A special nominating convention to select the GOP candidate for Senate District 22 has been scheduled for November 8 at Republican Party of Iowa headquarters. Central committee members of Polk and Dallas County who live in the district will vote on the nominee. The candidate who is chosen will fill the void left when State Senator Pat Ward passed away on October 15 after a long battle with breast cancer.

The winner of the nominating convention will face Democrat Desmund Adams in a special election on December 11. Sources tell TheIowaRepublican that Pastor Jeff Mullen, who challenged Ward in the GOP primary, has decided not to run in the special election. A phone call to Mullen has not been returned.

GOP State central committee member and Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Vice-President Gopal Krishna has changed his mind and opted not to run for the seat.

There is a long list of GOP potential candidates who have expressed preliminary interest in running for the seat, according to inside sources. These have not been confirmed. They include:

Scott Cirksena, mayor of Clive
Terry Amman, Windsor Heights pastor
Greg Hudson, West Des Moines GOP activist
Isaiah McGee, former state central committee member, Waukee
Connie Schmett, longtime GOP activist, West Des Moines
Ted Weaver, Clive city councilman
Charles Schneider, West Des Moines city councilman
Mary Kramer, former state senator and U.S. ambassador