack Drake in House 21.

The other two don't leave much of a search engine trail, thus meeting the definition of Some Dude: "If you Google Some Dude's name, you'll find very little information-probably just the news article or blog post where they were first mentioned as a possible candidate." Nancy Paule Huisinga filed in House 8, where she'll face GOP incumbent Henry Rayhons. And Democrat Paul Thelen of Vail turned in the papers for open House 18, where Republican Jason Schultz is leaving to run for Nancy Boettger's open Senate 9 seat.

And more House incumbents:

• Gary Worthan R-Storm Lake House 11
• Chris Hall D-Sioux City House 13
• Dan Kelly D-Newton House 29 (he'll face Republican Patrick Payton)
• Des Moines Dems Marti Anderson in House 36 and Jo Oldson in House 41
• Josh Byrnes R-Osage House 51 (Dem Laura Hubka is challenging)
• Jerry Kearns D-Keokuk House 83
• Dennis COhoon, D-Burlington House 87

Some Long Reads

I've been saving up some longer pieces from other sources that are worth a long read. Get some coffee.

Academic/pundit Larry Sabato is arguing for a larger House of Representatives:

When Congress last increased the size of Congress in 1912 (setting aside temporary expansions for the admission of states), each representative had just over 200,000 constituents.

Today a representative answers to over 700,000 constituents, well over 10 times the number of constituents deemed appropriate by the First Congress. While it seems unwise to adhere to the strict letter of Article the First, the time has likely come to abide by its spirit and increase the size the House.

The United States is supposed to be the world’s premier representative democracy, yet India’s Lok Sabha is the only lower chamber on the globe where representatives have more constituents. Indeed, Pakistan’s National Assembly and Indonesia’s People’s Representative Council are the only other lower chambers with a population-per-seat ratio exceeding even 400,000.

Even adopting the so-called “Wyoming Rule,” which would set the size of a Congressional district at the population of the smallest state, would result in a House of only 547 members, tying for the 13th largest in the world. This would still decrease the number of constituents per district by 20%, and would help minimize the distortions from malapportionment. 

The literature - the literature? am I back in grad school? - anyway, folks talk about a 
"Cube root rule" that an optimal legislative body size is the cube root of the population. Based on the 2013 census estimate of 316148990 that gives us a US House size rounded to 681, and an average congressional district of 464,242. That's roughly where the US was after the 1960 census. 

A lot has changed since 1960. In the internet era it's harder to say one thing in front of one audience and another thing elsewhere. That's let to the decline of what they call
dog whistle politics:

In case you're unfamiliar with the term "dog-whistle politics," it gained wide currency during the George W. Bush administration, when liberal bloggers began noticing the way Republicans skillfully crafted appeals that were meant to only be understood by the party's base, while the rest of the electorate took no notice (Wikipedia dates the term as far back as the 1980s, but it was in the Bush years it came into common use in this country).

One prime example came during a 2004 debate, when in answering a question about what sorts of Supreme Court justices he would appoint, Bush dropped in what sounded to most viewers like a non sequitur about the 1857 Dred Scott decision that upheld slavery. To Christian conservatives, however, Bush's meaning was clear: without ever mentioning abortion, he was telling them he would appoint justices who would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. To know that, you'd have to know that anti-abortion activists often compare Roe v. Wade to Dred Scott. If you didn't know that, the message was as inaudible as a dog whistle.

To succeed, though, the dog whistle must have two characteristics. First, only your people are supposed to understand the hidden meaning, and that's no longer possible, since there are armies of writers and analysts ready and able to translate anything you say, then feed it back to reporters so it can get discussed again and again. Second, the surface message has to itself be pleasing, or at least innocuous, to the larger audience. And talking about Monica Lewinsky as a way to indict Hillary Clinton is anything but.

Also changed since 1960: the party alignment of the South. South Carolina's The State has an excellent history of the rise of the South Carolina GOP, as a microcosm of the whole region.

And last, 21 things they never tell you about poor countries:

"Economists start from the assumption that humans are individualistic, utility-maximising and strictly rational in a narrow sense. Actually many people are communitarian, social, non-calculating, uncertain about the future and often act according to sentiment or whim. Mainstream economics allows no theory of power or politics and can’t see the world economy as a system."

Filing Day 11

Day 11's big news was a non-filing as Democrat Dennis Black steps down in Newton-Altoona Senate 15 after 32 years in the legislature. Former Newton Mayor Chaz Allen promptly announced for the Democrats, making me think this has been in the works for a bit. The GOP field is Jeremy Filbert and Crystal Bruntz in this swingy  seat.

I gave Black the lede because we all knew Bruce Braley would file. (Braley was playing up the Number Of Signatures factor, which is only news if it's close to the margin of error.) Pat Murphy tweeted that he'd filed today but isn't on the Offical list yet; I assume the larger congressional petitions take longer to check. And Rod Blum has also been long expected in the 1st CD, though his status as GOP frontrunner is new since Walt Rogers dropped out.

