DES MOINES, Iowa – Following the resignation of State Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, this week in Iowa House District 46, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday, August 6, 2019 as the date for the special election to replace her.
Heddens, 55, resigned after her appointment to the Story County Board of Supervisors by the county’s vacancy committee made up of the county auditor, the county treasurer and the county recorder who voted unanimously for her.
She replaces Rick Sanders, the lone Republican on the board, who was appointed as President of the Iowa State Research Park.
The district, which is located entirely in Ames making up the campus town and northwest section of the community, has a sizeable Democrat registered voter advantage with Democrats having over 2000 more registered voters (7,190) than Republicans (5,138). There are 8,015 registered “no party” voters in the district.
Heddens ran unopposed in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Her last contested election was in 2012 when she defeated her Republican challenger, Stephen Quist, by over 3500 votes – 62.9 percent to 37.1 percent. Heddens was first elected to office in 2002.
Ross Wilburn, former Iowa City mayor and city council member who now resides in Ames told the progressive website Bleeding Heartland that he plans to run for the Democratic nomination.
Ames School Board member
Neither the Iowa Democratic Party or Republican Party of Iowa have not announced dates for a special nominating convention. Independent candidates and third-party candidates can also run by nominating petitions. The filing deadline is July 12th.