MASON CITY – State Senator Amanda Ragan’s closest brush with defeat has left many north Iowans shocked, with more than a few Republicans irked at the defeated GOP nominee – whose defeat some of them predicted nearly a year ago. As NIT earlier reported, some party honchos in Des Moines decided, early on, that Mrs. Latham was to be their party’s candidate. Insiders from both political parties say that this was the GOP’s undoing, and their meddling got Ragan re-elected.
This wasn’t news to Steve Minert, the co-owner of the Harley-Davidson franchises in Mason City and Charles City, who wanted to take on the five-term Ragan in 2018. But Mr. Minert and Todd Blodgett – who was to have managed the businessman’s campaign – were sidelined by a shadowy, well-funded, Des Moines-based organization called the Majority Fund. Back in February, the Republican Majority Fund, through operative Edward ‘Eddy’ Failor III, allegedly threatened Minert and Blodgett. Failor, speaking for then-Senator Bill Dix, warned that if Minert entered the race, the Majority Fund would drop major money into Latham’s candidacy.
Rep. Linda Upmeyer, the Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, who lives in Senator Ragan’s district, didn’t immediately respond to questions from NIT Wednesday morning regarding Latham’s better-than-expected showing. Cerro Gordo county GOP chairman Barb Hovland earlier expressed strong opposition to what the Des Moines-based Republicans did, as have numerous other Republicans, telling NIT she “would favor the strongest possible GOP candidate” to take on Senator Ragan. Republicans feel Minert was likely the best candidate.
Some Democrats feared a Minert candidacy would’ve handily beat Ragan, because of his strong presence in Mason City and Clear Lake – which Latham apparently lacked (Ragan handily beat Latham in Cerro Gordo county, for example). Mr. Minert told NIT he was prepared to kick off his campaign with $150,000 of his own money, in the Primary, and add even more of his own funds in the general election. Republicans and Democrats told NIT that with Todd Blodgett in charge of Minert’s campaign, including raising funds, the Republican challenger would have outspent the incumbent (Ragan) by four, five, or even six-to-one.
– Official White House photo
Based on Blodgett’s track record, that claim is very likely true. Dating back to 1992, candidates that Blodgett has supported have consistently been elected, and out-raised their opponents. While he is a Republican, Mr. Blodgett has assisted numerous Democrats over the years, and all won. Democrats he has advised include former Cerro Gordo county Supervisors Jay Urdahl and Phil Dougherty, the late Mason City Councilman Alex J. Kuhn, Mason City School Board member Jodi Draper, at-Large City Councilman Paul Adams, and Cerro Gordo county Auditor Adam Wedmore.
After the election, Senator Ragan thanked her throngs of supporters and said, “Your hard work throughout this campaign paid off, and I am delighted to continue representing you in the Iowa Senate.” Only a truly-dedicated conservative candidate with the dollars to back him up could have defeated Senator Ragan.
Minert was unavailable for comment, and Blodgett didn’t return NIT’s calls. He did, however, reply to an email on Nov. 14. “This campaign is over,” Mr. Blodgett wrote. “The outcome was as unfortunate as it was predictable. Hopefully, the arrogant know-it-alls down in Des Moines have learned from their mistake and will listen next time.”
In response, NIT emailed Blodgett back and asked him if the lesson for GOP political professionals is to listen to him and heed his advice. He replied, “yes.”
A Mason City Republican volunteer said, “Todd’s very cocky, but he’s smart, and he knows how to win. No wonder kids wanted to beat him up in Middle School all the time. No one dares try that anymore since he’s got a gun now. All that aside, he was right: had Blodgett run Steve Minert’s campaign, Amanda wouldn’t have stood a chance. It would not have even been close.”
A former county official, a Democrat, told NIT that, “Minert has almost a Donald Trump-like reach. He’d have run very strong in the blue-collar, working class parts of Mason City. That would’ve made all the difference, because Amanda only hung on by the skin of her teeth, with those votes.” This source also said, “Nobody – and I mean, NOBODY – hits harder than Mr. Blodgett. I mean, he’s relentless, and he loves doing it. Amanda would’ve not had a clue on how to respond to the attacks that [Blodgett] would have launched against her. He’d have rocked her world, and it would’ve worked. Then there’s the money. The Republicans would have BURIED Amanda, with Minert running and Todd calling the shots. Had Steve been the challenger, Amanda would be back in the kitchen, full-time.”