Rogers turned in his Plan B paperwork today to run for re-election in House 60. He faces Some Dude primary challenger Jason Welch.

No action on the courthouse front, but four of our local legislative candidates filed in Des Moines. In open Senate 39, where Republican Sandy Greiner is retiring, Clear Creek Amana school board member Kevin Kinney (D) and former Tiffin mayor Royce Phillips (R) both made it official. And Johnson County Democratic incumbents: Iowa City's Joe Bolkcom in Senate 43 and Vicki Lensing in House 85, and Coralville's Dave Jacoby in House 74.

The top of the House Republican leadership filed today: Speaker Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha in House 67 and House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake in House 54.

Cedar Rapids Democrat Wally Horn, the senior member of the legislature, is seeking a new term in  Senate 35. Horn has a primary challenge from Lance Lefebure, who lost a 2012 House race as a Republican.

Tom Rubel is one of two announced Democrats in Ottumwa based Senate 41. This is the most Democratic seat held by a Republican. Mark "Chickenman" Chelgren caught the wave and won by 10 votes in 2010. Another narrow, but not THAT narrow, GOP Senate winner in 2010 was Rick Bertrand of Sioux City who filed today.

Both candidates filed in Ft. Dodge based Senate District 5: Democratic incumbent Daryl Beall and Republican Tim Kraayenbrink. Also filing from Ft. Dodge: House 10 Democratic incumbent Helen Miller.

In Ames, former city council member Jeremy Davis is the Republican in Senate 23. Democratic incumbent Herman Quirmbach has a primary challenge from Cynthia Oppedahl Paschen.

As expected, Kevin Wolfswinkel filed in House 1. He primaried Jeff Smith in 2012 and came close. Smith is retiring, and two other Republicans have filed. In another primary, Republican Jon Van Wyk of Sully, it says here (residence has been an issue in this race) filed in his primary challenge to Greg Heartsill in House 28.

Democrat Scott Ourth of Warren County filed for a second term in House 26. Republican Eric Durbin of Indianola also filed in 26 today, and Des Moines policeman James Butler is also in for the Rs though not yet filed. Ourth is a strong candidate, but he lost in 2010 to tea partier Glen Massie so watch this space.

Another space to watch is House 58. Incumbent Brian Moore filed today in the most Democratic House seat held by a Republican. Retiring Maquoketa superintendent Kim Huckstadt has announced for the Dems. Likewise, Democrat Amanda Ragan filed today; she has the most Republican Senate seat held by a Democrat, Senate 27.

Brian Best, a Carroll Republican, is officially in for House 12, challenging Democratic incumbent Dan Muhlbauer.

Democrat Hans Erickson of Boone filed in House 47. Republican Chip Baltimore upset Donovan Olson in 2010 and won the rematch in 2012 by a bigger margin.

Republican Ryan Kilburg of Zwingle is challenging Dyersville Democrat Nancy Dunkel, who walked into an open House 57 without a primary OR general election opponent in 2012.

Laura Hubka of Riceville is the Democrat in House 51. She'll face GOP incumbent Josh Byrnes.

The bipartisan House Taylor Caucus is in for re-election: Republican Rob of West Des Moines in House 44, and Democrat Todd of Cedar Rapids in House 70. Sioux City Republican Jeremy lost in 2012, and Senator Rich is not up this cycle.

And a whole pile of incumbents who I didn't bother working into a cute narrative. I think a lot of folks took their petitions to the county conventions Saturday to finish up.

• Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mt. Ayr in House 24,
• Ruth Ann Gaines D-DM House 32
• Bruce Hunter D-DM House 34
• Chris Hagenow R-Windsor Heights House 43
• Rob Bacon R-Slater House 48
• Sharon Steckman D-Mason City House 53
• Bob Kressig D-Cedar Falls House 59
• Kirsten Running-Marquardt D-CR House 69
• Tom Sands R-Wapello in House 88
• Cindy Winckler D-DAV House 90
• Phyllis Thede D-Bettendorf House 93
• Linda Miller R-Bettendorf House 94,
• Quentin Stanerson R-Center Point House 95 (facing a rematch with Democrat Kirsten Keast)
• and Chuck Isenhart D-DBQ House 100.

Upcoming Events: March 10-17

Friday is the state and federal filing deadline. Look for the pace of filing to ramp up rapidly and for a late late Friday comprehensive update.

All sorts of announcements over the weekend at county conventions, led by AJ Spiker's resignation as Iowa Republican chair to take a gig as political adviser to RAND PAC. Late Saturday, in a sign of his priorities, Spiker retweeted Rand Jong Un's win at the CPAC straw poll.

In Dubuque County, former Dyersville mayor Jim Heavens is running for the Republicans in Senate 29 against Democratic incumbent Tod Bowman. Heavens lost a state treasurer primary in 2010.

