Congressman Latham is not seeking re-election

[IADEMO2004]

(CNN) – The rule of threes was validated on Tuesday when Iowa Republican Rep. Tom Latham announced he would not seek re-election to his House seat in 2014.

Earlier in the day, Virginia GOP Rep. Frank Wolf and Utah Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson also said they would not run again.

Latham, 65, a close friend and ally of House Speaker John Boehner, shared his decision in a message to supporters.

"It is never a perfect time or a right time to step aside. But for me, this is the time," he said.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/17/iowa-gop-congressman-wont-seek-re-election/

[BlueToTheBone]

1. Another opportunity to pick up another seat

in the House. Yeah!

[madaboutharry]

2. It is a republican district.

It is unlikely it will go democratic.

[IADEMO2004]

3. Obama won the district in 2012

but the only counties he won were Polk and Union. Big win in Polk 128,456-96,096 swamped the reddish purple counties. That was then, 2014 will be a different creature.

[madaboutharry]

4. Latham won it by 9 points.

It is going to be hard for a democrat to win it now.

[IADEMO2004]

5. But not impossible. Which GOP Loon will jump in?

There could be such a thing as too crazy on the SW corner.

[47of74]

6. Well, we gotta fight for it.

It's guaran-goddamn-teed that if we don't show up and fight for the district nothing will change. We gotta fight for it, even if we don't win.

[progressoid]

7. Currently, 2 Dems, Staci Appel of rural Ackworth and Gabriel De La Cerda of Des Moines are running.

Currently, two people, Staci Appel of rural Ackworth and Gabriel De La Cerda of Des Moines are running on the Democrat(ic) side.

http://m.nonpareilonline.com/news/local/latham-to-step-down-what-now-local-officials-weigh-in/article_7cda5465-4078-5c94-8e72-e7b51cb9434e.html?mode=jqm