After several months of preparations, Jim Mowrer made it official today: he is challenging Representative Steve King in Iowa’s fourth Congressional district. I’ve posted his formal announcement after the jump. His campaign is on the web here and also on Facebook and twitter.

Mowrer grew up in Boone and lived in Des Moines for a time after his tour in Iraq. He headed the Iowa Veterans for Joe Biden committee in 2007 and was Midwest Veterans Chair for the Obama-Biden campaign in 2008. He was a private contractor in Iraq during 2009 before getting a job as special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army in the U.S. Department of Defense. Mowrer has also been a senior adviser to Vote Vets, a political advocacy group focused on veterans’ issues.

Mowrer recently resigned from his Pentagon job and returned to Boone with his wife and two sons. Speaking to Radio Iowa, he criticized politicians who focus on partisan sound bites rather than accomplishments:

“The work that I did there [at the Pentagon] was on making the Army and our defense more efficient and effective and saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring that we have the strongest Army the world has ever seen,” Mowrer said, “so I’m running for congress because I saw firsthand the problems and the damages that a broken congress can cause and I want to be a part of the solution.” […]

“Democrats and Republicans need to work together to get things done,” Mowrer said. “Regardless of party, people on extremes on both sides need to come to the table to find common sense solutions to make sure they protect middle class families like the one I grew up in.” […]

“Steve King isn’t working for Iowans. He’s not working for the 4th district and I have a record of actually getting things done,” Mowrer said.

Mowrer would need strong Democratic turnout and probably 70 percent of the independents to have any prayer against King. As of July 2013, IA-04 contained 127,701 registered Democrats, 178,309 Republicans, and 173,985 no-party voters.

UPDATE: Ben Nesselhuf resigned as South Dakota Democratic Party chair in order to manage Mowrer’s campaign. I’ve also added Mowrer’s official bio below.

Boone, IA – Today, Jim Mowrer, an Iraq War Veteran and Boone native, announced his plans to run for Congress in Iowa’s 4th district.

Mowrer’s career has been rooted in service. He joined the Iowa National Guard following high school. Jim’s unit, the 1-133 Infantry Battalion, served the longest deployment of any unit in the Iraq War – 23 months.

Jim’s service continued after leaving the National Guard, serving his country at the Pentagon, as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army. Mowrer’s work at the Pentagon focused on making the Army more efficient and effective, while saving tax dollars.

“When I served in Iraq, there were no Democrats or Republicans – just Americans working together to protect our safety and stability. But when I look at Congress, I don’t see that same approach,” said Mowrer. “In Congress, too many politicians are trying to score political points for partisan gain or pushing sound bytes to please their extreme base. I’ve decided to run for Congress to restore that true sense of public service -and to work together to find common sense solutions that will help middle class families like mine,” Mowrer added.

While serving in Iraq Jim earned his college degree from the American Military University and later went on to earn a Masters of Public Policy from George Mason University.

Mowrer lives in his hometown of Boone with his wife Chelsey, their two boys Carter (4) and Jack (2) and two Boston Terriers Abby and Emma.

In the coming weeks, Mowrer plans to launch his campaign at a number of events throughout the 4th District.

“Jim’s story” from the campaign website:

Born and Raised with Iowa Values

Jim Mowrer grew up on a farm in Boone, Iowa. When Jim was just seven, his father was tragically killed in a farming accident, leaving Jim’s mother, Susan, to raise Jim and his sister Ruth Ann, by herself. It wasn’t easy – they had only Susan’s small salary and Social Security survivor benefits to pay the bills.

Jim worked hard and graduated from Boone High School and married his high school sweetheart, Chelsey. Today they have two boys, Carter (4) and Jack (2).

Called to Service for His Country

After the September 11th, attacks Jim wanted to give back and serve his country. So as soon as he graduated high school, Jim joined the Iowa National Guard, where he quickly moved up the ranks and was promoted to Sergeant after just two years of service.

In 2005, Jim’s unit was mobilized and deployed to Iraq. Serving as an Intelligence Analyst, it was Jim’s job to help locate IED’s or roadside bombs so they could be removed before causing harm.  Jim’s unit, the 1-133 Infantry Battalion, served the longest deployment of any unit in the Iraq War – 23 months.

Even while serving in Iraq, Jim finished college in between missions, earning a degree from the American Military University. Jim went on to earn Masters of Public Policy from George Mason University.

Working at the Pentagon to make the military more efficient

Jim returned to Iowa with his National Guard unit in 2007, but he returned to Iraq in 2009 as a civilian analyst and advisor to the Commander of US Forces.

In 2010, Jim was asked to serve as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army. At the Pentagon, Jim helped start and oversee the Army’s Office of Business Transformation – tasked with making the Army more effective, while saving tax dollars.

At the Pentagon, Jim also served as the Army’s lead representative to the Council of Governors, where he worked with America’s Governors to help coordinate Army bases and operations in individual states across the country.

Running for Congress

Jim Mowrer’s whole life has been about service to our country and protecting what makes America and Iowa great. Now Jim’s running for Congress because he sees that Politicians on both sides of the aisle aren’t doing anything to protect middle class Iowa families like the one Jim grew up in. Instead of pushing for solutions, too many politicians in Washington are pushing sound bytes to please the extreme parts of their party and score political points for partisan gain.