Also in Dubuque: Democrat Greg Simpson drops out and endorses Steve Drahozal for the open Pat Murphy seat:

@Drahozal4House So you're not counting that Libertarian campaign in 2000? https://t.co/IGShvBokac
— John Deeth (@johndeeth) March 9, 2014

Drahozal may need to explain that in his primary against Abby Finkenauer.

At our own convention, former 3 term Cedar County supervisor Dennis Boedeker announced in House 73. He's hoping to challenge first term Republican Bobby Kaufmann but first faces four time candidate David Johnson in a primary.

Johnson is hosting an event at the Solon Public Library Saturday at 1: "David will be speaking about his vision for Iowa's future, and taking your questions." And in what looks like an endorsement? "Also speaking will be Supervisor Candidate, Mike Carberry."


In Black Hawk County, Hudson School Board member Karyn Finn is in for the Democrats in House 60, where GOP incumbent Walt Rogers has dropped back in after dropping out of his congressional race. And a new name for the Anesa Kajtazovic seat: Democrat Timi Brown-Powers

Retiring Maquoketa superintendent Kim Huckstadt (male) is the Democratic challenger to Brian Moore in House 58, the most Democratic seat held by a Republican.
 
I headlined this as Upcoming Events but it turned into Week In Review. So here's some events. Jane Goodall. 7:30 tonight. Carver Hawkeye. Ooo oo Aah aah ah.

And GOP Senate 39 candidate Bob Anderson is having a chili supper Wednesday 6-8 PM at the Lone Tree American Legion.

Johnson County Democrats: Convention Recap

Chair Gerene Denning finds Bob Dvorsky's intro of Jack Hatch amusing.

The biggest actual news from the Johnson County Democratic convention came in a legislative race. Former Cedar County supervisor Dennis Boedeker announced his candidacy in House District 73, now held by freshman Bobby Kaufmann and one of the bluest GOP-held seats. Boedeker faces a primary against the tenacious David Johnson, making his fourth run. During his 2012 primary against Solon-based Dick Schwab, Johnson argued that only a Cedar County candidate could win the seat. So now there's two Cedar candidates.

I missed some stuff but did place myself front row center at the Northwest Junior High auditorium.for Jack Hatch's speech soon after lunch, as the likely gubernatorial nominee described Terry Branstad's tenure as "myths, mistakes, and missed opportunities."

Jonathan Narcisse, the other announced candidate for governor, contacted the JCDems last night and said he'd arrive during the same lunchish window as Hatch. But he hadn't arrived by the time we adjourned to a nearby tavern, at the amazingly early for us hour of 2 PM. (Linn County reports Narcisse arrived there about 2:30.)

And that was after one tangent where we voted to amend the amendment to amend the amendment. But the election of 50 district and state delegates was resolved by the time honored method of getting eight excess candidates to put down their hands to become alternates. Hint to counties facing rowdy conventions: make your sheriff co-chair.

Full participation in an event and reporting on same event in real time can be incompatible. Since I was co-chairing the credentials committee with colleague Tom Larkin, as we've been doing since the Bill Clinton re-election cycle, I missed most of the local speakers Instead I hung out in a science lab with a turtle, snake, and gerbil, data entering the 106 duly seated delegates.. The snake and gerbil were uneasy neighbors.



Honorary credentials committee member Nugget, nesting in what appear to be rejected platform resolutions.

Both county attorney candidates were on hand. Based on the printed materials, challenger John Zimmerman repeated his pledge to "end prosecutions for marijuana for personal use" and "dismiss charges deemed to be based on racial profiling." Incumbent Janet Lyness said "efforts to combat disparity in the criminal justice system need to be increased" As for the drug issues:

The code of Iowa requires me and every county attorney to diligently enforce the laws of the state of Iowa. And that is what I have done for the past eight years, while at the same, time keeping in mind the values and expectations of our community. For example, of every drug-related case that came through my office, only 16% resulted in jail time. My office has created and has successfully implemented one of the most successful drug courts in the United States.

The three announced supervisor candidates were on hand: incumbent Janelle Rettig and challengers Mike Carberry and Lisa Green-Douglass. We also saw both announced Senate 39 candidates, Rich Gilmore and Kevin Kinney, and unopposed county recorder Kim Painter. (Treasurer Tom Kriz, also unopposed, had a family reunion this weekend.) Higher up on the ballot, Secretary of Agriculture candidate Sherrie Taha spoke.

Of course we had the full legislative delegation - Dvorsky Bolkcom Mascher Lensing Jacoby - and the off-cycle courthouse incumbents - Harney Neuzil Sullivan Pulkrabek Weipert, along with scattered city elected officials: John Lundell and Mitch Gross of Coralville and Brad Kunkel of Solon. I also spotted a Ready For Hillary table, but didn't have time to launch That conversation.

