Push is on for GOP dominance

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds joined six other Republicans at the Charles City Pizza Ranch to support candidates running on the down-ticket races this November.

Senate candidate Waylon Brown and House of Representatives candidate Stacie Stokes each spoke briefly with the audience, along with Sen. Jack Whitver, Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s wife Barbara Grassley, Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds.

Elections in District 26 could be a final call of whether Republicans will take over the Senate with a full majority, Sen. Whitver told the crowd. Brown, of St. Ansgar, is running against incumbent Sen. Mary Jo Wilhelm, from Cresco.

“This is the seat that I think will determine if we have a complete majority or whether we continue our ways of having the Democrats block so much of the governor and lieutenant governor’s agenda,” Sen. Whitver said as he introduced Brown. “This is ground zero right here.”

“For the past six years, the Iowa House has worked closely with the governor and lieutenant governor to make sure that we got all kinds of wonderful legislation done, sent over to the Senate, only to die,” Speaker Upmeyer said. “We hope we have a Senate that is going to be joining us in January to make sure that we get those things done and move forward in the future.”

Republican voter registration has seen a big jump in this election cycle, Sec. Pate told the crowd.

“The momentum is in our corner…you are making the momentum, and you are helping us,” Sec. Pate said.

The Iowa Republican Party started with 612,000 registered voters, and now has over 652,000 registered, he said. According to his office, Democrats are outnumbered by 34,000 in Iowa. Iowa’s fourth congressional district is up to 192,000 registered voters.

“That means you have 70,000 more Republicans in this district then the Democrats do,” Sec. Pate said.

Sec. Pate also briefly addressed Iowa’s electorate system, adding that he takes honest elections seriously and believes in Iowa’s process.

“I will put our election system second to none. We have one of the most honest and most fair election systems in the country because of you,” Sec. Pate said. “It’s bipartisan. We have Democrats and Republicans working side-by-side on election day. You know your neighbors, and you know who should be there voting.”

Lt. Governor Reynolds and Gov. Branstad shared high energy for supporters in their speeches.

“This is one of three senate seats we need to win to have the majority in the senate, Gov. Branstad said. “We have an opportunity to pass water quality, to pass income tax reform.”

While Lt. Governor Reynolds keyed in on education and business innovation in Iowa, Gov. Branstad also asked the crowd to vote at the national level and elect a Republican to the White House.

“Clearly, we need a new, strong leadership that will stand up for America and protect our well-being,” Gov. Branstad said.

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