Congressional Candidates Face an Up Hill Battle
- Monday, July 19, 2010, 3:14
- Iowa, News Center, Top Story
- 1,359 views
- 15 comments
The current political environment may be the most favorable that Iowa Republicans have ever experienced. The last time Republicans had a favorable environment like this was in 1994. That year, they re-elected Governor Terry Branstad after a bitter primary with 57% of the vote, won 63 seats in the Iowa House, and elected two new members of congress – Dr. Greg Ganske and Tom Latham.
Once again, Iowa Republicans are in position to elect Terry Branstad and capture the majority in the Iowa House. The most difficult item on their to-do list will be picking up one or more congressional seats this fall.
Despite the good environment for Republicans, picking up congressional seats will be a difficult task. Part of the reason for that is the fundraising advantage that the incumbents have over their challengers.
Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) last week show that Iowa’s Congressional incumbents raised $580,000 compared to the $356,000 raised by their opponents. Further illustrating the up-hill battle that the challengers have is that the five challengers combined have $350,000 cash-on-hand compared to the almost $3 million that the incumbents have banked during the election cycle.
The good news for Iowa Republicans is that their three challengers have a reasonable chance of knocking off their Democratic opponents despite the fundraising disadvantage. The Democrats, on the other hand, have only recruited token opposition for Tom Latham and Steve King.
Most Republicans believe that Brad Zaun represents the best chance of knocking off a Democrat incumbent this fall. There are good reasons for that mindset as Zaun is an institution in Polk County, and he won a seven way primary by a convincing margin. Zaun also raised the most money of any congressional challenger, having raised over $119,000 in the first reporting period after the primary.
While Zaun took a significant step forward in the fundraising department, his victory in the seven way primary didn’t come without a price. Zaun has to contend with almost $50,000 in campaign debts and obligations from his primary campaign. That means Zaun’s actual cash-on-hand is really half of the $100,000 he reported to the FEC. Meanwhile, Congressman Boswell has nearly $740,000 cash-on-hand and Bill Clinton is coming in to do a fundraiser, which should net his campaign an influx of personal contributions.
In Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks raised $66,000 and reported over $100,000 cash-on-hand during the period. While Miller-Meeks’ fundraising numbers look like they are on par with the other Republican candidates, she loaned her campaign $120,000. Without this loan to the campaign, Miller-Meek’s would have appeared to be broke.
Like Zaun, Miller-Meeks had an impressive victory in a hotly contested primary defeating three opponents. Miller-Meeks is better known than she was during her last campaign, and she also won’t have to contend with the worst natural disaster in the state’s history. That, combined with the fact that Barack Obama will not be driving turnout, should give her a better chance of ousting Congressman Loebsack in November.
Surprisingly the candidate best positioned heading into this fall’s general election is Ben Lange, who is running against Congressman Bruce Braley in Iowa’s 1st District. Lange raised $108,000 and has $110,000 cash-on-hand. He has no debt heading into the general election. Lange actually out-raised Braley in the period, but Braley, who has $623,000 cash-on-hand, has a six to one money advantage over him.
Lange’s newfound fundraising ability is a great development for Iowa Republicans. With three separate urban areas, the 1st District is one of the best areas of the state in which to fundraise. While it can be tough for a Republican to win in a presidential year, the district has been a Republican stronghold for years.
There are a number of factors that point to Lange making this a competitive race with Braley. First, Chuck Grassley is on the ballot this year, and he lives in the district. Second, Terry Branstad has always run strong in eastern Iowa, just like he did in the June primary. If Grassley and Branstad provide any coattails this fall, Lange could very well be the biggest benefactor.
Republicans should feel optimistic about all of their congressional challengers, but the one who has flown under the radar thus far may be the one to keep your eye on. If Lange can continue to run a thrifty campaign and raise enough money to increase his name ID across the district, he may have a shot on November 2nd.
Donate to Brad Zaun’s Campaing by Clicking Here.
Donate to Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ Campaign by Clicking Here
Donate to Ben Lange’s Campaign by Clicking Here
Zaun Photo by Dave Davidson
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.
15 Comments on “Congressional Candidates Face an Up Hill Battle”
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I know Zaun has some good poll numbers in the 3rd district, but has anyone released polling numbers for the 1st or 2d districts? I always thought MMM had a chance against Loebsack, but if Lange has a shot at Braley that would be huge.
I’d be worried if the term “broke” was in the same sentence as my campaign. And I would know.
“That year, they re-elected Governor Terry Branstad after a bitter primary with 57% of the vote, won 63 seats in the Iowa House, and elected two new members of congress – Dr. Greg Ganske and Tom Latham.”
Well . . . at least the “Republican’s” got one out of three right . . . Latham is a conservative, albeit not a particularly outspoken one.
Glen–if you’re referring to Miller-Meeks..you have little to be concerned about… Her campaign raised over 300,000 during the last reporting cycle..and now that the primary is out of the way..her campaign is aggressively fundraising. Unfortunately, in 2008, the 2nd CD was hit with the floods..and it was near impossible to conduct large scale fundraising.
Loebsack has never been known for being a prolific fund-raiser from private donations….he relies on PAC’s and special interests to keep his campaign afloat. Miller-Meeks on the other hand has a sizable donor list and after decisively winning the primary in the fashion she did, big money donors sit up and start to take notice.