My morning commute

I live in the middle of town, four blocks from my job, on a football field size lot.

On my five minute bike ride to work, I get to see this.



I love Iowa City.

Filing Day 10

Nomination petition signatures just turned in! Thanks to all who helped. @johndeeth - pls add to your tally. pic.twitter.com/1boof7Ha1z
— Brad Anderson (@BradAndersonIA) March 7, 2014

And so I have, Brad, and so I have. It'll be nice to have a Secretary of State whose main goal is helping people vote,but this race has changed a lot since Anderson announced last year. GOP incumbent Matt Schultz switched over to try for Tom Latham's open congressional seat, and now Anderson is likely to face political job hopper Paul Pate, who had this job for one term in the `90s, instead.

Brad gets top billing because he gave me the personal shout-out, but Monica Vernon will be higher up on the ballot. The Cedar Rapids city council member filed in what looks to be a five way Democratic primary in the open 1st CD.

Some Dude Joe Grandanette, who claims to be responsible for Tom Latham's retirement, filed in the 3rd CD today. Grandanette had launched an... um... uphill primary challenge prior to Latham's retirement, but surprisingly he failed to clear the field. Still, he called dibs and is first!, which some candidates have claimed entitles them to a clear shot at a nomination.

With the legislators back home, no incumbents filed today and very little legislative action.

Nathan Blake is one of the three announced Democrats in open Senate District 17 in Des Moines, which Jack Hatch is vacating to run for governor. Two big South Side names, Tony Bisignano and Ned Chiodo, are also running in what promises to be an epic primary in a safe Democratic district.

Urbandale teacher Jerry Kinder is challenging Jake Highfill in the House 39 Republican primary. Highfill was the only one of a dozen GOP primary challengers to knock off an incumbent (Erik Helland) in 2012. That was after an ethics complaint that Helland had tried to nudge Highfill out of the race with a job offer. Post-primary, stories surfaced about some scrapes with the law Highfill had in his not so long ago college days here in the People's Republic. The district's party demographics carried Highfill to a decent but not great win over an OK Democratic opponent, yet it's not a shock that someone sees an opportunity.

Mark Cisneros, a Muscatine Republican, filed in open House 91, which Mark Lofgren is leaving for a likely congressional primary loss. Cisneros faces Gary Carlson in a primary where two other candidates dropped out. Winner faces Democrat John "We Got" Dabeet, Lofgren's 2012 opponent.

Dems elect Denning Chair

Primary rivals make unity promises

Johnson County Democrats elected Gerene Denning as their new chair Thursday night, making official the job she's been doing as interim chair since January. Denning's election opens up the job of first vice chair, which my Republican readers call "co" chair.

The JCDems nomally elect their chair post-general election, rather than post-caucus. The off-cycle election was prompted by Mike Carberry's resignation to run for supervisor.

Carberry was among three pairs of primary rivals making a promise of party unity Thursday. Both he and incumbent Janelle Rettig pledged to support their rivals if they were to lose the primary. The third announced Democrat, Lisa Green-Douglass, was not present; voters can vote for two and the top two go on to the November election against Republican John Etheredge and a player to be named later, if at all. (UPDATE: Green-Douglass, who missed the meeting for one of her children's school events, later said she too would support the primary winners.)

County attorney challenger John Zimmerman said he would support incumbent Janet Lyness if she were nominated, and Lyness pledged likewise. (No Republican has even run for county attorney since 1972.) Also pledging mutual support and aid were Senate 39 candidates Richard Gilmore and Kevin Kinney. Three Republicans are running in that critical, open Republican-held seat.

Jon Neiderbach, candidate for state auditor, was also on hand. "I want to do what the code says the office should do, look at the effectiveness of government in a business-like manner."

Day 9: Dandekar files, surprisingly as a Democrat

Swati Dandekar does not get my sense of humor:

@Swati_Dandekar which party?
— John Deeth (@johndeeth) March 6, 2014

@johndeeth The Secretary of State only updates once per day, but as of last night, no candidates in either party had filed.
— Swati Dandekar (@Swati_Dandekar) March 6, 2014

So I had to wait for the list to get posted to see that, in fact, Dandekar had filed as a Democrat in the 1st CD. That's the party she was in for 3/4 of a Senate term, before resigning and risking Senate control to take a six figure job from the Republican governor.

Filing as a Dem may have been a strategic error for Dandekar. With Walt Rogers dropped out, she may have had a decent shot at the Republican nomination.

Speaking of Rogers, he has dropped back into his House 60 race but that didn't stop fellow Republican Jason Welch, who announced in December, from filing today. Welch also ran a Some Dude campaign for the old 3rd CD in 2010, when he lived in Knoxville.

Also in Black Hawk County, Republican veteran Nathan Bolton filed in House 61, the seat  Anesa Kajtazovic is leaving for her congressional race. Unlike Dandekar she's a real Democrat and unlike Rogers, she's staying in that race.

