Familiar Names on List Reportedly Interested in Replacing Sen. Pat Ward on GOP Ballot

Candidates reportedly interested in the Republican nomination for the late Sen. Pat Ward’s seat include Ward’s predecessor, Mary Kramer, who stepped down in 2003 to join the diplomatic corps, two elected officials from Clive and a West Des Moines council member.

In a Monday post, the Iowa Republican blog quoted inside sources and said the following individuals “have expressed preliminary interest” in the Senate District 22 seat:

• Scott Cirksena, mayor of Clive
• Terry Amman, Windsor Heights pastor
• Greg Hudson, West Des Moines GOP activist
• Isaiah McGee, former state central committee member, Waukee
• Connie Schmett, longtime GOP activist, West Des Moines
• Ted Weaver, Clive city councilman
• Charles Schneider, West Des Moines city councilman
• Mary Kramer, former state senator and U.S. ambassador

The Iowa Republican also said that it has not yet received confirmation on whether Jeff Mullen, the fiery Waukee Point of Grace Church pastor who challenged Ward in a bitter primary, will ask for consideration at a special Senate District 22 nominating convention on Nov. 8.

Who do you support for the Republican nomination for Senate District 22 in the special election? Is that person on this list? Tell us below in comments.

Mullen reportedly is not interested. The Iowa Republican also reported that another conservative Christian, GOP state central committee member and Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Vice President Gopal Krishna of West Des Moines, “has changed his mind and opted not to run for the seat."

At the special convention, central committee members from Dallas and Polk counties will choose a nominee for the seat Ward, who died earlier this month, had held since 2004.

That nominee will face Democrat Desmund Adams in a special election on Dec. 11.