Either of the two Republican candidates duking it out for a primary win on Tuesday will face stiff competition in November's general election, a political watcher said.
Republicans will have a choice to make Tuesday. and are both hoping voters will choose them to take on incumbent Democrat Bruce Braley for Iowa's First District U.S. Congressional seat.
In 2010, the Congressional district map was redrawn after the state lost a seat in the House of Representatives. University of Northern Iowa political science professor Chris Larimer said that could give Braley an advantage.
"It has Scott County leaving. Scott County went for Lange in 2010," he said. "And Linn County now is part of the district, and of course that's a very urban Democratic district with Cedar Rapids."
That doesn't mean Braley is guaranteed a win. In 2010, he beat Lange by less than two percentage points despite outspending the Republican five to one. Both Lange and Blum have brought in endorsements that could help motivate their base; Iowa Right to Life endorsed Lange, and Blum has picked up Tea Party nods.
The first district added 11 counties in 2010. It now includes Linn, Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Bremer, Fayette, Clayton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Jones, Jackson, Poweshiek and Iowa counties.
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