Democrat Dave Grussing of Armstrong filed in House District 7. He'll challenge GOP freshman Tedd Gassman, who narrowly knocked off Dem John Wittneben in 2012.

Both candidates file in Marion-based House 68. Freshman Democrat Daniel Lundby, who knocked off a GOP incumbent in 2012, will face Republican Ken Rizer.

Democratic Senator Tod Bowman is making his first re-election run on much-changed turf in Senate 29. He keeps his Maquoketa base but instead of going south into Clinton he goes north into rural Dubuque County.

The rest of the day's filing is House Democratic incumbents:

• Rick Olson of Des Moines in House 31
• John Forbes of Urbandale, House 40
• Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, House 46
• and Deb Berry in Waterloo's House 62. This is now the most Democratic district in the state, leaping ahead of Vicki Lensing's House 85 in Iowa City. Lensing's seat includes most of the UI campus, which saw a spike in No Party registrations last fall with the 21 Bar vote. My district, Mary Mascher's 86th, remains the third most Democratic and together the two Iowa City seats form Joe Bolkcom's Senate 43, which remains that body's top Democratic seat.

Filing Day 8

Two local filings today for Johnson County, one at the state house and one at the courthouse.

Democrat Sally Stutsman filed for a second term in Iowa House 77, covering North Liberty, Tiffin, and most of the western part of the county. Her resignation from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors set up a special election a year ago today. In low turnout and unusual circumstances, Republican John Etheredge won that seat and broke a half-century Democratic monopoly on the board.

Lisa Green-Douglass of North Liberty is one of the Democrats looking to win that seat back; she filed today. Mike Carberry is also announced for the Democrats and Janelle Rettig is running for re-election. The top two go on to November.

Across the state, the biggest name to file today was Mark Smith of Marshalltown, making his first run since taking over the House Democratic leadership after Kevin McCarthy's resignation last fall. Of course, Mark's real job is to elect 50 colleagues so he can move from minority leader to Speaker.

Mt. Pleasant auto dealer Ralph Holmstrom has filed on the Republican side in House 84. A primary, or a sign that long-time Rep. Dave Heaton is hanging it up?

Republican Kevin Klaassen of Sibley filed in open House 1, where Jeff Smith (also R) is stepping down. Could be a 3 way primary: John Wills has already filed and 2012 primary challenger Kevin Wolfswinkel is also mentioned.

Democrat Nancy Dunkel filed for a second term in House 57. She took over the rural Dubuque seat, technically held by Republican Steve Lukan but heavily redistricted, in 2012 without a primary OR general election opponent. This time Republican Ryan Kilburg will give it a shot.

Rick Giarusso, a Cedar Falls Republican, is running in House 59. He'll challenge perennial target Bob Kressig.

It's officially a Democratic primary in House 65. Cedar Rapids school board member Gary Anhalt makes it official. He'll oppose Liz Bennett in the race for the Tyler Olson seat.

Republican Jake Highfill of Johnston was the only one of a dozen or so Republican primary challengers to knock off an incumbent in 2012, beating Erik Helland.

More incumbents making it official:

• Dallas County Republican Ralph Watts in House 19
• Republican Jack Drake of Griswold in House 21
• Keota Republican Jarad Klein in House 78
• Mary Gaskill, D-Ottumwa, in House 81

And the weird filing of the day is in Senate 35, held by the senior legislator, Democrat Wally Horn, who shows no signs of stepping down. That hasn't deterred Lance Lefebure from filing in the Democratic primary. Here's the twist: Lefebure was a late starting 2012 House candidate in half of this district - as a REPUBLICAN challenging Todd Taylor.

Fitzgerald Tops Day 7 Filing

Mike Fitzgerald filed for his 45th term to top today's fresh candidate list. Actually, the longtime Democratic state treasurer is just finishing his 8th term and seeking a 9th.

The rest of the day's filing is mostly at the state House level. Former (1998-2002) Republican senator Mike Sexton is making a comeback attempt on the House side in District 10, where tea partier Tom Shaw is stepping down.

Newton Republican Patrick Payton initially announced for state senate but withdrew from that race. Instead he'll challenge Democratic incumbent Dan Kelley in House 29.

Democrat John (We Got) Dabeet is making a second bid in Muscatine's House 91. He lost to Mark Lofgren last cycle. This year the seat is open as Lofgren gets ready to lose a congressional primary.

Brian Meyer is seeking his first full term. The Des Moines Democrat easily won a special last October to replace the resigned Kevin McCarthy in House 33. Meyer filed on the same day his Des Moines city council replacement is getting elected.

Altoona Democrat Joe Riding is running for a second term in House 30. Republican challenger Zach Nunn filed yesterday.

A pair of incumbent Dans are back on the ballot: Republican Huseman of House 3 and Democrat Muhlbauer in House 12.

