Ames Progressive

On Wednesday, I skipped class and town to catch a ride to Des Moines, where former State Representative Ed Fallon officially announced his campaign to unseat Congressman Leonard Boswell in this year’s Democratic primary election for the 3rd Congressional District on June 3.

Fallon for Congress campaign headquarters, 2715 Cottage Grove Avenue. (photos: Gavin Aronsen)

Fallon previously campaigned to be Iowa’s governor, but placed third behind then-Secretary of State Chet Culver and then-Department of Economic Development Director Michael Blouin in the 2006 Democratic primary. Still, Fallon’s 26 percent turnout far exceeded the initial conventional expectations.

After that, Fallon sustained his visibility in Iowa Democratic politics, campaigning for Culver, who handily defeated Republican Jim Nussle. As 2006 came to a close, Fallon announced his support for presidential hopeful John Edwards, endorsing the candidate’s views on campaign finance reform, universal health care and poverty reduction, among others. Fallon also founded An Independence Movement for Iowa in early 2007.

Still, Fallon continues to take heat from more moderate Democrats who view such actions as his endorsement of Ralph Nader in 2000 as a betrayal to the party. In 2004, Fallon did endorse a Democrat, but that Democrat was Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, no friend of the establishment.

Not surprisingly, The Des Moines Register, which placed a lot of focus on the quirkier and unconventional sides of Fallon in its coverage of his run for governor, made a point to include his past endorsement of Nader in its coverage of the latest campaign announcement while neglecting to mention his much more recent endorsement of Edwards.

Before I entered the realm of journalism, I had a brief stint working for the Story County Democratic Party after Fallon’s loss. But my only extensive campaign experience was volunteering for Fallon’s gubernatorial campaign for about a year and a half, up until the day of the June 6 primary.

Even then, I heard suggestions that, if Fallon were to lose the primary, he should consider a run against Boswell, a man many progressives have reservations about over his conservative voting record.

After the gubernatorial campaign, Fallon repeatedly stated that he had no interest at the time in Washington politics and wanted to remain involved as a progressive leader for the state. But times have since changed, apparently. Boswell himself reportedly knew about Fallon’s decision to challenge him last November, if not earlier.

The Register article reported on the statement Boswell issued in response to Fallon’s announcement: “I’ll put my work ethic and record standing up for everyday working families up against anyone. Whether it’s improving health care for women and children; expanding educational opportunities; promoting a modern day energy policy that creates jobs for Iowans; and making sure our returning veterans receive the care they deserve - I will continue to take a common sense approach to solving problems and challenges we face together.”

At Wednesday’s press conference, Fallon emphasized campaign finance reform, global warming and fiscal responsibility and budget reform as his top three campaign issues.

Michael Gillespie, writer for Washington Report on Middle East Affairs magazine, speaks with Fallon prior to the press conference.

He called Boswell a “man of dignity” and said he “[had] a lot of respect for the man,” and he was met with laughter when he later added, “If Boswell wins, I will support him in the general election, and I plan to ask him the same question.”

But, in what has become a primary selling point among Democrats currently vying for public office, Fallon said he was the candidate of change in the race: “This is the best time ever for me to run. I mean, I’ve been talking about change since 1992…. This fall is going to be a great year for Democrats, especially Democrats who represent change.”

Boswell, Fallon said, failed to represent his constituency in his votes for, among a number of other things, the USA Patriot Act, bankruptcy bill and funding for the Iraq war. Boswell did eventually vote against funding, but it wasn’t until last December, after he knew of the challenge in store from Fallon.

Fallon stressed the importance of getting someone fresh to represent the district, contending that Boswell may not be the man best fit for the job come 2012 when Iowa is likely to lose one of its five congressional seats.

Left to right: Field Director Christina Jens, Lucas County Democratic Chair Buzz Malone, Campaign Manager Lynn Heuss, Fallon and Field Organizer Ali Thebert at the conference.

Of course, the powers that be rarely allow for an easy fight. Boswell already has over $600,000 in campaign funds (a majority of which come from political action committees). Fallon said his campaign planned to raise $700,000 by the time of the primary, a lofty goal considering the candidate’s refusal to accept money from political action committees and lobbyists.

The establishment no doubt fears what Fallon’s challenge might hold in store for a Democratic retention of the 3rd district seat; on the day of Fallon’s announcement, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa announced his support for Boswell.

“[I’m] not surprised,” Fallon said. “Incumbents tend to support incumbents … I don’t expect many sitting Democrats to support me.”

Despite the odds, Fallon probably has a better chance of winning in June than some might give him credit for. In his bid for governor, he not only overwhelmingly won Des Moines’s Polk County in the primary, but he also placed first in the 3rd district as a whole.

Edwards and Barack Obama, both of whom Fallon commended for their advocacy of campaign finance reform, performed far better than Clinton — Boswell’s candidate of choice whom Fallon said “more represent[s] the status quo” and would be the “hardest sell” for Democrats in the general election — in the 3rd district Iowa caucuses.

Fallon’s grassroots campaign tactics have proved successful beyond expectations more than once in the past, and the 3rd district leans Democratic (Fallon mentioned that Culver, who pegs himself as a progressive, took the 3rd by a considerably wider margin than did Boswell in the two men’s respective victories in 2006) – good signs for a Fallon bid.

From left: Database Administrator Clark McMullen, Thebert, volunteer Dean Porter and Jens in the Fallon for Congress kitchen before the announcement; Malone presents his endorsement of Fallon at the conference.

In any case, for many progressives in the 3rd district Fallon’s decision has been a long time coming. For some party faithfuls, presumably, it will be a thorn in the side that they would rather not have to deal with.

Should be a fun race to follow. Expect more in the February issue of the Progressive.