Iowa Democratic Party

Ex-Iowa first lady running for Congress

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack will enter the Iowa 4th District congressional race Tuesday.

Late Friday, a prominent Democratic Party source with knowledge of Vilsack’s plans told the Sioux City Journal that she will announce her candidacy on Tuesday. The decision likely will set off one of the most contentious and expensive congressional campaigns of the 2012 election cycle.

Woodbury County Democratic Party Chairman Dave Somsky confirmed Vilsack will visit Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City on Tuesday for a major campaign announcement.It is also expected to make appearances elsewhere in the district.

"I expect him to apply, with all the work and time she put into it," said Somsky.

The news comes on the heels of Thursday's announcement that Mr. Vilsack had exploratory campaign the Congress had raised $ 424,339 for the three months since April. Ann Trimble-Ray, spokesman for the Republican campaign to incumbent Steve King, said Friday that Congress would not comment on the nomination of Mr. Vilsack and his fundraising efforts.

King began the quarter from April to just over $ 142,000 on hand. King’s fundraising report for the most recent quarter was not available by press time.

Vilsack moved to Ames, one of the southeast-most counties of the newly redrawn 4th Congressional District, earlier this year. She also stopped in Sioux City, Storm Lake and many other cities in the late spring as part of a listening tour while mulling a congressional bid.

King currently represents the 5th District, but his Kiron home lies within the new 4th District.

King easily won five previous elections in the 5th District, the Iowa congressional seat with the highest Republican voter registration. He defeated Paul Shomshor in 2002, Joyce Schulte in 2004 and 2006, Rob Hubler in 2008 and Matt Campbell in 2010.

Several northwest Iowa Democrats said they saw Thursday’s fundraising announcement as the precursor to her official announcement.

Former Woodbury County Democratic Party Chairman Al Sturgeon of Sioux City said he embraces the quest by Vilsack, who was praised for her political instincts when campaigning on behalf of her husband, Tom Vilsack, who is former Iowa governor and current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Tom Vilsack won gubernatorial campaigns in 1998 and 2002.

"She has two things to her that we never had before in a congressional candidate. No. 1, name recognition, and on the other hand, money in the beginning, "said Sturgeon." In fact, most of our candidates did not have much money.

ICYMI: Protest aimed to send message to King : Iowa Democratic Party

It was not a loud protest, or even a long one.

But the message, or rather the messages, should be plainly clear to Congressman Steve King – don’t cut Medicare, and come talk to the people.

“There’s a lot of frustration because Steve King hasn’t presented himself at town hall meetings about Medicare,” said Chris Tinley, chairman of the Pottawattamie County Democrats. “He had town meetings on a regular basis, but hasn’t been to any here to my knowledge since last November’s election.”

Tinley was among a dozen people, and a couple of pooches, displaying makeshift signs highlighting their concerns outside his Council Bluffs office Wednesday evening after it closed for the day. It lasted about 10 minutes, but enough to gain attention of passing motorists.

“Thank you,” said one driver, who then gave the thumbs up gesture.

The main concern among the protestors is King’s support for the budget of fellow Congressman Paul Ryan, which they said would cut benefits to Medicare, even Social Security, so as not to raise taxes on the rich.

“The Republicans are taking it from the people who need these programs so that they can go to their main constituents, who are the wealthy and who make up just 1 percent and say ‘We’re not going to raise your taxes,’” Tinley said.

Ryan held a town meeting in a Republican stronghold and got booed, according to Tinley, which he believes is a reason King is avoiding one here.

“People are not in favor of these cuts. He doesn’t want to face the music.

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