By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — Congressional races in Eastern Iowa are expected to heat up this year under newly drawn district lines, which replaced three smaller districts with two large ones.
Races in the 1st and 2nd districts involve Republican challengers looking to unseat Democratic incumbents who have held the seats for three terms. U.S. Representatives Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack, both Democrats representing the 1st and 2nd districts, respectively, will have to overcome a growing number of GOP voter registrations and unfamiliar constituents in larger districts to retain their positions.
Braley is set for a rematch against Republican Ben Lange, who ran against the Democrat in 2010 and lost by nearly 4,200 votes, or less than 2 percent.
Loebsack will run against Republican John Archer, a political newcomer and attorney for John Deere. The new district lines that favor Archer in that the 2nd District now include Davenport and Bettendorf. Archer lives and works in Bettendorf. The district’s previous population center — Cedar Rapids — was removed during redistricting.
