McKinley Withdraws from Gubernatorial Campaign

McKinley Withdraws From Gubernatorial Race, Remains Focused on Winning Back Iowa Senate Majority
2010 elections provide tremendous opportunities for Republicans up and down the ballot

Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) today announced he is withdrawing his candidacy to be the next governor of Iowa and will continue to devote his complete focus and attention on winning back a Republican majority in the Iowa Senate.

“The actions taken by the Culver administration and the Democrats in the Legislature during the last three years have made it abundantly clear that Iowa needs new leadership and a new direction,” said McKinley. “I am confident that next November, Iowans will elect a Republican governor and add many more Republicans to the Legislature. With Republicans leading the way in Iowa, our state will finally get serious about curbing our out-of-control spending and higher taxes brought forth by Governor Culver and legislative Democrats, we will finally get serious about making it easier to create good jobs and we will give our citizens a greater voice in their own government.”

McKinley has spent the past several months traveling the state talking with Iowans, raising money to elect more Republicans to the Senate and recruiting highly competitive candidates who will propel the Senate Republicans back into the Majority. There are 19 Democrat held seats up and only 6 Republican seats in 2010 and many outstanding business, community and elected leaders have already stepped forward to announce their campaigns with several others coming in the future.

“As I’ve traveled extensively to all corners of this state in the past few months and visited with taxpayers, business owners and community leaders, I am confident that we are witnessing a real political sea change in Iowa. Senate Republicans will continue to play a major role in renewing Iowa and getting our state back on the right track,”said McKinley. “Every Democrat on the ballot next year should be worried because Iowans have grown angry and frustrated with the unacceptable direction offered by this governor and Democrats in the Legislature.”