Posted on 12/30/2013 6:51:41 PM PST by nonliberal
Iowa State Senator Brad Zaun is preparing to announce another bid for Congress, sources close to Zaun tell TheIowaRepublican.com. Zaun was the Republican nominee for Iowa’s Third Congressional District seat in 2010. The Urbandale native emerged from a crowded GOP primary field, but eventually lost to incumbent Leonard Boswell in a bitter general election battle.
Last week, Zaun announced on his personal and “Zaun for Congress” Facebook pages that an announcement was pending after the New Year. “I hope each of you had a great Christmas! I will have some big news to announce after the first of the year and I look forward to sharing it with my supporters and friends first,” Zaun wrote.
Those posts set off a large amount of speculation about Zaun’s pending announcement. Sunday night, sources confirmed he is indeed laying the groundwork for another congressional bid. Brad Zaun is not up for reelection in 2014, so he could safely run for Congress and maintain his Iowa Senate seat if he does not emerge victorious.
Zaun is far from the only Republican official mulling a bid. Within hours of Tom Latham announcing his plans to retire from the U.S. Congress next year, a slew of Republican office holders expressed interest in running for the soon-to-be open seat. Many of those are current state senators.
However, the recent announcement by State Senator Rick Bertrand to step down as minority whip in order to focus on his own reelection might have an impact on the decision-making of his colleagues.
“Since Congressman Latham’s announcement, I have spent a lot of time praying and talking to my wife about whether to run. This is a big decision for any family and I am going through the process of talking with friends, family and donors on whether this is the right thing to do,” Sen. Jack Whitver told TheIowaRepublican.com.
Whitver was considering announcing an exploratory committee for the congressional seat this week, although he was still 50/50 in terms of actually running. Bertrand’s decision to step down as minority whip might entice Whitver to run for the senate leadership position instead. Iowa Senate Republicans will decide on Bertrand’s replacement January 7, so whoever hopes to fill that role needs to make a decision within the next few days.
Sen. Whitver is also up for reelection in 2014. Unlike Zaun, he would have to sacrifice his senate seat in order to run for Congress.
“I understand that a decision must be made very quickly and expect to make a decision soon,” Whitver said. “There are so many things to consider: my young family, commuting to DC, a dysfunctional Congress, the fact that I up for election this year in the Senate, and whether I can win the Congressional race.”
Freshman State Senators Jake Chapman and Charles Schneider have also expressed interest in running. They are not up for reelection next year. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is also strongly considering a bid for Iowa’s Third Congressional District seat.
Is he a conservative?
Yes
Not really a Tea Party kind of guy, and I don’t think he is more conservative than Latham, but Iowa could do worse. Not sure he has appeal beyond Des Moines suburbs. Definitely don’t look for conservative leadership from Iowa.
Politicianspeak: “ - - - “There are so many things to consider: my young family, commuting to DC, a dysfunctional Congress, the fact that I up for election this year in the Senate, and whether I can win the Congressional race.” - - - “
Blah, blah, blah - - - .
Now tell us “WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE COUNTRY?”
People in IA are willing to give a liberal a liftime career in politics just to give him a chance at redemption, which never happens.
Zaun is a conservative. He has also been a HUGE proponent of removing speed and red light cameras in the state legislature.
I think Zaun is a whole lot more conservative than Latham.
Please clarify. Steve King isn't conservative enough for you? (Granted, it's impossible to find an Iowa politician who votes against farm and/or wind subsidies.)
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