Dear Friends:
Let me begin with the other news first. Yesterday, I announced I would not be running for re-election to my state senate seat in 2022.
As I said in my statement (see below), I am announcing now because I know I won’t be running for re-election and I believe it is important to allow new candidates to get started on their campaigns. Thanks to everyone who has shared kind thoughts and support. Here is the complete statement I issued:
“Today, I am announcing I will not be seeking re-election in 2022. It has been an honor to represent the people of Senate District 33 in the Iowa Senate.
“I am proud of my accomplishments in the Iowa Legislature, including flood recovery, flood mitigation, the Iowa Flood Center, watershed management authorities, expansion of solar power and other renewable energy, Iowa’s preschool program, Iowa’s STEM education initiative, expanded job training programs through our community colleges, raising the minimum wage, prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ Iowans, strengthening Iowa’s child safety seat law, and passing Iowa’s smoke-free law.
“I have not finalized my plans for the future. This has certainly been a time for reflection about what’s important in life. But I do know I will not be running for re-election in my current senate district so I am making this announcement today. I also know there are other highly qualified people who are interested in running, and I believe it is important to allow candidates to get started. I look forward to seeing what new Democratic candidates can do to compete and win across Iowa.”
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I do have another year-and-a-half as a state senator and, beyond that, I hope to stay involved in public policy. I strongly support our leaders, Senator Zach Wahls and Representative Jennifer Konfrst, and the work of legislative Democrats to pick up seats and take back the majority in both chambers.
We had a great event with Senator Wahls last night at Overlook Pavilion in Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids. I hope you can support the Iowa Senate Democrats’ Majority Fund. You can contribute online at this link:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/iowa-senate-majority-fund-1
You can also mail a check made payable to the “Senate Majority Fund” care of Senator Rob Hogg, P.O. Box 1361, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406, and I will be sure to get it to Senator Wahls and the Iowa Senate Democratic campaign team. Thanks to all who have already contributed. Democrats need your financial help to compete and win across the state in 2022, especially as we are waiting for the new district maps.
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State Rep. Ras Smith announced he is a candidate for Governor today. Here is a link to a one-minute, 47- second video to introduce his candidacy:
State Rep. Ras Smith is a husband, father, veteran state lawmaker from Waterloo, with a family farm in Grundy County. We don’t know who else will run, but I hope you will watch his video and follow his campaign.
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With the drought deepening and spreading across Iowa, and other parts of the United States, the fight against climate change and for a sustainable future is as urgent as ever.
Please take action to conserve and sustain our natural resources. And please speak up with our national Congressional delegation – both Republicans (Ernst, Grassley, Feenstra, Hinson, and Miller-Meeks) and Democrat (Axne) – to urge them to actually pass climate legislation this summer.
If you would like to get more involved and more informed, please join me on Thursday, July 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., for a statewide virtual event called “99 Counties for Climate Action.”
Speakers include Phil Engen, a volunteer with Citizens Climate Lobby; Brian Campbell, the new director of the Iowa Environmental Council; Genie Maybanks, the new director of the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association; and Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Iowa resident and long-time board member of the National Wildlife Federation.
You can learn more about this event at this Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2927530794172841
Here is an Eventbrite link where you can register and get the Zoom link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/99-counties-for-climate-action-tickets-158619508219
I hope you will join me for this event, and please speak up for the climate action we so urgently need.
Rob
Senator Rob Hogg
Cedar Rapids
Telephone: (319) 247-0223
Email: SenatorRobHogg@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoggForSenate
Twitter: @SenatorRobHogg
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