Iowa Gubernatorial Race, 2006: Progressive Ed Fallon Throws Hat into Ring as Sally Pederson Bows Out

by Linda Thieman

Progressive State Representative Ed Fallon (D-Des Moines) announced Wednesday that after a lengthy exploratory campaign, he has made his decision and will formally announce in January that he plans to seek the office of Governor of Iowa.

In the initial two-year exploratory phase of the campaign, Fallon was able to bring in close to $100,000 and create a grassroots organization of some 500 volunteers from around Iowa.  Fallon has toured the state extensively and believes that “my message resonates with Iowans across the political and geographic spectrum.”

Fallon will leave his job as Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Iowa at the end of the year.  He has been with the organization for five years.

In other Iowa news, Democratic Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, long considered the presumptive front runner in the 2006 Iowa gubernatorial race, announced Tuesday that she will not seek the office of Governor.