Kathie Obradovich reported in today’s Des Moines Register that former Governor Chet Culver is considering a run for Congress in either Iowa’s first or third district:
“Well, you know, we do have family roots in Cedar Rapids and McGregor, and I spent a lot of time as a kid in northeast Iowa,” Culver said in an interview. His father, former U.S. Sen. John Culver, grew up in Cedar Rapids and was elected to Congress from there in 1964.
In addition to family history, Culver also pointed to a more recent connection he has with the 1st District: His work as governor toward recovering from the 2008 floods. His jobs and infrastructure program, I-JOBS, put nearly $500 million into flood recovery, he said.
“I feel really good about helping communities like Cedar Rapids get back on their feet, and I think if you talk to most people over there, they will acknowledge the fact that without our administration stepping up, recovery would have been even more difficult,” Culver said.
Culver says he hasn’t made any “final decision” on running in 2016 or potentially even waiting until 2018. If he decides to move forward, he said, he expects the next step would be an exploratory committee.
The Des Moines rumor mill has long considered Culver a possible candidate for the U.S. House or Senate someday. Although it never occurred to me that he might run in IA-01, the idea has some logic. The I-JOBS infrastructure bonding program was great for Iowa generally but especially for the Cedar Rapids area. Democrats have a voter registration advantage in the first district but are slightly outnumbered by Republicans in the third district. Of the two newly-elected Iowans in the U.S. House, Rod Blum looks like a weaker incumbent. David Young has more experience in Congress and close ties to Senator Chuck Grassley, who will be at the top of the ballot in 2016.
More than a dozen prominent Iowa Democrats have already endorsed Cedar Rapids City Council member Monica Vernon for Congress in 2016. Gary Kroeger may enter the IA-01 Democratic primary as well.
What do you think, Bleeding Heartland readers? Is there an opening for Culver in either Congressional district?
15 Comments
meh
do other states have such a weird thing with candidates moving among districts?
Boswell
Latham (twice!)
C. Vilsack
Gibbons
We have at-large representatives, too. They’re called Senators.
I hate it regardless of party.
amcsepboe Thu 22 Jan 3:26 PM
at least one more
I agree completely with the concern over this. It’s a terrible insult to residents of a Congressional district and more proof of a sense of entitlement these people have. You can add Dave Loebsack to the list. He “moved” from Mt. Vernon to Iowa City when Linn County was put into Braley’s district.
ontheright Fri 23 Jan 7:33 AM
it's fair game
to move into another district. Let the voters decide whether someone has enough of a connection to represent those constituents effectively. I have no problem with Latham or Boswell or Loebsack or anyone else moving into another district. I don’t think they should necessarily get a free pass in the primary, though.
desmoinesdem Fri 23 Jan 9:15 AM
I get what you're saying...
but that ignores the fact those moving have been either sitting Congressmen or significant names, giving them a big advantage over the district’s own candidates. I think it worked against Gibbons some (although I don’t think it was the ultimate downfall for him).
I’m not advocating for a ban or anything (not even sure what options there would be), but I would never vote for someone who wasn’t actually from that district.
amcsepboe Fri 23 Jan 3:58 PM
don't forget
Dick Cheney “moved” from Texas to Wyoming so he could be nominated for vice president. Scott Brown moved to New Hampshire to run for U.S. Senate. I think Bobby Kennedy was called a carpet-bagger when he ran for Senate from New York, ditto for Hillary Clinton. I don’t consider any of this an “insult.” Let the voters decide.
desmoinesdem Fri 23 Jan 9:17 AM
HAR!
Don’t forget the national entertainment of Liz Cheney’s Wyoming fishing license!!!!!
conservative-demo Fri 23 Jan 11:10 AM
Carpetbagging
I don’t care for carpetbagging if people don’t take the time to learn about the local industries and don’t show genuine compassion for a community when they are devastated by tragedy, some Governors that don’t make it out of the State Capitol enough can have a hard time relating to the smaller communities with one or two industries in it, you get a sense for this when they struggle pronouncing things or misnaming local landmarks. You have to study what people want, study human behavior and show some genuine empathy for people that struggle every day.
I’m personally uncomfortable with Oskaloosa being in the 2nd District of Iowa. I never hear of anyone saying I’m off to Oskaloosa to do my shopping or go to an event, but that is how the map shook out and how population has shifted here in Iowa. Districts should have some sort of connection to each other, so people can truly relate to each other and what is going on in a community.
There are members of Congress that get cities added to their district that they are simply a bad fit for, but usually the district is so gerrymandered the voters in that community get washed out by larger interests.
moderateiadem Fri 23 Jan 3:59 PM
Oh get over it
No text.
conservative-demo Fri 23 Jan 11:09 AM
Home is where I am
Our way of life today is very mobile. You folk wouldn’t blink an eye at you or someone in your family moving within a job or moving for a new job.
It’s the modern way of life.
conservative-demo Fri 23 Jan 11:05 AM
Culver/IA-3
Sure there’s room for Chet to run and probably be competitive and win in the third. He realizes (as mostly everyone does) that IA-1 is much easier to win a general election.
If he and Matt McCoy were to run in the third, then you would probably see a female candidate fill the gap, but I think Matt has helped pass enough progressive legislation to beat people in a primary and still weave around enough not to scare the business/farming community. I don’t think Chet will run against Matt though, so my speculation is irrelevant.
moderateiadem Thu 22 Jan 8:38 PM
female
Staci is supposedly interested in making another run. IMHO she’s had her shot. Any other female names out there for 3rd District 2016 Dems? Not Andy, of course. Janet Peterson? Or, discuss amongst yourselves, has McCoy already been blessed by the poobahs and there will be no primary….again….
rockm Fri 23 Jan 4:24 PM
I don't think
Janet Petersen wants to run for Congress. I think she will run for governor in 2018.
I hope there will be a primary in IA-03, even if McCoy goes in as the front-runner.
desmoinesdem Thu 29 Jan 9:11 AM
base in the 1st?
Last primary was such a battle between the geographic areas – Waterloo/CF, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids being split up. If this happens again I don’t see him winning.
natewithglasses Fri 23 Jan 10:35 AM
McCoy/Primary
A high powered business executive on the outskirts of the political scene or even a council member from a large enough community could be that female.
I do think the players lurking around the chess board are waiting for Matt McCoy, I’m all for primaries and an exchange of ideas. Matt wouldn’t lose the race due to a lack of money IMO, so he could handle a primary.
moderateiadem Sat 24 Jan 5:34 AM
base in the 1st?
Last primary was such a battle between the geographic areas – Waterloo/CF, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids being split up. If this happens again I don’t see him winning.
natewithglasses Fri 23 Jan 10:35 AM