Posted on 05/03/2013 8:38:07 PM PDT by Free Vulcan
Iowa Congressman Steve King sent an email to supporters Friday night announcing he would not seek the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2014. The announcement is not unexpected. King said in February that he was leaning toward running. However, as he struggled with the decision for three months, it became less likely that he would enter the fray.
King would have been an overwhelming favorite in a Republican primary. His decision not to run opens the field for other candidates to enter. Former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker has stated he would run for the seat if King opted not to. State Senator Joni Ernst also said it was likely she would run if King did not.
Congressman King’s full announcement is below:
Dear Friends,
I want to thank all of my friends, family, advisors and supporters who have put so much time, thought, prayer, and effort into helping me make a decision on whether to run for the United States Senate. I sincerely thank every potential candidate, all of whom graciously gave me room to decide. Probably no one in America, considering such an opportunity, enjoys as clear a path to the nomination. It is an extraordinary opportunity that will not be repeated in millions of lifetimes.
I have said from the beginning this decision requires “the head, the gut, and the heart” to line up together. I have done due diligence and evaluated the race from a statewide, objective perspective. I have talked with hundreds of supporters…and some detractors. I sincerely thank all of you who have helped in so many ways.
My analytical part, the head, tells me the race is winnable and must be won in 2014 or a generational opportunity could be lost. I have said a race for the Senate is “a slight up hill battle”. It is, but it’s “no hill for a climber”.
The question I am answering today is, “What is my duty?” I believe my duty is to utilize the honor of serving Iowans in Congress by maximizing my effectiveness. I owe it to all Iowans and Americans to give you my best effort and best judgment.
We have in front of us in Congress a series of potent issues which will redirect the destiny of our state and nation. Among them are a farm bill, ObamaCare, debt and deficit, immigration, and tax reform. If I step away from these responsibilities while campaigning in an effort to multiply leverage in the Senate, what becomes of our nation in the mean time?
This week, I made a simple device to put toothpaste back in the tube. But a device to put the Leftist genie back in the bottle is not so simple. The best tool we have now is the majority in the U.S. House which functions mostly to keep the Leftist genie in the bottle. I cannot, in good conscience, turn my back on the destiny decisions of Congress today in order to direct all my efforts to a Senate race for next year, while hoping to gain the leverage to put the genie back in the bottle in 2015.
The most timely and conclusive piece of advice I received crystallized my decision. A friend, whose 77th birthday is today, said to me, “I will support you whatever you decide to do. If you decide to run, don’t be a reluctant candidate.” If I said, “Yes” to a Senate race, I would be a reluctant candidate because of the reasons I’ve written above.
Accordingly, I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate in 2014. It is my intention to turn my efforts and energy with great vigor to the issues at hand. I anticipate being on the ballot for reelection to the U.S. House, Fourth District of Iowa. It is a challenging and rewarding job that I enjoy. My sincerest thanks to all involved.
Respectfully,
Steve King Member of Congress, Iowa
Is Whitaker a good guy? What about Branstad?
OK, Steve, I’ll accept this under one condition - you run for president in 2016.
Branstad has no desire to go to Washington. Whitaker is a good guy.
My Better Half grew up in Forest City and her family really liked Branstad, otherwise I don’t know much about him.
Hope Whitaker can get some major support and keep foot from mouth. America needs a good turn around from Iowa after all the years with Harkin screwing us over.
That's exactly what I was thinking.
A great congressman. I respect his decision. He’ll have no trouble keeping that seat for his next reelection, and at least this means we won’t risk losing his passionate, conservative voice.
However, with that said, Rove is probably rubbing his fat hands with glee. Of our remaining options, as they begin to throw in, we need to determine who the conservative is and be prepared to fight Karl’s establishment puppet (whoever that turns out to be). The squish caucus in the senate needs to be squished, not grown.
Thanks Free Vulcan.
None of the names mentioned are remotely conservative. Everyone of these 2nd tier candidates would vote for:
Increasing the debt.
Continued taxpayer funded abortion.
Amnesty.
Gun regulations.
Keeping the Federal Reserve.
International Treaties greater than the Constitution.
Wars without end.
Ad nausium, etc, etc.
King would have been the most conservative choice. Now, Bruce Braley who is more liberal than Pelosi or Reid will win.
And we will have an ugly bitter and divisive primary to waste money on while building up campaigns that will fracture a generation with their infighting.
Oh, and we will not carry the 1st or 2nd districts either.
That is what this announcement really means.
The key takeaway I got from King’s message is the desire to remain in the majority. Chances are he’d be languishing as a minority member under Harry Reid’s jackboot if he did go to the Senate. Six years of your life being shoved to the margins is big chunk of time.
I agree, it is probably wise of him. Love him in the House, but he well could have a problem getting elected statewide in Iowa.
Whitaker is a good guy, but now there will be fairly big primary field. Someone even better may emerge. SOMEONE needs to beat Braley.
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