Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad (pictured) has threatened the state's Democratic majority in the Senate by appointing Sen. Swati Dandekar to the Iowa Utilities Board, the Des Moines Register reports:
The special election to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Swati Dandekar of Marion is in a district that has more Republican registered voters than Democrats.
If Republicans win, the 50-seat Senate in 2012 will be evenly split.
That would give the GOP a far better chance to push ahead on a handful of issues that have been blocked in the Senate such as a proposal to amend the state constitution and eliminate marriage rights for same-sex couples, members of both parties agreed.
The special election is set for November 8.
Just hours after the news broke, Democrats launched a website: KeepTheMajority.com.
“This election will be a clear choice between what voters in the district want: someone who will stand up and support them in the Iowa Senate, or someone who will pursue a divisive agenda like Iowa Republicans chose to during the last session,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said. “We're confident that Iowans will vote for real leadership and choose to maintain Democratic control of this seat.”
In the past, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to block any attempts to bring up an anti-gay amendment. Without a majority, he'll have a much harder time doing that. No doubt The Family Leader's Bob Vander Plaats is licking his chops.
