Two of the three individuals who are said to be vying for the Republican nomination in the special election for Iowa House District 33 registered as Republicans just this week, records show.

The three individuals considered as possible candidates for the Republicans in Iowa House District 33 are John King, Kenneth Childress and Joshua Thurston. King, 38, is the only one of the three who did not need to change his party affiliation to seek the nomination, although he was registered as a Democrat as recently as 2006, when he voted in the Democratic primary.

Childress, 55, formerly served on the Linn County Democratic Central Committee and, according to information obtained from the Linn County Auditor’s office today, switched his party registration from Democrat to Republican on Oct. 23.

Thurston, 27, who has union ties, switched from having no political party affiliation to being a member of the Republican Party of Iowa on Oct. 26.

From a strategic perspective, looking for a more centrist candidate — even one who only recently crossed the political aisle — makes sense. House District 33 has long been considered a safe Democratic seat. A successful Republican candidate would likely need to appeal to a large segment of liberal and progressive-leaning voters.

But it remains to be seen how the Linn County Republican Central Committee, which includes some staunch conservatives, will react to such a strategy.

Members of the Linn County Republican Central Committee who represent the 11 precincts within House District 33 will likely choose their party’s nominee during a special nominating convention scheduled by Matt Strawn, RPI chairman, for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Wilson Middle School in Cedar Rapids. Lisa Smith, RPI Central Committee member, and Eric Johansen, political director, will conduct the convention.

The person who emerges as the Republican candidate will be placed on a Nov. 24 special election ballot against the Democrat anticipated to be selected at convention tonight and any other individuals who have filed nominating papers with the state. The victor in that special election will replace Democratic Rep. Dick Taylor, who only recently announced his retirement.