Two more running for Ernst’s senate seat

 SOUTHWEST IOWA – A small group of Iowa Republicans now have two more candidates to choose from to replace Joni Ernst in the Iowa Senate. 

Cara Marker Morgan, a Fremont County Supervisor, and Seth Watkins, a Clarinda school board member and farmer, both announced last week they will be seeking the Republican nomination. State Representative Mark Costello, of Imogene, previously announced he too would seek the nomination for the remaining two years on Ernst’s term. 

Ernst was elected Nov. 4 to the United States Senate after easily defeating Democrat Bruce Braley in the mid-term election. While she has yet to officially resign her Iowa Senate seat, once she does so, Gov. Terry Branstad will have five days to set a date for a special election.  Before that election, central committee members from District 12, including Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold and Taylor counties, would choose the Republican candidate at a nominating convention. The same process would be followed to select a Democrat nominee. 

While Ernst ran unopposed in her re-election bid, Democrats did nominate Ruth Smith to oppose Ernst at a special election in 2010. Ernst won that election to fill the remaining two years on Kim Reynolds’ term, who had just been elected Lieutenant Governor. 

Unless a Democrat or Independent candidate filed for the special election, the Republican central committee would essentially be choosing the next District 12 Senator. 

The Central Committee is comprised of members of each county committee. 

The size of a county committee is determined by population. Montgomery County currently has 14 people serving on the county committee who would be eligible to vote at the nominating convention.