WATERLOO — Gary Kroeger has ended his bid for the Democratic nomination for the 1st District U.S. House seat, instead setting his sights on the Iowa House post now held by multi-term Republican incumbent Walt Rogers.
Kroeger, a “Saturday Night Live” alum and advertising executive, launched his congressional campaign a year ago. But Wednesday the Waterloo resident said he believes his focus should be on state issues.
“If your aim is true as a politician, then you must be willing to go where you are needed the most,” Kroeger said in a statement announcing the formation of an exploratory committee for Iowa House District 60.
Kroeger said as he met people on the campaign trail, he realized the issues he is focused on are most relevant at the state level.
“In every corner of the district, Iowans have shared concern our public schools have been given a low priority by our current governor and complicit members of the Iowa Legislature, as well as a concern over the privatization of Medicaid and a general neglect of essential infrastructure,” Kroeger continued.
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He said many lawmakers are more focused on corporate tax breaks than “quality of life” items such as education, job opportunities, health care and mental health services, infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
The state and federal filing period to be on the June primary ballot is March 18. No one yet has filed for the 1st District congressional primaries, though Democrats Pat Murphy of Dubuque and Monica Vernon of Cedar Rapids have announced bids to challenge incumbent Rep. Rod Blum, a Dubuque Republican expected to seek re-election.
Rogers has filed paperwork to run for re-election. House District 60 includes part of Cedar Falls, as well as Hudson and Voorhies.
Rogers said he looks forward to a discussion of priorities should Kroeger challenge him.
“Everybody has a perspective on how the economy works and how schools are funded,” Rogers said at the Capitol on Wednesday. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve funded schools pretty well, at least keeping up to the cost of living.”
Rogers, who first won election to the seat in 2010, also briefly sought the Republican nod for the 1st District U.S. House seat in 2014 before successfully seeking re-election to the Statehouse. He is one of four House assistant majority leaders.
Gary Kroeger
Rogers
