Michael Blouin, one of the Democrats running for governor, has picked up another round of endorsements from state legislators. Today (Thursday), 32 of the Democrats who serve in the Iowa House announced they’re supporting Blouin in his bid to become Iowa’s next governor. Last month, 18 Democrats in the Iowa Senate announced they were backing Blouin. “It’s a signal that these folks are comfortable with me,” Blouin says.
House Democrat Leader Pat Murphy of Dubuque says he endorsed Blouin because of his experience. Murphy says Blouin’s been an educator, a state legislator, a Congressman and a chamber of commerce executive. “He brings a level of experience that nobody else that’s in this campaign has,” Murphy says. Murphy’s backing Blouin instead of fellow State Representative Ed Fallon, who is also running for the Democratic party’s 2006 nomination for governor.
Murphy says people are just trying to pick the best candidate, and he suspects others will support “other candidates.” Blouin is pro-life. Murphy, who is also pro-life, says sharing that philosophy was not the main motivation for him to back Blouin. Murphy says Blouin brings a lot of experience to the table that would help babies grow up healthy and be able to get a job in Iowa when they’re grown.
The following State Representatives — all Democrats — endorsed Blouin today: Pat Murphy of Dubuque, Polly Bukta of Clinton, Mike Reasoner of Creston, John Whitaker of Hillsboro, Paul Bell of Newton, Deb Berry of Waterloo, Dennis Cohoon of Burlington, Swati Dandekar of Marion, Ro Foege of Mt. Vernon, Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg, Mary Gaskill of Ottumwa, Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, Bruce Hunter of Des Moines, Pam Jochum of Dubuque, Bob Kressig of Cedar Falls, Jim Lykam of Davenport, Jo Oldson of Des Moines, Donovan Olson of Boone, Rick Olson of Des Moines, Dawn Pettengill of Mt. Auburn, Brian Quirk of New Hampton, Nathan Reichert of Muscatine, Tom Schueller of Maquoketa, Don Shoultz of Waterloo, Mark Smith of Marshalltown, Kurt Swaim of Bloomfield, Roger Thomas of Elkader, Roger Wendt of Sioux City, Wes Whitead of Sioux City, Phil Wise of Keokuk and Ray Zirkelbach of Monticello.