Empty positions on party primary ballot — Republican reticence means lost opportunity
Reviewing the Primary Candidate List for the entire state available at the Secretary of State website (link here) we have the following observations and comments:
As regards the Republican primary ballot we had thoughts that the dissatisfaction with Biden, the tiredness of Democrats and the arguable continued ascendency of Republicans, especially fueled by MAGA enthusiasms would have produced more Republican ballot contests and less empty spots for state legislative races even in Democrat strongholds (we have not evaluated county office seekers statewide).
We understand that office holders being thrown together and other factors due to recent redistricting, decide to look for other opportunities out of magnanimity, practicality or opportunism — that is part of the situation. But any empty ballot position is a lost opportunity.
Positions that are open on the primary ballot for the party can be filled for the general election by the party at special meetings or conventions held at the county level for that purpose. We encourage sincere informed conservatives to submit their names to the county party apparat very soon regarding open ballot positions in order to be the party’s candidate by convention and thereby be placed on the ballot for the general election.
We hope that no Democrat gets a free ride for the general election. Support from the party for such candidates ought to be budgeted for but even a minimalist race is of service. There could be something afoot and Republicans even in Democrat districts could be swept into office.
Winning is very difficult without ballot placement so that is the first crucial step for the still open positions after the primary. However difficult even at the primary stage we are encouraging write-ins for Tuesday’s primary as the primary race is the time to be choosey and send messages to the party.
My statewide candidate overview going into the primary
Both Repubs and Dems have primaries for the US Senate and that race and localized county races will probably be the main draws. I am supporting Jim Carlin a conservative State Senator in the primary race over Chuck Grassley for reasons readers may glean from previous posts but as was mentioned, this is a time to be choosey not nostalgic. There is little risk this go-around because of the weakness in the Democrat field and for superior positioning in the future. The Dems have three liberal goofballs running for their nomination with the supposed strongest candidate – Finkenauer- barely able to make the ballot. All can be hamstrung by the Democrat record and agenda if there is any competency in the Republican apparat.
Of the four Iowa congressional districts three have Republican incumbents and all are unopposed as far as ballot listings. The primary race for the 3rd CD to oppose the only Democrat incumbent Cindy Axne has three contenders for the Republican nomination. We hope to have more about that race latter as well.
We are encouraging a write-in effort in the Republican First District race as a challenge to Marionette Miller-Meeks. Kyle Kuehl is my pick . Kuehl is a good candidate in many ways and a conservative who regrettably had errors in his petition effort sufficient to deny him a ballot position — shades of Ginny Caligiuri four years ago and almost Dem Finkenauer this go-around. We intend to support Miller-Meeks should she prevail but her record regarding the 2020 election steal with her attitude fostering the real constitutional crisis we are in now does not deserve a free path to the nomination. The two other Republican incumbents were just as pathetic and a challenge to them from a conservative in the primary would be fine. Miller-Meeks has some particular aggravating factors. They impact Trump and his supporters, and include votes in Congress that are troublesome. Not enough time has expired to forget in spite of any back-pedaling. Send a message and write-in Kyle Kuehl for the First District.
As regards Grassley (and Miller-Meeks) and their touting (or implying) Trump support as they seek the Republican nomination, I say sad for Donald Trump for offering them anything. In Grassley’s case it may be a payback for his Trump embrace in 2016 but Grassley shafted Trump (and us) in 2021 with his phony constitutional crisis rhetoric over even delaying the electoral vote count. He should have listened to Cruz and Cotton, his constitutional betters, instead of Pense instead of rolling over for an election steal without even a double check and then whimpering over Jan. 6th. He further shafted us by his support for gargantuan devastating spending bills, the Senator from Big Ethanol and Big Wind should take his deserved huzzahs for all the good he has done and make way for a consistent conservative.
