Wendy Barth, the Green Party’s 2006 candidate for governor, filed for Congress Wednesday in the 2nd Congressional District, setting up a four-way contest.

Barth joins Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack, Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and independent Brian White in the race.

In other paperwork filed with the Secretary of State Wednesday, Barth was also listed as the Green Party’s vice presidential candidate. The Greens later replaced Barth with the party’s actual vice presidential candidate. Use of a stand-in for petitioning purposes is common in third party ballot access efforts.

In state legislative races:

  • Independent Kenny Abrams filed in open Senate District 6, where Republican Thurman Gaskill is retiring. He’ll face former Republican senator Merlin Bartz and Democrat Doug Thompson.
  • Libertarian Eric Cooper is making a second run against Ames Democratic Rep. Lisa Heddens in House District 46. Cooper won 2.6 percent in a three way race in 2006; there is no Republican this time.
  • Polk County Republican Chair Ted Sporer reports on his blog that the GOP nominated Larry Voorhees, owner of several taekwondo dojos, in House District 68 at a Wednesday night convention. Voorhees will challenge Democratic Rep. Rick Olson.