Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
While Iowa’s GOP may be optimistic that it can make gains in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives this November, the state Senate is another story.
The chambers of the Iowa Senate.
Democrats already have a 30-to-20 advantage, and in five battleground districts identified earlier this year by The Iowa Independent, Democratic candidates have an overwhelming advantage in cash on hand, with $224,732 compared to $20,071 for the Republicans. Two of those five seats are currently held by retiring Republicans, meaning the Democrats are in good position to expand their majority in the Senate.
Here is a look at fund-raising totals for the five battleground districts, according to the most recent filings with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
District 16
Incumbent Tom Hancock, D-Epworth, narrowly defeated Republican Julie Hosch in 2004, causing some to believe he was ripe for an upset this year. He faces off with Dave McLaughlin, a car dealer from Cascade. Hancock has $16,903 cash on hand compared with $3,125 for McLaughlin.
District 18
The retirement of incumbent Mary Lundby, R-Marion, caused Democrats to immediately put this district on its list for a possible pickup. District demographics lean Republican, but Democratic candidate Rep. Swati Dandekar has a huge cash advantage over her opponent, William Childers, a banker from Marion. Dandekar has $92,941 cash on hand to Childers’ $4,456.
District 22
This is another district where an incumbent Republican is retiring and opening the door to a Democratic pickup. Larry McKibben, R-Marshalltown, is stepping down after three terms. Republican Jarret Heil, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, will face off with Democrat Steve Sodders, a Marshall County deputy sheriff from State Center. Sodders has $48,391 cash on hand. Heil has only $8,116.
District 38
Incumbent Tom Rielly, D-Oskaloosa, will face off with Republican Michael Hadley, a fire chief from Richland. Long considered a GOP district, Rielly won in 2004 with the help of a large majority of votes out of Grinnell. He has $54,129 cash on hand compared to $3,536 for Hadley.
District 42
Incumbent Frank Wood, D-Davenport, defeated Republican Brian Sievers by only 480 votes in 2004. This year he will face off with Shawn Hamerlinck, R-Davenport. Wood has a sizable cash advantage, with $12,368 compared to $838 for Hamerlinck.
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