It should also be understood and internalized that the former president and rightful current president does not own the MAGA movement which is a clear offshoot of the Tea-Party movement which predates Trump’s ascendency. In 2010 at the dawn of that movement Trump was not saying anything substantive and had probably voted for Obama (he did support Romney in 2012). There are other reasons why Trump may no longer be the best or most astute representative of the MAGA cause. Overall he was a great president, one of the greatest, he is valuable to the cause, but neither Trump or Grassley or Miller-Meeks are invaluable now. Trump would be as old as Biden when Biden took office in 2020, in much better shape but it is another aspect of needing to defend an unnecessary situation. The cause has grown and is not dependent on Trump or Grassley. Thank God for the depth of field.
Governor Reynolds is unchallenged in her primary bid and we are content with that. Her likely Democrat opponent (the only one on their primary ballot) seems to be a sacrificial candidate.
The Secretary of State primary ballot has only incumbent Paul Pate on the Republican ballot. That is too bad given his performance regarding election integrity-– especially his fostering of so much fraud enabling absentee voting and encouraging of Zuckerberg money. The Dems have two candidates to choose from on their ballot. We encourage write-ins for the Republican position or just not voting it in the primary.
For the State Auditor position Republicans have two candidates on the ballot, Tod Halbur and Mary Ann Hanusa. They hope to oppose the presumed Democrat incumbent Rob Sand. Halbur may have more “numbers management” background, Hanusa has more name ID in Republican circles and has some oversight credentials as Chair of the House Government Oversight Committee when she was in the legislature. None of the candidates, Halbur, Hanusa or Sand are a CPA or have an accounting degree.
The State Treasure position is another of three statewide positions held by Democrats. Democrats use it to aid their liberal proclivities, shifting investments, promoting their liberal ESG causes, etc. Roby Smith is the only candidate on the Republican side. He declined to run in a redistricted state senate arena in spite of his name ID and did not want to move a few blocks to be in more familiar territory. But he would now like to move to Des Moines we guess. It gets in peoples blood or something. I am surprised (more like intrigued) that no one with credentials elsewhere in the state has opted to run for the nomination. Bankers and investment types are a dime a dozen, I suspect including in the legislature. The Democrat incumbent Fitzgerald is multi-term and for the life of me I can not figure out why he gets over 50% of the vote – because you can bet 50% of the voters do not know what the hell the position even entails. They have heard the name or seen it plastered on various licensures and I guess must think they are smart for recognizing a name sort of. The same phenomenon may exist with most of these races outside the gubernatorial. Incumbency carries unless an aggressive campaign is launched. Smith is a big meh but Fitzgerald needs to go and we want Republicans to prevail.
Secretary of Agriculture — Mike Naig the Republican incumbent is unopposed for the nomination. Democrats have fielded John Norwood a Boston native who only moved to Iowa in 2002 and who sports a very thin ag resume. Geez he lives in West Des Moines.
Attorney General — God help us, can this be the year that Tom Miller goes by the wayside. Think of all the partisan liberal lawfare this guy has engaged in — signing on to most every liberal blue-state lawsuit even against Iowa interests. Republicans can not have him defend their enactments in court and must retain other counsel. Brenna (Findley) Bird now working as a county attorney did very well against him some years ago and we hope she carries the day this time around.
Overview of the state legislative races
Of the 50 state senators there are 34 races on the ballot due to staggered terms. The Dems have not fielded candidates as yet in 8 of the senate districts. But Republicans have also not fielded a candidate in 8 districts. Conceding anything is not useful. The Dems have 5 contested state senate primaries and the Republicans have 6. As to the latter — may the consistent conservatives win.
As for the Iowa House all 100 districts are up for election. The Dems have not fielded candidates as yet in 32 primary positions (predominantly in the more conservative western part of the state). Republicans have not fielded candidates in 25 across the state, characteristicaly in the Democrat city enclaves. For the 100 primary elections the Dems have 8 contested races while the Republicans have 22.
Again, no Democrat should be given a free ride, just having a competent conservative throw their hat in the ring through the convention process can result in some victories — not because of any coattails but because of the throw the bums out sentiment directed at Democrats if Republicans run as such.
Some comments on primary races for state legislature positions on the ballot in Scott county in the next post . R Mall
