DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - State Rep. Walt Rogers said Thursday he is quitting his campaign for Congress to run for re-election to the Iowa House.
In a statement released Thursday, the Cedar Falls Republican bemoaned missing a vote this week because he was campaigning for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
“It became apparent that I must choose between the two,” he said.
But later Rogers told The Associated Press his congressional campaign’s organization and the competition with three other Republicans were factors, he said.
House Republicans, who hold a six-seat edge in the chamber, did not ask Rogers to remain focused on the legislature, Rogers said.
“They had supported whatever decision I made,” he said. “It was just looking at the landscape of the race.”
Without endorsing him, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has spoken highly of Rogers as a prospect to take back the seat, now held by Democrat Bruce Braley, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than 25,000 in the district, which covers 20 counties including Dubuque and Linn. But voters who choose not to affiliate formally with either party outnumber Democrats by 34,000, according to February statistics kept by the Iowa secretary of state.
Braley has held the seat since 2007.
Rogers, 52, says he’s filing paperwork to run again for House District 60 in northern Iowa, leaving Republicans Dubuque businessman Rod Blum, Marshalltown lawyer Gail Boliver and Cedar Rapids businessman Steve Rathje in the 1st District race.
Rogers said, regarding whether to endorse one of his former congressional race rivals: “I will evaluate that and make a decision soon.”
Five Democrats are seeking the 1st District nomination.
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