Iowa's 3rd Congressional District GOP race heads to convention

None of the six candidates in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District Republican primary on Tuesday received the minimum of 35 percent of votes needed for nomination, sending the decision to a convention of party delegates.

With all precincts reporting, state Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale was the leading GOP vote-getter with 26.5 percent

The other candidates included Robert Cramer of Grimes, a bridge construction executive, 21.5 percent; Secretary of State Matt Schultz of Truro, 18.3 percent; Monte Shaw of West Des Moines, a renewable fuel industry executive, 17.2 percent; David Young of Van Meter, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, 14.9 percent; and Joe Grandanette of Des Moines, a physical education teacher, 1.5 percent.

Under Iowa law, a candidate needs to reach the 35 percent minimum to avoid having party delegates decide the nomination. The Republican Party plans to hold the convention June 21 at Creston High School. A total of 513 delegates will be eligible to particpate.

Several Republican candidates expressed optimism late Tuesday night as the final votes were tallied.

"I'm very happy where I am at. I am in first place," Zaun said. He added that he's already called all the convention delegates, anticipating the possibility the nomination could go to a convention.

Schultz, a former Eagle Scout, said he was always taught to be prepared and he'll be ready for the convention vote. "I look forward to talking to each and every delegate about our campaign and my record as a proven conservative fighter," he added.

Shaw described the convention as a "clean slate" where new rules will apply. "We've got to put forward a candidate that can withstand the liberal attack machine," Shaw said.

Cramer described himself as a businessman who has created jobs and as a political outsider — making him the candidate best equipped to win in November. Meanwhile, Young said he was humbled by the support he received Tuesday from 3rd District voters. "I look forward to building on those relationships over the course of the next couple of weeks and gaining the support of a majority of the delegates," Young said.

The Republican nominee will square off in November's general election against former state Sen. Staci Appel of Ackworth, who was unopposed Tuesday in the Democratic primary. They are seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Clive, who announced in December he wouldn't seek re-election.

The 3rd District stretches from the Des Moines metro area through southwest Iowa. It's considered a swing district with Republicans representing 34 percent of registered voters, with Democrats representing 33 percent, and with 33 percent citing no party. The race has been targeted nationally by both parties.

Latham's departure from Congress touched off a scramble within the Iowa GOP to succeed him.

Prior to his announcement, the only Republican candidate in the race was Grandanette, who has repeatedly run for office in the past and never won an election.

Meanwhile, Appel has been running a full-fledged campaign since last July after initially wavering on the idea. Several other Democrats considered entering the contest after Latham announced his retirement, but ultimately decided against challenging Appel.

Appel previously served in the state Senate for a single term, losing in 2010 by a 59-41 percent margin to Kent Sorenson, R-Milo, who resigned last year amid an ethics investigation. Her husband, Brent Appel, is an Iowa Supreme Court justice.

One thing is certain: Third District voters will have a clear choice on the issues between the Democratic and Republican candidates.

Appel is supporter of abortion rights and same-sex marriage, and all the Republicans who ran in the primary have opposed both. She also takes traditional Democratic stances in support of government involvement in education, health care and other programs, while all the GOP candidates have argued for fewer government regulations, lower taxes, and reduced government spending.

Appel has been endorsed by the The Human Rights Campaign — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization. She also has backing from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest public employees' union representing state workers; as well as Emily's List, a political advocacy group that funds female candidates who favor access to abortion.

Most of the Republican candidates have generated significant support within the GOP and the conservative movement.

Zaun was endorsed by the Liberty Iowa PAC, which espouses limited government, free enterprise and individual liberty. Schultz had the backing of the Tea Party Express, a national group, plus the endorsement of former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, winner of the 2012 Iowa GOP presidential caucuses. Shaw has had the support of key agricultural leaders in the 3rd District and former Congressman Greg Ganske; while Cramer has been endorsed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 2008 winner of the Iowa GOP caucuses and Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent Iowa social conservative. Young has been backed by former Iowa Congressmen Jim Ross Lightfoot and Tom Tauke, plus former state Auditor Richard Johnson.

Appel enters the general election campaign for Congress with a financial edge. She has raised $869,312 since last July, according to the Federal Election Commission. As of mid-May, she had cash on hand of $466,564.

— Reporters Matthew Patane and Mike Kilen contributed to this story.

What's next

CONVENTION: The battle over the Republican nomination for the 3rd District race for Congress now heads to a party convention on June 21 at Creston High School, where delegates will cast ballots to choose a candidate.

Under state law, anytime a candidate fails to receive 35 percent of a primary vote, the party's delegates must make the decision. That hasn't happened in an Iowa race for Congress since 2002, when U.S. Rep. Steve King of Kiron won his party's nomination in a convention and went on to defeat a Democratic challenger that fall.

Drake University political scientist Dennis Goldford says the strategy for a convention is different than for a primary race.

"Conventions are even a smaller group and even more ideological and more activist than the people who show up for a primary. So if you are a middle-of-the-road kind of guy, showing up for a convention and hoping to get the support of convention delegates may put you at a disadvantage. It is going to be the more ideologically committed and intense people who show up who are convention delegates," Goldford said.

OPPONENT: Former state Sen. Staci Appel, 48, will run as a defender of the middle class who's interested in providing jobs while addressing climate change and protecting the environment. She'll argue that Iowa could benefit from having a woman in Congress for the first time. In the Iowa Senate, she fought for passage of a statewide ban on smoking in public places and a prohibition on texting while driving.