And last but least, the only state Senate filing. Perennial candidate Brett Nelson is back. In 2012 he lost a House Republican primary to Kevin Koester 85-15%, and, undeterred, lost to Koester again as an independent in the general. (He also lost a primary to Koester in `08.) This year it looks like he'll lose a Senate primary to Jack Whitver. And, unless this session passes a sore loser law, we may see him again in the fall.

That's a good couple of questions for primary candidates: will you support the nominee? Will you pledge not to run in the fall as an independent? The Johnson County League of Women Voters should put that on the list for their courthouse candidates forum.

Filing Day 6: Clovis, Miller-Meeks Official

Mosiman files for first full term

We have the first Officially contested primary as GOP Senate candidate Sam Clovis qualifies for the ballot. Scott Schaben filed on Day One, but Clovis has a stronger shot at finishing in the hunt.

(Question: Other than a Fibbin' Fisherman situation where qualification for the ballot is in question, does anyone actually care about the number of signatures on a petition as a bragging point? If they're GOOD signatures, they may be the core of a list, but in my experience nomination signatures are about one notch better than random names from what we used to call a "phone book".)

Also filing today is Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, making her third bid for congress. She won contested Republican primaies in 2008 and 2010, then sat out 2012. She's a heavy favorite to beat Mark Lofgren in June and get a re-rematch with Dave Loebsack.

Mary Mosiman, the appointed state auditor, makes her first statewide run official. Mosiman won three terms as Story County auditor on the Republican ticket before leaving for the Matt Schultz administration.

We also have our first officially contested general election races, as three Democratic incumbents file.

• Frank Wood has a rematch in House 92 with Republican Ross Paustian. Wood got knocked out of the Senate in 2008 then came back to beat one-term rep Paustian in 2012.
• Bruce Bearinger is looking for a second term in House 64. He won over weak opposition in 2012 but Republican Craig Johnson looks more serious this time.
• And Curt Hanson of Fairfield is seeking a third full term in House 82. Liberty Republican Jeff Shipley filed last week.

Other house Democratic incumbents who filed today:

• My own rep, Mary Mascher, in House 86
• Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames, House 45
• Davenport's Jim Lykam in House 89
• Patti Ruff of McGregor in House 56
• And Todd Prichard, going into his first general election cycle in House 52. Prichard was a special election winner when Brian Quirk quit immediately after getting re-elected in 2012.

Only one state senate candidate filed today, Pierson Republican incumbent Bill Anderson in District 3.  Republicans also added one House challenger. Zach Nunn of Bondurantis challenging Altoona Democrat Joe Riding in House 30. This was the Geri Huser-Kim Pearson seat so weird stuff can happen.

The nemesis of medical marijuana, Clel Baudler, filed again in House 20. Reports are that GOP state central committee member and Paul supporter Joel Kurtinitis may challenge in the primary.

More House Republican incumbents:

• Chuck Soderberg in District 5, 
• Sandy Salmon in District  72
• Guy Vander Linden in District 79
• Ron Jorgenson, House 6 (he had a serious primary from Matthew Ung in 2012)
• Matt Windschitl, House 17
• Greg Forristall, House 22
• and Dave Deyoe House 49.

Also, today was the first day for courthouse candidates to file. No takers in Johnson County.

Upcoming events: March 2-9

Centuries from now, when all but the greatest political leaders are forgotten, people will still learn the name Jane Goodall. The woman who redefined "human" will be at Carver-Hawkeye a week from today to discuss her work with our chimpanzee relatives and her conservation efforts. A can't miss.

In the small political world where I live: State and federal filing continues all this week, and starting today courthouse candidates can also file.

Both parties hold county conventions Saturday. The same date thing isn't critical like it is with caucuses, because anyone can caucus, and can caucus twice, if the dates are different, but at a convention you have to be elected. To me the same convention date is too bad because I have gone to a few Republican conventions to catch the speeches and just generally see how they operate.

And they operate very differently. The dustup this past weekend was on the Republican practice of electing a large chunk of their delegates to the next level as a slate. More to the point, the issue was who's making the slate. Craig Robinson, Shane Vander Hart and David Chung have write-ups but the tl;dr read is this is a Branstad Wing vs. Vander Plaats and Paul wings fight.

I've never seen a formal "slating" process at Democratic conventions, at least not in my county or at district/state. Everyone runs and is elected as an individual, so any "slating" is informal. Also, only X number of delegates, I believe half, can get elected on the first round. And In contested presidential years people are elected out of preference groups, so the Ron Paul vs Non Paul dynamic of the 2012 Republican cycle can't happen on the Democratic side. 

Whichever convention you attend, stop by beforehand for the Crisis Center of Johnson County annual pancake breakfast, hosted by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2301 Court Street in Iowa City. $6 for adults and $3 for children at the door gets you unlimited pancakes, toppings, sausage, and beverages. The 7 AM start gives you two hours before the conventions start, and it runs till 1.

