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Subscribe to RSSRep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) announced in an email to supporters he will run in 2014 for the Senate seat left open by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
On Jan. 26th, Harkin announced he will retire at the end of this term.
"It's a big responsibility to represent the people of Iowa in the United States Senate, especially after Tom Harkin has shown us how for the last 30 years," Braley said in the email. "But, if you are willing to help me, I'm ready to go. That's why today, I'm setting up a committee to run for the U.S. Senate. Just as Sen. Harkin did when he first ran, I'll need to meet a lot of Iowans outside of my district. I'll pledge to them, just like the people of Eastern Iowa that I will listen, work hard, and get things done for Iowa's middle class.
"It's time to start a conversation with Iowans - about rebuilding the middle class, creating economic opportunity for everyone, and keeping America strong. I'm looking forward to the conversation and I'm looking forward to meeting with you. We will kick off the conversations with a Facebook chat in the next few weeks."
The top two Republicans mentioned in the race are uber-conservative Rep. Steve King and Rep. Tom Latham.
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I am sorry to see Senator Harking leaving, he was a strong progressive voice long before it became in vogue!
The people of IA need to do everything possible to make sure neither birthers like King or Latham get anywhere near that seat!
"...'ll pledge to them, just like the people of Eastern Iowa that I will listen, work hard, and get things done for Iowa's middle class."
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Neighboring State and don't the know the man personally, but with that said, I hate how he finished his email. Taken at a silly, face value perspective, you'd walk away thinking Iowa only had a middle-class, which for ever obvious reason, it is known that it doesn't...which is no different from any State.
A Senator represents the needs and perspective of their State and all of it's Citizens. What even defines what middle class is seems to have been a moving goal post to begin with, especially in the wake of the national financial crisis.
IMO, keep it simple sir.....you're running to represent the needs of the Citizens of Iowa, plain and simple.
"uber" conservatives? What is "uber" anyway? How come it only seems to apply to Republicans on this "uber" liberal site?
Uber is a German word meaning very or very,very in English. It is a commonly used in English to indicate when something has nearly reached it's upper limit.
In German, however there would be an umlaut (two dots) over the U and is pronounced with lips puckered.
baldeagle, Danke schön
Another incompetent Democrat. That's what we need.
Bitte Schön
Actually Üeber means OVER or ABOVE as in Deutchland Üeber Alles-- Germany over/above all
SEHR means VERY as in SEHR GUT means very good or excellent.
Das is richtig aber....Yes that is right but uber could be used to describe someone who is over the norm or an extremist. Werstehn?
Oh boy! Another Socialist who wants to keep Americans poor. Who the heck comes to America and dreams of being "middle class?" Typical lib! 4 more years and those who have been upper class will fulfill their dream of being middle class. All the while those who are middle class, who dreamed of being upper class, will once again dream of being middle class.
Well uber is not being used as a German word - it has been adopted into American slang as meaning excessive or to the utmost.
All we need is another progressive that will join the ranks of another 4 years of a failed administration.
Time for folks to wake up to what is really happening in America.
Liberals and the progressive are for what's good, short term, and have no desire to sacrifice now to ensure the future of our country and generations to follow.
witchrunner, I assume since you're against "socialism" that you don't use the interstate highways or other public roads, the public waterworks and sewers, never go to a public park, and have no use for the fire or police departments, all of which are "socialist" constructs. We all pay the government to maintain these services, and we all use them as needed. Socialism.
laughingcat...well said seems some forget or fail to note the positive ways government affects each of us.
Nicht objektiven Journalismus.
Nice Try Laughing Cat, you are describing limited government.
You can't spell Socialism without the O.
I'd like to hear what our posters from Iowa think about this news.
Amy--worrying about you and the blizzard coming your way. Hope you've stocked up on bread, milk and toilet paper.
Thank you Steeler Fan. Forewarned is forearmed!
IMO Braley is an outstanding candidate. He's been through several electoral cycles now and has shown himself to be sensible and capable. He has good name recognition in most of the state. Furthermore his House seat can probably be held by a good centrist, left-leaning Democrat that might want to replace him.
I'd LOVE to see him run against "I was the John Birch Society candidate before the JBS became the Tea Party" Steve King. I don't think he stands a snowball's chance in a statewide race, Iowans outside his closed society district in NW IA overwhelmingly consider him outrageous and disgraceful.
Tom Latham might fare better, but he's still deeply Conservative in a state where that doesn't play well outside the 2 very rural districts.
That's for the inside info, John.
Thanks JohnB!
