SIOUXLAND -
The 2014 election season is off to a sudden start in Iowa. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says he's retiring after nearly 30 years. The announcement came over the weekend. And one of the biggest names on the list of possible candidates is Congressman Steve King.
It's a hot seat. Democrats will try to keep it, Republicans will fight to win it. But who will be the front-runners in the race for Harkin's seat in 2014?
Dr. David Wiltse, a political science professor at Briar Cliff University, says it's anyone's game.
"Let's get it over with and start the next chapter," says Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, after he announced his retirement.
And after 30 years, retirement is looking pretty good right now.
"Ruth and I have often talked about doing certain things together, living our lives together in a way we've not been able to do, we've talked a lot about it, but we've not been able to, and we want to do that before its too late," he says.
And with that, the 2014 Senate race is suddenly wide open. Several local and state officials are clearly interested.
On the Republican side, Congressman Steve King told Politico he had considered running against Harkin, but now he says "It's going to take some time to be able to determine what level of support would be out there."
King just defeated a well-known challenger - former Iowa first lady, Christie Vilsack.
"A lot of people thought he was going to have a hard time, winning in this new district, and he proved that he could do pretty well outside his home territory," says Wiltse.
And Wiltse thinks King has a good shot, statewide, too.
"For both parties, this is a tremendous opportunity, so long as they nominate somebody who has good name recognition," says Wiltse. "A little experience on which they can run, and most of that is just how to run a good campaign."
Some people are very supportive of the possibility.
"I think its great, I've always been for Steve King, I think he's a no nonsense politician, I think he speaks his mind, and I think that's wonderful," says Madonna Cass, Rep. King Supporter.
Others, like Thor Swanson, say both Republicans and Democrats have needs right now, and Iowa needs a politician who can meet in the middle.
"I think he's got some big shoes to fill, and I'm not going to pretend it's an easy time, because we've got both needs. Where in the middle, as a society are we going to meet, where we provide a safety net for people but we do it in a cost effective way," says Swanson.
In the Democratic ring, Representative Bruce Braley, from Waterloo says he will talk with his family over the next few days, and "carefully weigh a possible candidacy for Senate."
Hleigh@siouxlandnews.com
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