Jim Mowrer, the Democratic challenger to Representative Steve King in Iowa’s fourth Congressional district, is one of twelve candidates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers to be “emerging races” in 2014. According to the statement from the DCCC, enclosed below, this category “highlights candidates and districts that are making themselves competitive by running smart campaigns which are becoming increasingly competitive.” Mowrer’s campaign out-raised the six-term Republican incumbent in both the third quarter and the fourth quarter of 2013. He is running as a “common-sense” candidate more in touch with the values of Iowans than King, who gets bogged down in “reckless partisan politics.” Mowrer’s official comment on today’s news is after the jump.

Candidates in “emerging races” do not receive as much financial or logistical support from the DCCC as the top-tier “Red to Blue” candidates, but in past years a fair number of these races were bumped up to “Red to Blue” status during the general election period. IA-04 is an uphill climb for any Democrat, with 123,932 registered Democrats, 174,879 Republicans, and 174,235 no-party voters as of March 2014.

Speaking of King, he has long been one of the House Republicans progressives most “love to hate,” and he is commonly quoted in fundraising appeals by a wide range of Democratic Party committees and Democratic-aligned organizations. But he does have limits. I noticed last week that someone came up with an anti-gay bill that was too stupid and bigoted even for King to co-sponsor. Some idiot lobbyist claims five House Republicans and one senator are interested in co-sponsoring a bill to stop gay athletes from playing in the National Football League. King commented,

“I don’t support the idea that we advertise our sexuality, whatever it might be,” said King. “So, therefore I don’t support the idea of legislation addressing anyone’s unidentified, unadvertised sexuality.”

King presumably doesn’t have a problem with heterosexuals “advertising” their sexuality by appearing in public with their spouses.  

DCCC press release, March 3:

DCCC CHAIRMAN ISRAEL ANNOUNCES FIRST 35 DISTRICTS IN RED TO BLUE PROGRAM, HISTORIC HIGH FOR WOMEN

DCCC Chairman Steve Israel today announced the first round of candidates to qualify for the DCCC’s highly competitive Red to Blue program and emphasized that for the first time in committee history, women make up more than 60 percent of the list. These candidates have earned a spot on Red to Blue by surpassing aggressive fundraising, organization and infrastructure goals. These candidates also demonstrate they are problem solvers who will represent the American people’s priorities and strengthen the middle class.

In total, 35 districts are part of the initial list in the Red to Blue or Emerging Races programs. Of the 16 candidates selected for Red to Blue today, 10 are women.  Chairman Israel announced that three districts with multiple Democratic candidates have also qualified for Red to Blue. In addition, Chairman Israel announced 12 Emerging Races and four Emerging Districts, where campaigns are on track and working hard to put seats in play.

While Republicans continue to struggle to recruit diverse candidates, the Democratic caucus is made up of a majority of women, people of color and LGBT Americans.

“There’s no question – these candidates are on the side of average Americans, and they’ve shown throughout their careers that they’ll work together to help make the middle class more financially secure and solve our problems – the exact antidote to the flawed priorities of this broken Republican Congress,” Chairman Israel said. “These candidates earned their places in our battle-tested program because of their hard work and the competitive nature of their districts, and we will continue to work with them to build and execute winning campaigns.”

The following candidates were named to the Red to Blue program:

AR-02 – Patrick Henry Hays

CA-21 – Amanda Renteria

CO-06 – Andrew Romanoff

FL-02 – Gwen Graham

IA-03 – Staci Appel

IL-13 – Ann Callis

MI-01 – Jerry Cannon

MI-07 – Pam Byrnes

MT-AL – John Lewis

NM-02 – Roxanne Lara

NJ-03 – Aimee Belgard

NV-03 – Erin Bilbray

NY-04 – Kathleen Rice

NY-11 – Domenic Recchia

NY-23 – Martha Robertson

VA-10 – John Foust

The following races were named as Red to Blue districts:

CA-31

IA-01

ME-02

The following were named Emerging Races:

AR-01 – Jackie McPherson

AR-04 – James Lee Witt

CA-10 – Michael Eggman

CA-25 – Lee Rogers

IA-04 – Jim Mowrer

NJ-02 – Bill Hughes

NY-19 – Sean Eldridge

NY-21 – Aaron Woolf

OH-06 – Jennifer Garrison

OH-14 – Michael Wager

VA-02 – Suzanne Patrick

WV-02 – Nick Casey

The following races were named Emerging Districts:

MI-11

NC-02

PA-06

PA-08

About Red to Blue

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.

About Emerging Races

Emerging Races highlights candidates and districts that are making themselves competitive by running smart campaigns which are becoming increasingly competitive.

Statement from Jim Mowrer for Iowa:

Jim Mowrer (IA-4) Earns Spot in DCCC’s Competitive Red to Blue Program

Boone, IA – Jim Mowrer (IA-4) announced today that he has earned a spot in the first round of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) highly-competitive Red to Blue program as an Emerging Race. Mowrer has skillfully demonstrated the potential to put a competitive seat in play and is showing voters that he is a problem-solver who will strengthen the middle class.

“I am honored by the outpouring of support we’ve had in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, as thousands have joined our grassroots campaign to elect a representative that will always put the values of the district first over reckless partisan politics,” said Iraq War Veteran, former senior Pentagon Official and Iowa 4th district congressional candidate Jim Mowrer. “The early strength our campaign has demonstrated led us to earn a spot as an Emerging Race in the Red to Blue program, and it means we have the support, confidence, and momentum it takes to win in November, and bring commonsense solutions to Washington.”

“Jim Mowrer is showing he can put this race in play with his powerful commitment to public service, whether it’s his service in Iraq or his time working in the Pentagon to cut wasteful spending,” said DCCC Chairman Rep. Steve Israel.

About Red to Blue

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.

About Emerging Races

Emerging Races highlights candidates and districts that are making themselves competitive by running smart campaigns which are becoming increasingly competitive.