Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold came to Iowa today to endorse David Loebsack for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.  He spoke to a full house at the Cedar Rapids Science Station, and highlighted how he and Loebsack agree that Congress should censure President Bush for breaking the law by wiretapping Americans without a warrant.  They also agree that Congress should fix Medicare part D, amend the Patriot Act, and repeal No Child Left Behind.  Finally, they think that the US should have a plan to bring our troops home from Iraq.  He was introduced by Cedar Rapids mayor Kay Halloran.

Loebsack talked briefly about his childhood: his father died when he was young, and his mother had mental illness, so they lived with his grandmother.  Without government programs like the Social Security Survivor's benefit, he could have never gone to college.  He wants to preserve Social Security, raise the minimum wage, and extend health care to every American.  Loebsack teaches world affairs at a local college, and he said that US esteem has never been lower, and that we must restore America to a position of moral leadership in the world.  Finally, he pointed out that the incumbent, Jim Leach (R) just voted for the sham lobbying reform bill, and that he also voted to ease the ethics rules for Tom DeLay, and to increase the Federal debt ceiling.  Although he didn't mention it, David's stepson is a Marine Corps Captain, who has already been to Iraq - and he is serious about ending that war.

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It has been a busy week in the Iowa Governor's race.  Yesterday, the second place Republican candidate, Bob Vander Plaats, withdrew and endorsed U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle and became his running mate.  That echoed last week's events on the Democratic side, when Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge withdrew to become Chet Culver's running mate.

In other news, AFSCME, the state's largest union, endorsed Democrat Mike Blouin for Governor.  Also, the Iowa Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Nussle.

Iowa Democrats won several surpising victories in mayoral races around the state, and 17 cities voted to establish municipally owned telecommunications utilities.  However, the municipal electric utility in Iowa City went down to a crushing defeat.  Here are the details from around the state:

Cedar Rapids

Voters had decided in an earlier referendum to change the form of the city's government, so every race on the ballot was wide open this time.  Kay Halloran, a Democrat and former state legislator won the race for mayor, recapturing this office from the Republicans.  (In Iowa, all municipal elections are non-partisan, but we know who is who.)  The shape of the new city council remains uncertain, since 36 candidates ran for the 8 available seats, and 4 seats will be decided in a runoff next month.

North Liberty

Dave Franker won a stunning write-in campaign for mayor of this fast-growing city.  Dave is a rocking Democrat, and former school board member, who ran for Congress last year in the second district.  (Note that many of the early newspaper reports were wrong about this race - see the Johnson County Auditor's office for official results.)

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The Republican co-president of the state Senate, Jeff Lamberti, announced that he would challenge incumbent Leonard Boswell for Congress.  The district is centered on the Des Moines area, and it leans Democratic, but not overwhelmingly.  Health may be an issue for Boswell; he is 71 and recently had abdominal surgery.  Lamberti comes from a wealthy family and he will have the resources to mount a serious campaign.  

(Hat tip to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, sub. reqd.)

Hello, I have known David Loebsack for many years, and when he decided to run for Congress, I convinced him that he really ought to introduce himself to the myDD audience.  - corncam

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My name is David Loebsack and I am running as the Democratic candidate for
congress in Iowa's second district.

I am a progressive Democrat who has been an activist for the better part of
the past twenty years or so.  I have worked on numerous campaigns, local and
national.  In 2000, I was a national delegate for Bill Bradley after having
served as a county and district coordinator on a volunteer basis.  In 2004, I
was a key Howard Dean supporter in this part of Iowa.  Finally, for the past
three years I served as the chair of the Linn Phoenix Club, our county PAC
whose sole purpose is to elect Democrats to legislative and countywide office.

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All five of the Democratic candidates for governor spoke today at the Johnson County Democrat's fall BBQ.  Johnson county is by far the most Democratic county in the state, and it usually provides the margin of victory that statewide candidates need to win.  This diary will give a short bio of each candidate, a summary of their stump speeches, and my sense of the horse race.

First up was Chet Culver, current Secretary of State and son of a former Senator.  He has worked as a teacher, coach and county attorney - he pointed out that he won a $36M lawsuit against oil companies for water pollution.  Culver said he was a proud Democrat, and he supported raising the minimum wage, raising teacher pay, choice, clean air and water and Project Labor Agreements (a union issue).  He also supports universal health care for children, and greater use of E85 ethanol.  Culver is an experienced speaker and photogenic candidate who has very high name recognition; I think he would be a strong nominee.

Rep. Jim Nussle (IA-1) received the endorsement of 60 Republican legislators yesterday.  He is running for governor in 2006, when incumbent Tom Vilsack's (D) term expires.  

Nussle's most likely opponent, businessman Bob Vander Plaats, said "This positions our campaign just where we want to be - outside vs. inside."

- from the Cedar Rapids Gazette