CVN 76: I too want to win in November just as much as you, but being disingenuous is not the way to do it. Why not tell the people exactly what the facts are and how badly you need them to step to plate and help out. They already know (by way of print media) how dismal the Miller-Meeks fundraising endeavors are, so why lie? The author of this article was ‘spot on’ when he used the word ‘BROKE’, because if it hadn’t been for the money she loaned her campaign, she most definitely would have been. The details below reflect what actually took place during the latest Miller-Meeks FEC reporting period. The dollar amounts and dates were taken directly from the FEC report of which you can view for yourself at; http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/efile_search.shtml. The total contributions from ‘people’ in May and prior to 6-8 were $14,075.00. The total in-kind contributions in May and prior to 6-8 were $5,661.76. The total contributions from people 6-9 to 6-30 were $19,085.35. The total in-kind contributions 6-9 to 6-30 were $3,324.24. The total PAC contributions in May and prior to 6-8 were $5,000.00. The total PAC contributions 6-9 to 6-30 were $7,500.00. The total Loans to campaign in prior to 6-8 were $50,000.00. The total Loans to campaign from 6-9 to 6-30 were $74,070.76 and the total Loans to campaign to date are $152,425.82. Tell me, where does integrity fall into play here? ‘If Miller-Meeks is willing to lie to us now, what will she do once elected?’
Hawkindc…
Really? Cutting and pasting the same post you wrote over on another thread? Are you really that unoriginal?
I’ll say it to you again..if you have EVIDENCE that Miller-Meeks is “lying” about her campaign finance reports…then put it out there.
CVN 76: If what you want to say doesn’t change than why re-write it? So…I’ll ask the same question here that I did on the other thread as well. I’m sure everyone would like an answer to it. Is this statement the truth? ‘Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks announced that she has ‘raised’ over $318,000 for the cycle.’ If so, since when do loans count as money raised? Since when do ‘contributions in kind’ count as money raised. Embellishing the story with the ‘grand total’ of ‘all’ categories on an FEC report just to make it more appealing is disingenuous to say the least and bordering on an outright lie. Why not just tell the people the same story that the FEC report depicts instead of forcing people to find out on their own. You can call it whatever you like, but now we all know the real story. Just tell the truth! That’s all we ask as ‘would be’ constituents.
hawkindc:
You are one smart cookie! By any chance are you originally from the Perry metropolitan area?
Hawkindc…
As much as you would like people to believe your wild accusations…they are exactly like ones that a certain failed candidate made about other candidates in the 2nd CD primary race..accusations that were COMPLETELY FALSE.
You have accused Miller-Meeks of LYING about her campaign finance reports. That’s a serious accusation, there Hawkindc… So… BACK IT UP. Let’s see some evidence of fabrication of her campaign finance reports.
Oh thats right..you can’t because you’re making it all up in a sad, pathetic attempt to be relevant again. Isn’t losing an election in such a decisive manner enough of a lesson for you?
CVN 76: Look sir or ma’am, I’ve made no inflammatory remarks toward you or anyone else. I’m simply asking if this statement is true. ‘Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks announced that she has ‘raised’ over $318,000 for the cycle.’ If it’s true, please explain the loans and contributions-in-kind as being a component of the $318K ‘raised.’ If it’s not, why was it written as to make everyone believe that she had indeed raised it?
This woman wants to represent us in Washington D.C. I would think she and her campaign would be more than willing to provide an answer instead insulting those asking the questions. So, why won’t you answer, further more why do you insist on answering it with other questions, innuendo’s and insults. Again, I’ve made no attempt to insult or besmirch you or anyone else. The question I ask is legitimate and all ‘we’ want is an answer, plain and simple!
You’re made no inflammatory remarks?? You have accused the Republican nominee for Congress in the 2nd District of LYING about her campaign finance reports. So far you’ve failed to provide ANY evidence of anything fabricated or otherwise on her reports.
You are besmirching the name of our candidate for Congress. We’re not going to tolerate that. We’re not going to tolerate anyone who dares to make false, ridiculous attack on our candidate for Congress.
Boy!, I sure miss Jim Leach., honest as the day is long and took his governing responsibilities very seriously. I can’t recall anyone ever accusing him of being a liar.
CVN 76, I dont think hawkindc accused her of lying but rather asked how is what her campaign says about her money “raised” accurate given the enormous total of personal loans and in kind contributions. I think that is a fair question. Don’t you?
Glen:
Here’s the link, if you haven’t seen it already.
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00472092/481356/sa/ALL
The questions I’m asking are legitimate and deserve answers. Thank you for supporting that.
hawkindc wrote:
“The questions I’m asking are legitimate and deserve answers.”
Yes, they are . . . just ignore “CVN 76″ . . . he is a dyed in the wool party hack with blinders on that attacks anyone who dares to question the integrity of anyone who happens to have an “R” in their moniker (the next post he makes will be to call you a “Democrat operative being paid by Rob Tully to undermine the Republican party). He is one of many who turn a willing blind eye to the not always so pretty truth of many “Republican” candidates.
You are absolutely right . . . it is incumbent upon “Republicans” to rise to a higher standard of honesty and trustworthiness than Democrats . . . otherwise, there is no distinction between them.