Fred Hubbell picked up a key endorsement in his quest to become the Democratic nominee to challenge Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds this fall. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, one of only two Democrat statewide elected officials, endorsed the businessman from Des Moines.
Miller’s endorsement follows endorsements from The Des Moines Register and Quad-City Times editorial boards.
“I have known Fred for over 30 years and have always been impressed with his integrity and his ability. Even more impressive though is Fred’s heart. He cares deeply about his state and his fellow Iowans, and I know he will work tirelessly and solely on their behalf, from expanding access to health care to fully funding education,” Miller stated.
“If elected governor, Fred’s rare leadership abilities and great judgment will serve all of us well,” he added.
Miller, who is the nation’s longest-serving Attorney General, is running for his 10th term.
Miller said that he believed Hubbell would be able to put together a campaign that could defeat Reynolds in November.
The current Democratic field was winnowed to five after State Senator Nate Boulton (D-Des Moines) suspended his campaign after being accused by three women of inappropriate sexual conduct. In recent polling, Boulton was Hubbell’s closest challenger trailing him by 26 points in a poll earlier this month. A later Iowa Poll conducted for The Des Moines Register showed Hubbell with an 11-point-lead over Boulton. Hubbell has outspent his primary opponents on TV ad buys by large margins.
Boulton’s departure makes Hubbell’s road to winning the nomination with the 35 percent threshold needed to avoid a special nominating convention. Miller’s endorsement plus endorsements from the last two Democratic Lt. Governors, Patty Judge and Sally Pedersen, demonstrates the party establishment is lining up behind the businessman.
Hubbell is the only candidate in the Democrat field who can keep up with Reynolds’ fundraising. Reynolds raised more than $1.2 million during the first reporting period in 2018. She currently has $4.2 million in the bank. Hubbell “outraised” Reynolds in 2018 by writing his campaign checks amounting to $2.1 million accounting for 70 percent of the slightly more than $3 million raised during the reporting period. His campaign ended the reporting period with $248,050.03 in the bank.