ABI endorsements in legislative races

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry has a political action committee which has endorsed candidates in legislative races and the endorsed candidates will receive a donation from ABI’s PAC before November.  The group endorsed a candidate in the 13 of the 25 senate races, including three Republicans challenging incumbent Democratic state senators.  In the House, the group endorsed just one challenger.  In addition, the ABI’s PAC has endorsed the five members of the so-called “six pack” who are seeking reelection.  The six-pack is a reference to the six House Democrats who did not vote for a union-backed bill, killing its chances in the House.

Read details below:

The Iowa Industry PAC, the political action committee of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, has named a number of candidates for the Iowa Legislature as “Friends of Iowa Business”.

The Iowa Industry PAC (IIPAC) evaluates candidates based on their ability to help create jobs in Iowa by supporting a competitive business climate.  Criteria used to make the designations include the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to job creators in Iowa.

“This initial wave of endorsements signifies that these candidates have demonstrated a commitment to improve Iowa’s business climate so that employers can create more jobs and grow the economy,” said Kirk Tyler, President of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company who chairs IIPAC.  Additional endorsements may be made throughout the election cycle.

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is comprised of approximately 1,400 companies employing more than 300,000 Iowans. As “The Voice of Iowa Business Since 1903”, ABI works to enhance the Iowa business climate to foster growth and prosperity for Iowans. The Iowa Industry PAC is non-partisan and endorses both Republican and Democratic candidates for legislative offices. The committee encourages voters to consider the endorsements when evaluating which candidates will help bring jobs to Iowa when voting in the November 2 general election.
 
To follow are a list of the candidates listed by district number.  I = Incumbent; O = Open Seat; and C = Challenger.

Iowa Senate

1 – Rick Bertrand – O
3 – David Johnson – I
5 – Rich Olive – I
9 – Bill Dix – C
17 – Wally Horn – I
27 – Bill Anderson – O
29 – Nancy Boettger – I
31 – Matt McCoy – I
35 – Larry Noble – I
37 – Kent Sorenson – C
41 – Roby Smith – O
45 – Sandy Greiner – C
49 – Hubert Houser – I
 

 
Iowa House

1 – Jeremy Taylor – O
2 – Cate Bryan – O
3 – Chuck Soderberg – I
4 – Dwayne Alons – I
5 – Royd Chambers – I
6 – Jeff Smith – O
8 – Tom Shaw – O
9 – McKinley Bailey – I
10 – Dave Deyoe – I
11 – Henry Rayhons – I
12 – Linda Upmeyer – I
14 – Josh Byrnes – O
15 – Brian Quirk – I
17 – Pat Grassley – I
20 – Doris Kelley – I
23 – Dan Rasmussen – C
26 – David Rose – O
30 – Dave Jacoby – I 
33 – Steve Lukan – I
35 – Kraig Paulsen – I
36 – Nick Wagner – I
37 – Renee Schulte – I
39 – Dawn Pettengill – I
40 – Lance Horbach – I
42 – Geri Huser – I
44 – Annette Sweeney – I
47 – Ralph Watts – I
49 – Helen Miller – I
50 – David Tjepkes – I
52 – Gary Worthan – I
53 – Dan Huseman – I
54 – Ron Jorgensen – O
55 – Jason Schultz – I
56 – Matt Windschitl – I
57 – Jack Drake – I
58 – Clel Baudler – I
59 – Chris Hagenow – I
60 – Peter Cownie – I
63 – Scott Raecker – I
69 – Erik Helland – I
70 – Kevin Koester – I
71 – Jim Van Englenhoven – I
72 – Rich Arnold – I
73 – Julian Garrett – O
74 – Glen Massie – O
76 – Betty DeBoef – I
79 – Jeff Kaufmann – I
82 – Linda Miller – I
83 – Steve Olson – I
84 – Ross Paustian – O
87 – Tom Sands – I
89 – Larry Marek – I
91 – Dave Heaton – I
95 – Mike Reasoner – I
96 – Cecil Dolecheck – I
97 – Rich Anderson – I
98 – Greg Forristall – I
99 – Mary Ann Hanusa – O