Always appreciate hearing from the boots on the ground! ☺
John B--Just for your information, there are plenty of us within King's "closed society district" in NW Iowa that also consider King outrageous and disgraceful, perhaps even more so since he supposedly "represents" us. So, please don't lump our entire district together. My son interned for the Christie Vilsack campaign when she ran against King in November, and he's anxious to intern for whomever might run against him again. Hopefully, King will resign his seat to run against Braley, because you're right--King won't stand a snowball's chance in a statewide election.
I live in the idiot Kings district, and he sure is not gonna get any support from around here!!! Run, Bruce Run!!!!
Bruce is a well liked Democrat, all accross this great state, and he will win!!!
Thanks skybluewaters and DfromSpencer. My son also interned with Christie Vilsack, in the Ames office. Small world, eh?
I actually grew up in the "old" 5th district, the part currently represented by Latham. I agree that people there aren't monolithic and it's significant in my eyes that King had his closest election ever last fall. At the same time I'd be willing to bet you both know what I'm talking about. There were plenty of people over there that expressed Tea Party sentiments before the Tea Party. The father of someone I went to school with was all indignant once upon a time because "Big Brother" made them install crossing gates on some railroad tracks. He was just sure those gates were going to come down and trap his tractor, killing him in the process. Of course he was ignoring 3 simple facts 1) Government didnt have anything to do with it, the railroad put them in based on their own risk assessment. 2) The gates only blocked one lane. If you're on the tracks already there's no gate in front of you. 3) that track sees 120 trains per DAY at up to 60mph. Y'think safety devices are in order with that much traffic on one of the three main routes into town?
King does a great job pandering to folks like that. He isn't stupid, he rarely says something really outlandish in front of a neutral crowd or a large group of press. His outrageous statements are normally in front of a group of wingnuts or on the Conservative press.
I have met Braley twice - talked with him on the way from Waterloo to Chicago on a plane once (we were both headed to DC). I am from IA and he is a great choice to represent us. His wife teaches (or used to teach) in the Waterloo schools and I know he has education high on his list of priorities. I have no qualms whatsoever about him serving as our next Senator. He has been "my" rep. for quite a while and always is willing to listen.
As long as that complete and utter (uber) wack job Steve King doesn't win, it is a plus for us. If he loses the election can we make it so he has to give up his house seat? That man is scary - even backing "legitimate rape" candidate Todd Akin.
John B.--Oh, I agree...Our district is definitely very conservative and the Tea Party does have a good deal of support around here. But, I'm embarrassed by that; and I want people to know that just because we happen to live in King's district, that doesn't mean we all support King and his Tea Party, extremist views. And, thank your son for his work on behalf of Christie Vilsack!
Is Christie Vilsack still living in Ames? Probably not. Anyway, not everyone in Iowa lives in liberal academia places like Des Moines or Iowa City. Bahama Tommy Harkin never comes to NW Iowa, he just sends his underlings to "listen" to our concerns. Good riddance! Steve King may be out spoken, but we never are unsure of his position on the issues. I would vote for King for US Senate!
thats because your a right wing nut job.
He's a good guy and sensible Iowans will vote for him.
King is a right wing nut job, won't fly here.
I just hope we can kick Braindead's stupid lying ass to curb when we take out the rest of the republitrash.
Good luck, Mr Braley - I guess you know you have big shoes to fill (LOL: at least they're not heels!) we will miss Mr. Harkin for sure.
Forward! :-)
When Harkin is gone can we please get rid of the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine? We could use that money for researching real medicine instead of the Woo that is funded through that center.
Woo??? Alternative medicine has been around for many millennia and is still the root of all medical practice. So you call those artificial drugs our pharmaceuticals create "real" medicine? Have you ever paid attention to all of the warning labels on them? The potential side effects are worse that what the drug is supposed to "cure." If you really want to cure what ails you, just "listen" to your body. The word "disease" is really your body in a state of "dis-ease"...chemical balances imbalanced.
I don't know, but Harkin has already pulled his personal archives from Iowa State University after a couple of members of the Board of Regents who are in the pockets of big Ag put restrictions on what the Harkin Institute would be able to research. http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/Harkin-cuts-ties-with-namesake-Iowa-State-center/-/9357080/18429198/-/msvs8rz/-/index.html
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130207/OPINION03/302070042/The-Register-editorial-Timeout-needed-on-Harkin-Institute?Frontpage
another double dipper, but hey that's the dem way.
Dottie-that time of the month?
Run, Bruce Run!!! I will deffinately have your back in this race!!! No way we can let those idiot conservaturds win this seat!!!
We already have one idiot conservaturd in there, goes by the name of Grassly, what a baffoon!!!!
