Ever since David Young first revealed his plans to run for the U.S. Senate, I’ve had trouble understanding how a professional Congressional staffer could win a Republican primary in Iowa. By all accounts Young is a bright, capable, hard-working Iowa native, but who is supposed to be his constituency? Candidates who have spent years building networks among conservative activists here will have a natural advantage over Young, who worked in Washington for 17 years before moving back to Iowa in 2013.
After Representative Tom Latham announced his retirement, Young switched from the U.S. Senate to the third district Congressional race, but that doesn’t change the fundamental weakness of his candidacy. He may be the contender best-prepared to work in Congress, but I doubt that’s what primary voters are looking for. When Young joined the Senate field, Robert Cramer praised him as “a ‘man of integrity,’ trustworthy and an ‘across-the-board conservative.'” But even though Cramer has known Young for decades and thinks highly of him, he’s not backing him in IA-03. On the contrary, Cramer himself is seeking the GOP nomination for Latham’s seat.
This week Young’s campaign announced its most prominent endorsements so far: former U.S. Representatives Tom Tauke and Jim Ross Lightfoot. I’ve posted the press release after the jump. Tauke represented northeast Iowa and hasn’t served in Congress since losing the 1990 U.S. Senate race to Tom Harkin. Lightfoot represented parts of southwest Iowa that are in the current IA-03, but he hasn’t been in Congress since losing to Harkin in 1996. He was last seen in this state blowing a big lead over Tom Vilsack in the 1998 gubernatorial race. Following that debacle, Lightfoot “became a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., [and] is now owner of Texas-based Lightfoot Strategies, a government relations consulting company.” Hard to see him having any pull with the Iowa Republican base today.
David Young campaign press release, January 30:
David Young – Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District Candidate – Endorsed By U.S. Congressmen in Race to Fill Latham Seat
David Young – Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District Candidate – Endorsed By U.S. Congressmen in Race to Fill Latham Seat
(Van Meter, IA) – Today the congressional campaign of David Young announced David has been endorsed by two former U. S. Congressmen from Iowa.
Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot (R-Shenandoah) and Congressman Tom Tauke (R-Dubuque) have endorsed David in the race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Tom Latham.
“David cares deeply about the concerns of Iowans,” said Lightfoot. “I am confident he’ll listen closely to his constituents and advocate strongly for them with common sense and tenacity in the U.S. Congress.”
“I’m honored to have the support of these statesmen,” Young said. “These men served Iowa with distinction and integrity in the U.S. House of Representatives and I am humbled to know they believe I have the experience and judgment necessary to carry on that tradition of service for Iowa.”
“These gentlemen fought against waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement of our tax dollars in Washington, DC and if elected to the U.S. Congress, I will do the same and be a conservative watchdog with the tax dollars of Iowans,” said Young.
“I am happy to have earned the support of these congressmen. More importantly, I look forward to continuing to earn the support of my neighbors and fellow Iowans – the voters of this district,” Young continued.
David was born and raised in Van Meter in Dallas County and he lives there today. Most recently, he served for seven years as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
Since entering the race earlier this month, David has visited each of the 16 counties in this district many times over to speak and listen to Iowans.