Former House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, told Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com that state budget concerns and same-sex marriage could make his candidacy for governor more likely.

“I think this state is crying out for leadership. If the governor continues to make mistake after mistake after mistake, I think a lot of people will step forward and volunteer their services,” said Rants, a former House speaker. “When you see things like this happen, you bet I think about it. After watching this weekend play out and watching the governor sort of hide from the press on Friday about the court ruling, where’s the leadership?”

When asked when he would make a formal decision about running, Rants said, “Let’s see how he does this week.”

Rants joins U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, in pointing to Gov. Chet Culver’s handling of the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage as a key factor in a potential gubernatorial campaign. As of today, only Sioux City businessman and two-time gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats has thrown his hat into the ring to challenge Culver.

Culver has refused to comment on the Court’s decision thus far, saying only that he is studying it before making any decisions.

Rants served as leader of state House Republicans from 2002 until last November, when he was replaced by Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, after three straight elections that saw the GOP lose control of the chamber to the Democrats.

Shortly after being replaced by Paulsen, Rants announced he was considering a run for governor.