Christie Vilsack challenges incumbent Steve King for seat in Congress
A close race for Iowa’s newly configured 4th Congressional District has Rep. Steve King, an outspoken social and fiscal conservative, fighting off a challenge from moderate Democrat Christie Vilsack.
King, a Tea Party-backed Republican, has represented Iowa’s 5th district for 10 years, but only about 48 percent of his constituents are in the new 4th district. He has won many of his races by large margins. But 2012 poses new challenges, including the addition of Democratic-leaning Ames and Story County and, arguably, the most formidable opponent he has faced.
Christie Vilsack is the wife of former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is now the U.S. secretary of agriculture. This is her first run for political office. She taught at the middle school, high school and college level in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for 24 years. During her eight years as first lady of Iowa, she focused on education and literacy issues. In 2007, she founded The Iowa Initiative, a program that works to reduce unintended pregnancies. She was the executive director of the program from 2008 to 2011 and currently heads its board of directors.
The Vilsacks moved to Ames last year so that Christie could challenge King for his Congressional seat. Although her husband was appointed to the agriculture position in 2009, Christie Vilsack has never lived in Washington, according to her communications director, Sam Roeker.
"She obviously visits occasionally, but her job was in Des Moines when Tom first became ag secretary, so she stayed in Iowa, " Roeker said. They now live in Ames and Christie spends most of her time here on the campaign trail."
Iowa’s new fourth district includes 21 counties in north Iowa that aren’t in the current 5th district. Registration totals for the new district show 36.4 percent Republicans, 26.7 percent Democrats and 37 percent independents.
Each campaign has raised over $2 million, and has received donations from Iowans as well as out-of-state supporters.
In their debates, issues have included health care reform, the federal deficit, renewable energy and the farm bill, among other topics.
The King campaign has run ads characterizing Vilsack as a rubber stamp for President Barack Obama’s agenda, though she made no appearances with Obama when he campaigned in Iowa. Vilsack has run ads claiming that King has lost touch with middle-class Iowans, and has said that King has made promoting conservative ideas on a national platform his priority rather than the people of northwest Iowa.
Both candidates have received support in the race from national figures in their parties. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visited Sioux City to back King in September. Former President Bill Clinton visited Sioux City on Oct. 12 to support Vilsack.
--Matt Wettengel and Emily Harmon
King, a Tea Party-backed Republican, has represented Iowa’s 5th district for 10 years, but only about 48 percent of his constituents are in the new 4th district. He has won many of his races by large margins. But 2012 poses new challenges, including the addition of Democratic-leaning Ames and Story County and, arguably, the most formidable opponent he has faced.
Christie Vilsack is the wife of former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is now the U.S. secretary of agriculture. This is her first run for political office. She taught at the middle school, high school and college level in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for 24 years. During her eight years as first lady of Iowa, she focused on education and literacy issues. In 2007, she founded The Iowa Initiative, a program that works to reduce unintended pregnancies. She was the executive director of the program from 2008 to 2011 and currently heads its board of directors.
The Vilsacks moved to Ames last year so that Christie could challenge King for his Congressional seat. Although her husband was appointed to the agriculture position in 2009, Christie Vilsack has never lived in Washington, according to her communications director, Sam Roeker.
"She obviously visits occasionally, but her job was in Des Moines when Tom first became ag secretary, so she stayed in Iowa, " Roeker said. They now live in Ames and Christie spends most of her time here on the campaign trail."
Iowa’s new fourth district includes 21 counties in north Iowa that aren’t in the current 5th district. Registration totals for the new district show 36.4 percent Republicans, 26.7 percent Democrats and 37 percent independents.
Each campaign has raised over $2 million, and has received donations from Iowans as well as out-of-state supporters.
In their debates, issues have included health care reform, the federal deficit, renewable energy and the farm bill, among other topics.
The King campaign has run ads characterizing Vilsack as a rubber stamp for President Barack Obama’s agenda, though she made no appearances with Obama when he campaigned in Iowa. Vilsack has run ads claiming that King has lost touch with middle-class Iowans, and has said that King has made promoting conservative ideas on a national platform his priority rather than the people of northwest Iowa.
Both candidates have received support in the race from national figures in their parties. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visited Sioux City to back King in September. Former President Bill Clinton visited Sioux City on Oct. 12 to support Vilsack.
--Matt Wettengel and Emily Harmon