RUN, BRUCE RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iowans don't really know how good they may have it. Here in South Carolina, the number of loons we have in Congress, Representatives and both Senators, far outnumber the number of decent people who just want to participate in good government. We have a couple, but they're few and far between. Mostly we have TP'ers who can't hear anything from the sound of their single hand clapping. Wish they'd all get the clap.
Surely Iowans won't elect King as a Senator, will they?
Jamie---well afterall Iowa elected Chuck Grassley ...........maybe he too will retire.
When Chuckles was the junior Senator from Iowa his senior was Roger Jepsen.
The two were commonly referred to as "Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber."
Grassley's, um, analytical skills haven't improved since then. He still trades on a wisecrack he made about $400 hammers for the Pentagon 20 years ago. To say he hasn't done anything recently for Iowans is an understatement.
Before anyone sides with McCain or calls him a hero really needs to do some basic google research on him and Vietnam.
DO YOUR OWN FACT CHECKING AND DON'T JUST BELIEVE OR DOUBT WHAT I WROTE.
JUST TYPE: MCCAIN/ POW/ TREASON
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And polls show King would lose to ANYONE else on the ballot (R or D), and would even lose to a candidate named "I. M. Roadkill"
As a native Hawkeye, I feel Bruce Braley is A FINE CHOICE and there aren't any Republicans in state to beat him, not even with Karl Rove's help. Now if we could get old mumble mouth Grassley out, that would be a Great HAPPENING....
rove is going to stick a shiv in the tea party
you can't make this stuff up!
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I'm a registered republican from Des Moines. in the past, I've voted for Harkin, not consistently, but I have voted for him due to his seniority and what that can bring to Iowa. I don't know a lot about Representative King, he isn't in my district. I live in Latham's district, and admittedly know less about him than I should. I'm a libertarian leaning republican, and would have to evaluate both Latham and King (as well as some of their voting records) to determine which of the two I'd caucus for.
As far as Harkin leaving, I have mixed feelings. We Iowans have a strong tendency to vote incumbent state representatives back in. See Grassley, Harkin, King, Latham, our governor Branstad, and I'm sure other candidates I'm missing on both sides of the aisle. Whomever the democratic party selects to run against the seat will have an uphill fight unless they have a solid name recognition that can combat that incumbent support. Christie Vilsack was an excellent example of that strategy. I personally disliked her as a choice not because of her politics, but because her husband is in the president's cabinet, and as such I feel it is a conflict of interest to be in the senate. I know it happens all the time, but that doesn't mean I have to like it or vote to continue it.
As far as King's electability, I believe has a chance, although I suspect Latham is the more likely victor. I believe (I haven't fact-checked, just boots on the ground) Iowa has historically been a slightly republican leaning state. Add in that, without being an incumbent, he will be viewed by many Iowans as just that. That being said, Democrats that run on school support do well here, as Iowans have traditionally valued education as an important role of government, and traditionally that is a democratic party platform. In this senate race, I view it as a likely republican win, unless the democratic party picks someone with name recognition or dumps a lot of money to generate that recognition with advertising. I wouldn't support her, but Christie Vilsack (for the reasons I've stated above) would be a good candidate with her name recognition. Living in Des Moines, I've never heard of Bruce Braley. Granted, he's not in my district, but I suspect a lot of Iowan's have heard of King and Latham, who've been in the news more often, and have both served longer (1 and 3 more terms respectively).
Please don't say polls show unless you can cite it. Keep in mind King just beat Vilsack, the former state first-lady. I think she'd beat him in a state-wide election because she's more known state-wide versus his district-wide, but he did just win 53%-45%.
And please remember, politics aside, everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether or not we agree with them. We all have to deal with each other as Americans, and everyone gets a vote. And I personally believe both sides are needed to rein in the opposing view. A successful democracy doesn't want debate, it NEEDS it. And the rampant slander and vitriol that can occur doesn't help any of us in the long run. If someone disagrees, respect their right to disagree. Please.
I hope every tea party canidate loses those people are nut cases and despite what they say about being focused on economics they are also lazer focused on social issues and want to drag the entire country back into the 1950s or even earlier if they could get away with it.
Living on the Iowa border I am sure Bruce Braley would be an ideal candidate to fill Tom Harkin's shoes. Braley has been to many political rallies on our border and has been very receptive and should be a good candidate and win over either of the two Republican contenders - King is just way too out there, especially with his comments concerning women and supporting the likes of Todd Akin. Iowa would be better off without Chuck Grassley.
Braley versus King? The populous eastern half of the state, which includes Des Moines, would likely vote against Congressman King by a wide margin. Congressman King is not a person that is going to get a lot of votes from moderates and liberals and would certainly be asked to explain his previous positions which could be interepred as small minded at best and bigoted at worst..