For months, there has been speculation that former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate is considering a run for Secretary of State. Pate is uniquely qualified for the office given that he served the state in that capacity from 1995 to 1999. A Pate/Mauro matchup would give Iowa Republicans good odds of winning the office since Secretary of State Mauro has done little to become known across the state during his first term.

Propelling Pate’s likely run is a poll conducted late last year by Henderson & Associates which shows Pate’s strength in a head-to-head matchup with Mauro. When poll respondents were asked who they would vote for in the Secretary of State race if the election was between the two, 34.6% supported Pate, while 31.1% opted to re-elect Secretary of State Mauro.

Another question asked of respondents whether Mauro deserves to be re-elected. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said that a new person should be given a chance to lead that office, while only 17.5 percent said that Mauro should be re-elected.

In response to the polling results, Pate said, “I’m pleased and humbled with the findings in this poll. As I weigh my options and contemplate a run for the office of Iowa Secretary of State, it’s the views of family, friends and Iowans across the state that will help me make the right decision.”

The polling results explain why Pate is seriously exploring a run for state-wide office again. When asked by TheIowaRepublican.com last month when he plans to officially enter the race, Pate said, “It’s a process, and it is important not to skip certain phases of the process when starting to put together a campaign.” Pate admitted that he has been doing his homework and reaching out to past supporters of his previous political endeavors across the state. “It’s important to get a sense of the issues and talk to people who can offer suggestions and insight to the problems facing our state,” Pate added.

In addition to favorable poll matchup between himself and Mauro, Pate brings a number of advantages with him to a state-wide campaign. Not only has he held statewide office before, he has also served two terms as the mayor of Iowa’s second largest city, Cedar Rapids, and served two terms in the State Senate. Pate’s name ID in the Cedar Rapids media market makes him a formidable state-wide candidate, and so does his fundraising ability.

One of the most difficult tasks that candidates for statewide constitutional offices have is raising money. Political donors in the state are hounded by congressional and gubernatorial candidates, which means that most of the financial resources will be given to candidates for those races. Pate already has a statewide donor file, and his polling data will also help make the case that a contribution to his campaign is a smart investment for Republican donors.

Having Pate on the ballot next fall could also help Iowa Republicans be more competitive in eastern Iowa. The political environment already looks good for Republicans next fall, and having Senator Grassley on the top of the ticket in a non-presidential year should also help. Yet, Republicans have struggled in eastern Iowa recently. Having a well-known former mayor on the ballot would obviously benefit all of the Republican statewide candidates.

Before Pate can be on the general election ballot next fall, he will first have to win a primary against Council Bluffs City Councilman Matt Schultz and former State Representative George Eichhorn. The potential three-way primary for Secretary of State is just another indication of the excitement that Republicans are currently experiencing. In previous years, Republicans sometimes found it difficult to recruit one candidate for a particular race, let alone three.

And if the election for Secretary of State were held today and you had to choose one or the other, would you cast a vote for Michael Mauro the Democrat or Paul Pate the Republican?

Definitely Mauro………………………………………………………..86 14.3%
Probably Mauro………………………………………………………..101 16.8%
TOTAL MAURO…………………………………………………………187 31.1%

Definitely Pate…………………………………………………………..89 14.8%
Probably Pate…………………………………………………………..119 19.8%
TOTAL PATE…………………………………………………………….208 34.6%

Undecided……………………………………………………………….198 33.0%
Refused………………………………………………………………………7 1.2%

Michael Mauro is a democrat who works closely with Governor Culver as Secretary of State. Do you think Mauro has done a good enough job to deserve re-election or do you think it’s time to give a new person a chance?

Re-elect……………………………………………………………………105 17.5%
New Person………………………………………………………………..174 29.0%
Unsure……………………………………………………………………..313 52.2%
Refused………………………………………………………………………8 1.3%

Have you heard of Paul Pate?

Heard of, Favorable………………………………………………………..50 8.3%
Heard of, Unfavorable……………………………………………………..23 3.8%
Heard of, no opinion………………………………………………………119 19.8%
Never heard of …………………………………………………………407 67.8%
Refused………………………………………………………………………1 0.2%

Have you heard of Michael Mauro?

Heard of, Favorable…………………………………………………………34 5.7%
Heard of, Unfavorable………………………………………………………23 3.8%
Heard of, no opinion………………………………………………………..85 14.2%
Never heard of …………………………………………………………458 76.3%
Refused………………………………………………………………………0 0