The party central committees also meet this week. Republicans get together Monday at their default meeting spot, the Miller Learning Center on South Keokuk. Matt Whitaker and Sam Clovis are expected to attend.

Democrats meet Thursday at the Iowa City School District office and elect a new chair. Interim chair Gerene Denning is expected to step up to finish the term of Mike Carberry, who resigned to run for supervisor.

Josh Ruebner — the national advocacy director of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation — will be speaking at 7 p.m. Monday in the Coralville Public Library on his new book, “Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace.”

"Miss Representation," a documentary film about gender, stereotypes and its effects on women and men, girls and boys in the United States, will be screened at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Englert, with proceeds benefiting Scattergood Friends School.
 

Week In Review: February 24 - March 1

I realized Friday that I'd missed, or had the wrong angle, on the story of the week. My personal distaste for Sally Mason blinded my to the fact that students had taken the opportunity, shifted the agenda, and made the sexual assault issue the top  headline across the state.

@johndeeth We'd love a chance to cook up one of our signature burgers for @HillaryClinton! What do you say, Mrs. Clinton?
— Hamburg Inn No. 2 (@HamburgInn) February 24, 2014

 I'm Not The Only One: Mark Barabek of the LA Times looks at Hillary and Iowa. So I'm just a crazy blogger with a dumb hat: Listen to these grown-ups.

Above all, there is firm resistance to any notion that Clinton deserves Democrats' support: for coming in second to Obama in the 2008 nominating fight, for faithfully serving him as secretary of State, for offering the tantalizing prospect of once again making history, this time by installing the first woman in the Oval Office.

"Iowans haven't really changed between 2008 and today," said Janet Petersen, a state senator from Des Moines who attended an Iowa kickoff last month by the pro-Clinton group Ready for Hillary, but remains far from committed. "They still want to engage in a conversation … and get to know the candidates for president.

"Iowans want a candidate that wants the job," Petersen added. "They're not used to having to … actively recruit people to run."

One thing Clinton would have to overcome in Iowa is memories of 2008, among them a leaked strategy memo recommending she skip the caucuses; a helicopter tour across the state — "a pickup truck might have been a little more effective," David Nagle, a former congressman and Iowa Democratic chairman, suggested dryly; and the large entourage and other trappings that proved more off-putting than impressive to voters.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether, after looming so large as a national and international figure, Clinton is ready for the small time.

"She's got to campaign in places where's there only a few people," said Jack Hatch, a state senator from Des Moines and Democrats' leading candidate for governor. "She has to be seen as not entering an auditorium but sitting down and listening to voters ... in their homes, in cafes, in small towns. I know it will be difficult for her and her campaign, but it's what Iowans want."

Clinton going to 2008 calendar cheater state Florida this week is basically a middle finger at the Iowa caucuses. And speaking of caucus haters: John Dingell, D-General Motors, the longest serving congressman in history, in finally retiring, but spouse Debbie Dingell, DNC member and one of the leasing First In The Nation foes, is near-certain to replace him. I still miss Lynn Rivers, the Ann Arbor progressive who John Dingell beat in a redistricting pair-up primary in 2002.

But for the record I've now, finally, had a couple people ask where I'd rather see Hillary Clinton than Iowa. Not a joke or insult; must ask in person.

Another one we'll need to discuss in person: a local trial in a stalking case that got zero media attention but a lot of social media discussion. The accused has an autism spectrum disorder and his father, who lives out of state, is getting the local mental health community involved.

For entirely legitimate reasons, I know more about this case than I can say in public. I also have family members on the spectrum so I have an above average understanding of the condition. All I'll say is there is a LOT more to this case than "prosecuting the mentally ill."

I understand why most Democratic legislators voted Yes on a silencer legalization bill that has no future in the Senate, but a hat tip to the 16 No votes including my rep, Mary Mascher. Of note: Congressional candidate Anesa Kajtazovic was a No while rival Pat Murphy was a Yes.

Of course the real bombshell in that race was on the other side as favorite Walt Rogers dropped out and dropped back into his legislative race. All hands agree this makes Rod Blum the favorite over perennial candidate Steve Rathje and Some Gail Boliver.

The Iowa Republican dropped da bomb on him today, tracking donations from Boliver to Bruce Braley. Ask Congressman Peter Teahen how well donations to Dems go over in a GOP primary. Will that go over better than the news that House 99 primary candidate Steve Drahozal ran for the House in Johnson County in 2000... as a Libertarian?

TIR also reports "(Republican state central committee) member/Paulistinian Joel Kurtinitis appears to be considering a challenge to Rep. Clel Baudler in House District 20." Baudler is the biggest legislative barrier to medical marijuana and a libertarian is likely far better on the issue. (Also note this seat went uncontested in 2010 when district resident/Iowa CCI leader Barb Kalbach decided to instead challenge Patty Judge at the state Democratic convention instead. Just saying.)

