State Senator Jack Hatch’s campaign released a list of prominent Iowa endorsers today, including eight-term U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell, eight Iowa Senate Democrats (Dennis Black, Joe Bolkcom, Tom Courtney, Dick Dearden, Matt McCoy, Steve Sodders, Joe Seng, and Rich Taylor), and six Iowa House Democrats (Ako Abdul-Samad, Marti Anderson, John Forbes, Ruth Ann Gaines, Bruce Hunger, and Frank Wood). Several of those lawmakers stood with Hatch during his statewide tour last month to announce his candidacy. Others had not taken a public stand in the governor’s race before today, to my knowledge.

I’ve posted the Hatch campaign’s press release after the jump. Boswell and several of the endorsers cited Hatch’s experience and record of legislative accomplishments, themes I expect to hear repeatedly during the next eight months. Hatch’s main Democratic primary competition, State Representative Tyler Olson, has support from more than two dozen state lawmakers but doesn’t have nearly as much legislative experience. Nor is he known for doing the heavy lifting on many bills that have become law.

This comment from Senator Tom Courtney jumped out at me from today’s press release: “Anyone can floor manage a bill passed out of another chamber or sign on as a co-sponsor to an existing bill, but Jack has shown real leadership throughout his time in public service – creating new ideas, finding allies, drafting legislation, and fighting to see it succeed in the legislative process.” I read that as a subtle swipe at Olson, because his major legislative accomplishment was floor-managing the public smoking ban in 2008–a cause initially pushed by other legislators, including Janet Petersen and Staci Appel. Highlighting Hatch’s “new ideas” is also an implicit rebuttal to Olson’s promise to provide “fresh leadership” for the next 30 years.

Any comments about the governor’s race are welcome in this thread. UPDATE: Added details below on the Hatch campaign’s steering committee.

Hatch for Governor press release, October 10:

HATCH CAMPAIGN RELEASES LEGISLATIVE ENDORSEMENTS

Des Moines – Today the Hatch for Governor campaign released several high profile endorsements.  Only three weeks after the State Senator entered the race, over a dozen members of the Iowa Legislature – as well as former Congressman Leonard Boswell – are publicly announcing their support of Senator Hatch’s campaign for Governor of Iowa.

“I am proud to have the support of these individuals,” said State Senator Jack Hatch. “And while endorsements are encouraging, what counts is the organization that we are creating with them.  I look forward to continuing to travel throughout the state and have conversations with Iowans about the future of our state.”

“I have seen Jack’s work in neighborhoods for decades now,” said State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad. “His leadership in the Legislature is the very conscience of our party on the issues facing those that are most endangered in society. His work on social justice issues is unparalleled in the Iowa State Senate.”

“As a social worker, I have seen Jack’s work throughout this state,” said State Representative Marti Anderson. “We would be lucky to have a person with his character and accomplishments leading our state. He is businessman with a social justice heart.”

“No other legislator has more real legislative accomplishments than Jack,” said State Senator Tom Courtney.  “Anyone can floor manage a bill passed out of another chamber or sign on as a co-sponsor to an existing bill, but Jack has shown real leadership throughout his time in public service – creating new ideas, finding allies, drafting legislation, and fighting to see it succeed in the legislative process.”

“Jack’s record of achievements is long, and one that I am proud to support,” said former Congressman Leonard Boswell. “There are no questions where he stands on the issues and no doubt that he has the knowledge and the experience to lead our state for years to come. In his public, professional, and private life, he has practiced what he has preached. He would be a great Governor.”

The following legislators today announced their support of Jack Hatch:

State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad (Des Moines)

State Representative Marti Anderson (Des Moines)

State Senator Dennis Black (Newton)

State Senator Joe Bolkcom (Iowa City)

State Senator Tom Courtney (Burlington)

State Senator Dick Dearden (Des Moines)

State Representative John Forbes (Urbandale)

State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines (Des Moines)

State Representative Bruce Hunter (Des Moines)

State Senator Matt McCoy (Des Moines)

State Senator Steve Sodders (Marshalltown)

State Senator Joe Seng (Davenport)

State Senator Rich Taylor (Mount Pleasant)

State Representative Frank Wood (Eldridge)

More will be released in the coming weeks.

UPDATE: The Hatch campaign released a list of statewide steering committee members on October 11. Michael Kiernan was the Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman in 2009. Mark Kuhn was a longtime Iowa House Democrat and is now a Floyd County supervisor.

The list includes: Fred and Charlotte Hubbell, Harry Bookey and Pam Bass-Bookey, state Rep.  Ako Abdul-Samad, Som Baccam, Mike Draper and Michael Kiernan, all of Des Moines; Randy Black of Klemme, Sharon Holle and Rita Vargas of Davenport, Mark and Denise Kuhn of Charles City, Linda Lucy of Dubuque, Mike Peters of Sioux City, Frank and Kimberlee Spillers of Atlantic, Beverly Strayhall of Davenport, state Sen. Rich Taylor of Mount Pleasant and Dale Todd of Cedar Rapids