Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says it’s an “uphill battle” for Republicans to win the special Senate election in eastern Iowa Tuesday to gain a 25-25 party split. Republican businesswoman and farmer Cindy Golding is facing Democrat Liz Mathis, a former TV news anchor.
Branstad says there’s a very short window in the special election and he says Mathis has a name recognition edge over Golding. And he says the Democrats have outspent the republicans in the election. Branstad says if Democrats win, it won’t translate to the bigger picture down the road for both parties as it’s an unusual circumstance.
Branstad special elections are “an indicator of that particular district at that point in time, so I don’t think people should reach much into it.” He does say it’s important for people to get out and vote. The special election has drawn national attention with the balance of Senate power hanging in the outcome.
The seat came open when the Democrat who held it resigned in September to join the Iowa Utilities Board.