Republican Secretary of State Primary Looms
- Friday, November 13, 2009, 4:07
- Iowa, News Center, Top Story
- 1,380 views
- 12 comments
Up and down the ballot, Republicans have favorable matchups in next fall’s general elections. The top of Republican ballot will feature U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and a gubernatorial candidate who will emerge from a hard fought primary to face the unpopular and weak incumbent governor, Chet Culver.
While the gubernatorial primary captures the most attention across the state, Republicans will have healthy primaries in a number of races. Three-way primaries are likely in Iowa’s first and second congressional districts. Another race which could have a three candidate primary is the Republican primary for Secretary of State.
Currently two candidates have been traveling to events around the state. Council Bluffs City Councilman Matt Schultz announced his candidacy a couple of weeks ago, and former State Representative George Eichhorn is set to formally announce his candidacy later today. Both Eichhorn and Schultz were at the Republican Party of Iowa event this past Saturday and Tuesday night’s Scott County Ronald Reagan Dinner.
There is also another candidate who could potentially emerge and have a significant impact on the race. Rumors abound that Former Secretary of State Paul Pate has been encouraged by some influential Republicans to run for his old post. Pate, a former state senator and Mayor of Cedar Rapids, would be a formidable candidate since he has already held the position and has a strong base of support in Iowa’s second largest city.
Matt Schultz, an attorney from Council Bluffs, has launched a campaign website, www.VoteMattSchultz.com and has also secured the fundraising services of Adrianne Branstad. Schultz is young, aggressive, and very good at retail politics. Schultz, says that the speculation surrounding a potential Paul Pate candidacy will not affect his campaign.
Schultz told TheIowaRepublican.com, “I have heard rumors about George and Paul, and I welcome them and anyone else who is interested in running for Secretary of State. I have always enjoyed the role of being the underdog, and I have never backed down from a good contest. In the Old Testament, David slew a lion and a bear before he killed Goliath. We have put together a great team of advisors and volunteers, and if I have to fight a lion or a bear before I take on Goliath, I am ready.”
Former State Representative George Eichhorn told TheIowaRepublican.com that he is planning on announcing his candidacy today. Eichhorn is a former State Representative who ran in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate against Christopher Reed and Steve Rathje in 2008. Eichhorn’s campaign for Secretary of State is born from his narrow loss to Reed in the primary.
At the Scott County Republican dinner on Tuesday night, Eichhorn told the crowd that the current Secretary of State was asleep at the wheel. Eichhorn told the story of when the initial election results came in, and they showed him with a 700 vote margin over Reed. Then, all of a sudden, those votes vanished. Eichhorn said that when he asked Secretary Mauro what happened, “He gave me that dog ate my homework look.”
Many consider the office of Secretary of State to be the best office to use a step to higher office. Governor Chet Culver used the office successfully for that purpose. However, for Republicans, control of that office is critical with the emergence of groups like ACORN and recent changes in the law which allows for same day votier registration.
With Republicans eager to control the office once again, it should come as no surprise that some Republicans have urged Pate to seek the office. Pate would be a formidable candidate. In an election year in which Republicans seem to be looking for competent candidates, running a candidate who has actually successfully done the job makes sense.
Politically speaking, Pate would have the strongest base of support of any candidate. Having served as the Mayor of Cedar Rapids and the President of the Iowa League of Cities, Pate is the most well known of all the candidates. Pate’s Linn county advantage might be difficult to overcome. If he does run and wins Linn County by a large margin, the other candidates might not be able to offset that lead in other counties.
In addition to a geographical advantage, Pate has a number of fundraising connections around the state. Pate’s fundraising base would undoubtedly be centered in Linn County, but his name ID and credibility as a candidate would also allow him to raise money outside of his home community.
The three-way primary for Secretary of State is just another indication of the excitement that Republicans are currently experiencing. In previous years, Republicans found it difficult to recruit one candidate for a particular race, let alone three.
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.
12 Comments on “Republican Secretary of State Primary Looms”
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“In an election year in which Republicans seem to be looking for competent candidates”
I’m just looking for a candidate who is not tied to the Iowa christian alliance and their on going scandals and who understands the dire fiscal emergency we face.
Pate would be the obvious choice here. Not to say anything bad about the other two, but they just don’t bring the same experience, name ID, $ ability or are proven statewide winners like he is.
Grassley, Branstad, Vaudt, Northey, Pate and if we could just get Whittaker or Larson to run for Attorney General we’d have the strongest statewide ticket EVER. Giggidy giggidy goooooo!
Hey where did Eichorn’s picture go on this story? Is it over at Whispers Saloon? Giggidy giggidy goooooo!
this looks like three good candidates.
My only hope is that they keep their eye on the prize and don’t devolve into a pissing contest like most (R) primaries do. These pissing contests drive more people away that policies… IMO.
Carolyn: I agree but we have so many narrow-minded, self-righteous zealots that say that unless THEIR candidate is the nominee, they’re going to take their ball and go home. To heck with defeating Democrats. They get more enjoyment out of defeating Republicans. After all, THEY have principles and THEIR principles are more pure than defeating Dimocrats.
Lobo, I wouldn’t be as nearly concerned with ICA as I would IFPC. Those folks are clearly trying to turn the GOP into God’s Own Party!
Timmy,
I’ve never heard it said that way before. However, I have heard it said God’s Official Party.
I think Eichorn doesnt get in and the nice young guy from Sioux City bows out once his “advisors” give him the talk. What say you Peter Griffin? Better yet, what say Lois Griffin? Giggidy giggidy goooooo!
Hey Quag, I think you mean Council Bluffs. I never read anything about Sioux City. Obviously you’ve come to a conclusion regarding these 3 candidates already and you don’t know anything about the the other two (Eichhorn and Schultz). Your mention of Sioux City proves it. Clearly you care more about name recognition than the issues. In my opinion, all three stay in the race.
Ok the ever important to statewide elections Council Bluffs. I know Eichorn got voted out of the legislature then ran for U.S. senate with the endorsement of nearly ever legislator and still lost to a complete unknown candidate who spent all of his money on clothes for himself. Eichorn is also running per his own explanation to us in Scott County that hes just really pissed off at Mike Mauro because he didnt get him a quick enough response on exacly how many votes he lost to a complete unkown candidate by. Not exactly a winning theme. Eichorn candidacy= Confimed to be DOA. The other guy I admit I do not know other than what I was told that he was Mormon and a Romney guy. Maybe a confirmation on that from Peter Griffin? I still give Eichorn enough credit to know he can’t beat a former Secretary of State and Mayor of Cedar Rapids who has never lost a general election that I know of. So to sum up: Eichorn=DOA, Schlitz=who?, Pate=best chance for a GOP pick up. And you call yourself TheThinker. Giggidy giggidy goooooo!
And Thinker, “experience, name ID, $ ability or are proven statewide winners like he is.” is what I said. That doesnt sound like I only care about name ID instead of issues. I’m fairly sure the former Secretary of State has a greater grasp on the issues pertaining to the office he once actually held than the other guys. Giggidy giggidy goooooo!
Pate’s got a proven track record already….Every election that he’s faced a Democrat in..he’s won handily.
Plus..Pate ran the SoS’s office the way it SHOULD be ran…not only conducting elections..but serving as an ambassador for our state to business and industry.
Mauro doesn’t know the first thing about generating economic development or marketing our state to people outside Iowa….Pate’s been there, done that..and with our state economy hurting the way it is right now…we need someone like Pate in there.