Former Republican state Rep. Gary Blodgett in a guest column for the Mason City Globe Gazette questioned why Democratic legislative candidate Sharon Steckman has received more than $8,000 in campaign contributions from out-of-state gay rights activists.

“While I’m certainly not alleging any deals have been made by any candidate in return for these large donations, the people of Mason City deserve to know why these out-of-state, well-heeled gay activists are so anxious to see Sharon Steckman elected and what they might expect from her if she wins,” he said.

Steckman told the paper that she was not aware of any effort from groups outside of Iowa to support her campaign.

“It really bothers me that the Republicans have to find things to stir things up instead of talking about health care and education and the economy,” [she said.]

“Let’s talk about the people who borrowed money from their kids so they could pay for their prescriptions. Let’s talk about people trying to pay for their education.

In a May 2007 Atlantic Monthly article, money from out-of-state gay activists was said to have been highly influential in deciding the race between Republican Danny Carroll and Democrat Eric Palmer in Iowa House District 75. Palmer won that race with 53 percent of the vote.