GOP Tabs Golding To Run For Key Senate Seat

Cindy Golding emerged from a nominating convention on Thursday evening as the GOP candidate for an all-important senate seat in Eastern Iowa.

Golding will run against, most likely, former newsanchor Liz Mathis. They are seeking the District 18 seat vacated by Democrat Swati Dandekar, who resigned to accept Republican Gov. Terry Branstad's appointment to a $137,000-a-year job on the Iowa Utilities Board.

The race has enhanced meaning because it could swing the balance of power. Democrats hold a 25-24 majority in the Senate. The majority has allowed them to block legislation pushed by the Republican-led Iowa House and Branstad.

“I’m extremely proud of Linn County Republicans for coming together and showing the state that we can work together and have a nominating convention and do it in a positive way,” Golding said in a statement released by the Republican Party of Iowa. “Iowans need all of us – every single one of us – to work together because we need to move an economic-friendly agenda forward to make a best-in-the-nation jobs environment.”

The special election is on Nov. 8.

The Iowa Republican had live coverage of the nomination. Here is a YouTube video of Golding campaigning from Iowa Politics.

According to a news release from the Republican Party of Iowa, Golding won the open nominating convention by stressing the importance of creating jobs by reducing tax and regulatory burdens on Linn County's small businesses and employers.  

"This race will provide a clear contrast for voters," said Iowa GOP chairman Matthew Strawn. "This district needs a fighter in the Iowa Senate and that's exactly what they'll get with Cindy. The choice will be between a Democratic Senate majority that wants to spend more and strangle Iowa's small businesses with regulation compared to Cindy’s agenda for fighting for common sense solutions to help our small businesses put more Iowans back to work."

Democrats responded by calling Golding a "rubber stamp" for Branstad.

“With Cindy Golding as the Republican nominee, voters in Senate District 18 are going to have a clear choice to make: A rubber stamp for Gov. Branstad and the Tea Party Republicans, or someone with an independent voice who is ready to go to work fighting for new job opportunities and main street business growth for the people of Senate District 18," Sue Dvorsky, Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman, said in a statement.

Golding beat out former U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth and business woman Mary Rathje for the nomination.