Filing Days Four And Five

A slow enough end to the first week of filing that I combined the last two days. Still no new filing above the legislative level.

Democrat Liz Bennett filed Friday in House 65, the seat former governor candidate Tyler Olson is leaving. She can expect a primary with Cedar Rapids school board member Gary Anhalt. The winner is favored in this good Democratic seat.

Spirit Lake Republican John Wills filed in House District 1 Friday. Kevin Wolfswinkel, who lost a 2012 GOP primary challenge to incumbent Jeff Smith, is also running; Smith is stepping down.

Walcott Republican Ross Paustian is making a comeback attempt. He lost in a top-tier challenge to Democrat Elesha Gayman in 2008, won when Gayman stepped down in 2010, then lost to Frank Wood last cycle.

The first two Fridays of filing season are usually slow, with the legislators out of town. There were a couple incumbents yesterday: Megan Hess, R-Spencer, for a second term in House 2, andPeter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, in House 42.

Filing Day Three: Former Johnson County Candidates Run Elsewhere

Two candidates who ran past races here in Johnson County filed for legislative seats today in other parts of the state. And there's a libertarian connection to both.

Jeff Shipley, a Republican state central committee member and liberty/Paulworld activist, filed in Fairfield based House 82. Shipley also filed there last cycle but dropped out in time to get off the ballot. Jeff ran for the Iowa City council in 2009, getting through the primary but losing in the biggest landslide in city history as the two townies clobbered the two students. (I saw the blowout coming the minute filing closed, but endorsed him anyway.) The incumbent is Democrat Curt Hanson.

Dubuque's House 99 is Pat Murphy's open seat, the third tier down ripple effect from Tom Harkin's retirement. Today Steve Drahozal was the first of three announced candidates to file today. Abby Finkenauer and Greg Simpson are also announced in this solid Democratic seat (though Murphy as a sitting speaker almost lost in 2010.)

Drahozal is making his second House race. In 2000, when he lived in Coralville, he challenged then House Democratic leader Dick Myers as a Libertarian. He lost 85-15% with no Republican in the race, then left town for Dubuque.(HD73 candidate David Johnson lost to Myers by about the same margin in a 1994 Democratic primary.)

The only other filing today was from Republican Crystal Bruntz of Baxter in Senate District 15. At one point Bruntz looked like she'd be in a three way primary. But former state party "co-chair" and Paulite David Fisher, after resigning his party post to run, dropped out. And the first announced candidate, Patrick Payton, switched to the House 29 race against Newton Democrat Dan Kelley. That leaves Bruntz as the only likely challenger to longtime Democrat Dennis Black.

Day Two: Branstad Files - For Now

Some dude named Terry Branstad filed for governor for the sixth time Tuesday, so I guess we can call him a "perennial candidate." (Most perennial candidates don't have lifetime undefeated records, though.) But conspiracy theorists note: one can still drop out at a later date...

Also note that, despite all the Branstad-Reynolds branding, the lieutenant governor does NOT appear on the primary ballot. That's determined by the state convention, the shape of which will be set at county conventions March 8. From 1990 till 2010 that convention vote was just a rubber stamp of the nominee's pick, but then Bob Vander Plaats decided to throw a hissy fit. I'll take side bets on who Jack Hatch will eventually pick for a running mate...

Today's ticket topper deserved a post. I may or may not post every day during filing time, and Branstad is the only activity above the legislative level.

In Ames based Senate 23, Democrat Cynthia Oppedal Paschen is launching a primary challenge to three term incumbent Herman Quirmbach. I speculated without actual facts last month: "Ames has a tradition of electing female legislators, and some folks were miffed when Quirmbach narrowly beat Karen Bolluyt in the 2002 primary on the retirement of (female) Johnie Hammond." And Paschen openly said on announcing that Quirmbach is hard to get along with. Any central Iowans with actual facts can jump in. The winner faces Republican Jeremy Davis, who stepped down from the city council for the race. Republicans are talking up his chances but the district's numbers are good for Democrats.

On the House side, landscape business owner John Blue of Council Bluffs is a Republican candidate in House 15, the more Democratic leaning of the city's two seats. It's open as Mark Brandenburg, who drew the short straw and moved in after getting paired in redistricting with fellow Republican Mary Ann Hanusa, is running for county recorder. (Council Bluffs was one of the Dems' weak recruiting spots last cycle.)

Also filing, two house incumbents:

Sioux City Democrat David Dawson wants a second term. He won an empty House 14 seat in 2012 when two freshmen, Democrat Chris Hall and Republican Jeremy Taylor, were paired up. This seat had more of Taylor's turf but he didn't move, and lost to Hall.

And Republican Joel Fry of Osceola is running for a third term in House 27. He knocked off Democrat Mike Reasoner in an unanticipated 2010 upset, then beat a Some Dude in the primary and an independent in the general last cycle.

Republican Jeremy Davis