Senator decides against write-in campaign for Ag Secretary

A Democrat state Senator says she’s not going to launch a write-in campaign for State Ag Secretary. Betty Soukup of New Hampton says folks were lobbying her to run against incumbent democrat Ag Secretary Patty Judge.Soukup says family farmers were telling her they aren’t getting a fair hearing, as they believe corporate agriculture gets the ear of policymakers. Soukup, though, told the groups a write-in campaign for a statewide office just wouldn’t be successful. Soukup, who is not running for re-election to the Iowa Senate, says she’s choosing another “career path.” Soukup was one of the 12 legislators who served on the bipartisan panel that drafted the bill which establishes new regulations for large-scale livestock confinements.