Stories

With former Gov. Terry Branstad’s tentative entrance into the already crowded field of Republican gubernatorial candidates, conventional wisdom dictates that several lesser-known hopefuls will likely exit the race.
Branstad has high name recognition and will undoubtedly be able to raise a huge campaign war chest quickly, which will likely drain resources and attention from his opponents.
But [...]

Ending months of speculation, former Gov. Terry Branstad filed papers Wednesday morning to form a gubernatorial campaign committee, the first step in a potential run for governor in 2010.

State Sen. Jerry Behn made his candidacy for the GOP gubernatorial nomination official Tuesday morning, pointing to the budget as his main motivation for entering the race.

With six men actively seeking the Republican Party of Iowa’s gubernatorial nomination and a few others publicly mulling a run themselves, a hotly contested 2010 GOP primary is virtually guaranteed.

The Sac County Republican Party hosted what was probably the first cattle-call of 2010 Republican candidates for governor over the weekend, and four men delivered stump speeches as candidates (or potential candidates).
To hear what State Rep. Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City), State Rep. Rod Roberts (R-Carroll), State Sen. Jerry Behn (R-Boone), and Bob Vander Plaats [...]

Now that former House Speaker Christopher Rants has jumped into the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, he is the frontrunner for his party’s nomination to take on incumbent Democrat Chet Culver, according to Civic Skinny, gossip columnist for Cityview.
Noting that it will take “deft footwork” to move from a successful primary campaign to a successful general election [...]

Four men publicly mulling a run for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2010 will gather together for a second time next month for a forum sponsored by IowaPolitics.com.
State Sen. Jerry Behn, former House Speaker Christopher Rants, state Rep. Rod Roberts and Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats have agreed to attend the event being held [...]

The offer is simple: come to the Sac County Republicans’ summer fundraiser, announce you’re running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and you will get a portion of any money raised that day.

Confirmed guests include state Sen. Jerry Behn, former House Speaker Christopher Rants, state Rep. Rod Roberts and Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats; but the county GOP chair knows that an official announcement at the event is unlikely.

Controversial Christian radio host Steve Deace and conservative blogger Craig Robinson are teaming up to test the field of potential candidates to take on Gov. Chet Culver in 2010.

Three new names have emerged as potential candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010.