The governor has set Tuesday, November 19 as the date for a special election to fill a vacancy in the Iowa Senate.
Kent Sorenson of Milo resigned from the Senate last week after a special investigator concluded there is probably cause to charge Sorenson with felonious misconduct in office. Sorenson is accused of accepting money from two 2012 presidential campaigns. Senate ethics rules forbid senators from being paid to work on presidential campaigns.
The senate district Sorenson represented covers Warren and Madison Counties. State Representative Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, announced last week that he would run for the seat. Former state Representative Mark Davitt, a Democrat from Indianola, announced this afternoon that he is running in the district as well.
The district strongly leans Republican. John McCain won the district in 2008 and Mitt Romney outpolled President Obama there in 2012.