Republicans have chosen a new candidate to run in the district where a state senator seeking reelection died of breast cancer last month.
When a candidate dies before the General Election and their name will still be on the ballot, state law stipulates that a special election is to be held later. The district Republican Senator Pat Ward had hoped to represent includes parts of Clive, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
Republican precinct leaders in the district met last night and selected West Des Moines City Councilman Charles Schneider as the GOP nominee. He was first elected to the city council in 2007 and reelected in 2011. The special election for the senate seat is December 11th.
The Democratic candidate in the district is Desmund Adams, who began his campaign in April. Both candidates are lawyers.
John Ward, the late senator’s husband, had said he was interested in running in the district. John Ward is a former member of the West Des Moines School Board.