Republicans Rally Around Burgmeier in HD 90

Thursday, August 27, 2009, 4:15
Iowa, News Center, Top Story
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11 comments

stephen-burgmeier The special election in House District 90 between Republican candidate Stephen Burgmeier and Democrat Curt Hanson is now less than a week away. If Republicans are able to pick up the seat, they will gain a critical vote in the Iowa House that should help fend off a number of labor union bills that would devastate Iowa’s economy.

A win by Republicans in HD 90 would also create a tremendous amount of political momentum for House Republicans if they are able to capture the seat. On the Democratic side, a victory will allow them to claim that the anti-Culver sentiment that Republicans have been talking about for most of the year doesn’t really exist despite all of the recent polls that show that, for the first time in decades, Iowans would rather vote for a Republican candidate than a Democrat for governor.

House District 90 has been the sole focus for Republicans and Democrats since State Representative John Whitaker, a Democrat from Hillsboro, announced his resignation after being appointed to serve as the executive state director of the Farm Service Agency by the Obama administration.

House District 90 is located in southeast Iowa and includes all of Van Buren County and parts of Wapello and Jefferson counties. The district leans Democrat but is winnable for a Republican. Stephen Burgmeier, a three-time elected county supervisor from Jefferson County, is a great fit for the district, and his financial disclosure with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) shows that many Iowans and issues groups think that Burgmeier would be a good addition to the Iowa House.

To date, Burgmeier has raised $63,101.34 and spent $40,433.33. In addition the campaign funds Burgmeier has been able to raise, he has also received in-kind contributions of $56,286.61. The National Organization of Marriage (NOM) has also recently disclosed with IECDB that they are spending $86,080.00 advocating for Burgmeier’s election.

Burgmeier’s largest donors are:

Republican Party of Iowa – $15,000.00
Iowans for Tax Relief – $10,000.00
The Hawkeye PAC (Sen. Grassley’s PAC) – $10,000.00
Iowa Association of Business and Industry – $5000.00
Americans for a Republican Majority (Congressman Latham’s PAC) – $3000.00
Iowa Family PAC (Iowa Family Policy Center) – $2500.00
Master Builders of Iowa – $2500.00

Burgmeier’s report also shows that he held a local fundraiser which was very successful. That is a good sign that we have a good candidate who the local community supports. With the compressed calendar of a special election, some candidates might have forgone a local fundraiser, but it’s important to get local people invested in the campaign.

The most surprising development out of the Burgmeier race thus far has been the level at which the National Organization of Marriage has played. Having an outside group spend $86,080.00 in a state house race is very rare but especially so in a rural district. While many people wonder if marriage will be a major issue in the 2010 elections, if organizations like NOM are engaged in Iowa campaigns like they are in this special election, our candidates will not be able to ignore the issue.

The National Organization of Marriage’s support of Burgmeier is also interesting because the Democrat candidate, Curt Hanson, claims to support a constitutional amendment. Hanson also claims to support lower taxes and balanced budgets, but it looks like Republican-leaning organizations are finished looking at what candidates say on the campaign trail and instead are looking at the make-up of the legislative chambers. Curt Hanson is going to vote for Democratic leadership that refuses to let Iowans or even legislators vote on the issue. Good for NOM for seeing through the charade and supporting Burgmeier, who has been consistent on the issue since the Iowa Supreme Court issued its ruling.

While the effort to elect Burgmeier seems to be running on all cylinders, we need to make sure he crosses the finish line and Republicans pick up another seat in the Iowa House. Please do whatever you can to help add another conservative voice to the Iowa House.

Please contact one of the following people and tell them how you can help elect Stephen Burgmeier to the Iowa House.

Katie Koberg, katiekoberg@gmail.com, 515-971-4571
Mary Earnhardt, mkearnhardt@gmail.com, 515-778-5229
Mark Doland, luviowa10@aol.com, 641-295-0135

Tags: HD 90, Stephen Burgmeier

About the Author

Craig Robinson has written 700 stories on this site.

Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.

11 Comments on “Republicans Rally Around Burgmeier in HD 90”

Timmy wrote on 27 August, 2009, 5:12
If nothing else, he looks like somebody who can kick your ass! Maybe the GOP would be better served if they all had more of that attitude.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 27 August, 2009, 6:20
It is extremely telling that the Dim candidate is running on Republican principles of lower taxes, reduced spending a job creation. Don’t be fooled. These are the same tactics that Congressional Democrats used to gain a larger margin in the US House.

Once elected, they voted for Pelosi for speaker and vote with Pelosi and Obama and Reid.
If the Dim wins, he will also be voting with Murphy and Culver for larger debt, more government regulation and more job loss.
Madison wrote on 27 August, 2009, 7:46
Isn’t Tom Latham’s group known For America’s Republican Majority (FARM) pac? Maybe I am wrong.
Chris Kaska wrote on 27 August, 2009, 13:23
Finally – A politician IOWA can trust – HD 90 VOTE FOR STEVE BURGMEIER!!
2501 Grand wrote on 27 August, 2009, 13:38
How many voters will vote in this special? Anyone have thoughts about that?
HawkCR1 wrote on 27 August, 2009, 14:35
Registered Voters..

Dem–7189
Rep–6419
NP–7997

2008 Election
John Whitaker (D)–10694
Dan Cesar (“4th of July Party)–1626

For a special election..I would be shocked if you had more than 7-8000 votes total cast in the District..
niowaguy wrote on 27 August, 2009, 20:52
The thing I think is wrong in this local state representative election is all the out-of-state groups coming in trying to run the show. (From either side.) I think it distracts from the real issues and the real candidates. From all I can tell right now is Burgmeier is nothing more than an anti-gay marriage zealot according to all the commercials I hear from NOM. (To be honest, the radio spot sounds like the death bell is tolling at the end.) I should not be hearing any commercials on a state-wide powerhouse radio station for a local state representative special election. These national groups are just pushing their special interest agenda and could care less who Steve Burgmeier really is or if he will do a good job for the people of District 90. Sad … very sad.
Justin B wrote on 27 August, 2009, 21:02
niowaguy- HEAR HEAR!
Timmy wrote on 27 August, 2009, 22:00
niowaguy, Justin: Outside agitators, regardless of affiliation probably won’t be well recieved in that district. Plain old fashoined grass-roots politicking is going to be what resonates best with these voters. From what I hear Burgmeier is well liked and respected there, that’ll have way more influence than all the outsiders playing up their agendas.
HawkCR1 wrote on 28 August, 2009, 6:24
Justin, niowaguy…

First off..Bergmeier has no control over what NOM does. NOM obviously supports Bergmeier’s record of defending traditional marriage..and they’re using this special election as the first place they’re coming to get a toehold in their efforts in Iowa over the next year.

There are other factors that play well for Bergmeier

1. He’s a three time elected County Supervisor..meaning he’s got name recognition
2. HD 90 even thought it was represented by a Democrat, is a conservative district.. Republican candidates did VERY well there in the 2008 elections.
3. Chet Culver isnt exactly the most popular individual in these parts….
niowaguy wrote on 28 August, 2009, 16:12
Hawkcr1,

I never said Mr. Burgmeier had control over NOM. I simply stated it is a sad fact that out of state special interests & money come in and drown out all the other facts in the race. Although Mr. Burgmeier could request of NOM to stop running the ads, he hasn’t – that too is his choice.

Overall I hope NOM invests as much into real things to support marriage such as counseling, etc. that truely will support traditional mariages as the do on radio ads of a local Iowa election. I doubt that is true but one can hope.

Simply it is sad how we prioritize to spend our money.