DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz indicated he was moving closer to a decision on running for retiring Republican Tom Latham's U.S. House seat.
"Friends, I have received a lot of support and encouragement as I have considered becoming a candidate for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District. Next week, I will be making an important and exciting announcement about this race and my future plans to fight for Iowa," Schultz, a Republican, posted on his Facebook page.
If Schultz enters the race, the GOP would have a top-drawer candidate in the competitive swing district, the Hill reported Thursday. Schultz has has close ties with influential religious conservatives and was a backer in former Sen. Rick Santorum's presidential campaign in Iowa.
Expected to mount a GOP bid for the seat is state Sen. Brad Zaun, the Hill said. Mulling over whether to run are Republican state Sens. Jake Chapman and Charles Schneider and state Rep. Rob Taylor.
Latham's late December decision to retire from the House gave Democrats an opportunity to pick up the seat in a district President Obama won by narrow margins in both of his presidential races. Democrats had rallied around Iowa state Sen. Staci Appel before Latham announced his retirement.
