Time for a new thread to discuss possible candidates for governor next year. I think we can all agree that Governor Terry Branstad will seek a sixth term, barring some unforeseen health problem.

Many Democrats expect State Representative Tyler Olson to announce his gubernatorial campaign soon now that he has stepped down as Iowa Democratic Party state chair. His resignation letter previewed the obvious case for his candidacy: time for a new generation to step up and lead. Olson is roughly the same age Branstad was when he ran for governor the first time in 1982.

Other Democrats who are either formally exploring or considering the governor’s race are closer to Branstad’s current age: former State Representative Bob Krause, State Senator Jack Hatch, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, and State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald. After the jump I’ve posted Fitzgerald’s recent comments about a possible run for governor and a letter to the editor from Krause, who objects to being ignored by the Des Moines Register.  

State Senator Rob Hogg confirmed via e-mail this week that he will not run for governor in 2014 (or for Congress, U.S. Senate, or Iowa Secretary of State, he added). Hogg is up for re-election next year in Iowa Senate district 33, covering part of Cedar Rapids. He has been touring Iowa over the past month to promote his new book, America’s Climate Century: What Climate Change Means for America in the 21st Century and What Americans Can Do about It. I haven’t finished my copy yet, but it is readable and surprisingly optimistic in its call to action.  

Excerpt from Rod Boshart’s June 5 report on the governor’s race:

Fitzgerald said he has “great respect” for Branstad and noted the GOP incumbent has never lost an election.

“But I have a different view point on state government than he has, and that’s what the campaign would be about,” the state treasurer said. […]

The state treasurer, who has been on the statewide general election ballot in Iowa eight times, said he has had “a number of folks ask me to look into it, so I’m taking some time to talk to family and friends and people who have supported me in the past.”

“I’ve been in front of Iowans for eight elections now, and they’ve trusted me with their money. They know I’ve taken care of it,” Fitzgerald said. “But I’ll readily admit that running for treasurer is a lot different than running for governor. But I’ve been all around the state for 30 years, and Democrats and Iowans in general, they know me.”

The state treasurer campaigns are far more low-key than a governor’s race would be. During his last re-election campaign in 2010, Fitzgerald didn’t start advertising on television and radio until late October.

Letter to the editor, June 12 Des Moines Register:

The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll measures the strength of Sen. Jack Hatch in a match-up with Terry Branstad. A measurement of my candidacy was not be included.

The Register has chosen to actively ignore my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor. This is in spite of my efforts to inform Iowans of both issues and concerns. When I first broke the issue of the controversial happenings at the Iowa Veterans Home, the Register chose to ignore it. When my guest editorial ran in the Register after the issue became visible, the note about my candidacy was deleted.

My rant here could be considered as “just another disgruntled candidate,” except for the fact that when Register politics columnist Kathie Obradovich was asked by WHO’s David Price on “Insiders” why she did not consider me a credible candidate, she said it was money and “It’s all about the money.”

Perhaps it is. But if Iowa’s news community says that and measures candidates on that, money is what it will be. But journalists also have an obligation to get answers on behalf of the public.

Otherwise, money wins because the assumption that “money wins” sets the standard for coverage of the Iowa governor’s race.

– Bob Krause, Des Moines