Special Election in HD33

With the resignation of Rep Dick Taylor in HD33, Cedar Rapids will be having a special election. The Des Moines Register reports that Governor Culver has called for a special election on Tuesday, Nov 24.

Unlike the recent battle in HD90, the HD33 race looks pretty lopsided. In 2008, Taylor won with nearly 70% of the vote. In 2006 he was unopposed. So I am certainly not predicting that this race will be anywhere near close. Yesterday's Gazette suggests that there are at least two high profile Democrats interested in the job:

Kirsten Running-Marquard, is the daughter of former west-side lawmaker Rep. Rich Running, has been active in numerous campaigns and works in 2nd District Rep. Dave Loebsack’s Cedar Rapids office. Norm Sterzenbach is a longtime party activist and union lobbyist. His son, Norm, is the current Iowa Democratic Party executive director.

At this point no Republican has come out publicly as a possible candidate. State law requires the county central committee members from the precincts that make up HD33 to nominate their party's official candidate.

An interesting twist to this particular race is that the special election will take place on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. This means that turnout will be exceptionally low and plays into the Democrat's strong suit — absentee ballots. Call me a pessimist but it looks like we'll have a new Democrat rep from HD33 when the legislature gavels in.