The kitchen that the Democrat referenced is the North Iowa Community Kitchen, which Senator Ragan generously operates when she is in Mason City.
(via social media)
A retired north Iowa educator and public servant who has been active in Democratic politics for years spoke with NorthIowaToday.com on the condition of anonymity. This source was direct about what went down. “Let’s just say I’m ecstatic that the Republicans kept their snippy, nasty, deranged pit bull caged-up this time,” he told NIT, referring to Mr. Blodgett. “I’ve witnessed the damage that Toddy Boy and his arrogant daddy, old Doc, have caused over the years, with their fascist campaigns that got the wrong people elected. Todd has injected Lee Atwater tactics into our area, which is awful. It’s good that a pro-Blodgett right winger won’t be representing us in the state Senate.” This Democrat added that, “Steve Minert could be a nice guy, and I’ve heard he’s smart, unlike most Republicans. But he’s a rich redneck. Amanda, on the other hand, has a degree in Social Work. Her seniority counts down at the Capitol and she knows what she’s doing. Electing a rich Harley dealer would be as dumb as sending a rich Orthodontist to represent us,” he said, referring to Todd’s father, Dr. Gary Blodgett.
The senior Blodgett, also a conservative Republican, represented Cerro Gordo county in the Iowa Legislature from 1992 to 2001, retiring as Deputy Majority Leader before becoming a federal Judge. “Just because it would’ve pleased the rednecks and the rich doesn’t mean it’s good for the rest of us,” the Democrat said. “After all, the state Senate shouldn’t be only for rednecks and filthy rich folks.”
Minert/Jilek? Just sayin?
You don’t know what kind of canidate and what if and any skeletons would have came out on Minert that may hurt his chances for election. Politics can be very dirty. So who really can say he was the better person to run.
Minert he went out to the country club meets Bookie they do that sham deal give away city money to the Harley. Our money.
This story says Minert, well his campaign would of been run by Todd Blodgett ok he was the one got Bookmeyer to that table out to the country club where they done that.
Blodgett he likes to hate on welfare people, well he don’t care if its for his rich friend’s he is a Repubiltard druggy that is how.
@ Rail Todd, he is not a druggy now, not no more. That was along time ago, year’s and he has a tone for doing them drugs.
He is clean I do know this, I do know Todd.
Wake up, your wrong by a long shot you old timer.
In Rochester they call it multi-culture-ism ! Mn. voted and elected a muslim to congress (first) – Europe is toast doing this as we speak – these people backed by the democratic party of American and the Elites who want a New World Order (globalization) are a threat to ALL people including themselves but are to greedy to admit it because the MSM is part of their propaganda plan. The term racism is just a ploy – nasty word from long ago that got them everything they wanted – all at the expense of hard working AMERICAN citizens.
This is to the US Navy 1999-02 guy that called the Vietnam era U.S. Army veteran a “moron” and an “old bastard”.
Show come class, or shut up. Just because you’re a Democrat doesn’t mean you have to insult people.
Or, does it?
As long as you apply that same logic (and call you call out people you agree with) to everyone on this site I’m fine with it and I apologize for the name calling. You’re right it was unwarranted.
Thank you, sir.
@ Lois, your right, these half-breed’s in Mason are a big problem, it will just get worse we got to stop it.
Why, look at Storm Lake, even up to Northwood, do we want that. Hell no. we dont. Our boy and his wife they live there, ok they know a young man his name is Tyrone Rodriguez.
Well guess how that happen.
Some these black girls their names I don’t even know how to say. Our grandson he goes to school with a black girl her name is Chiffon, like the butter. Another one of them girls her name is something like Latrinka, can you believe.
These names, they are not like no names I ever seen, most often when we read them its on count of them being in lockup.
@ Ed, if you think about it, as close as Ragan came to getting beat, the votes that kept her in are from these welfare people like the ones who eat at that kitchen she runs.
She best not forget that when she shoots her mouth off down to the state house, we are watching her.
If you think politicians win and lose based on the homeless/shelter/hungry vote then you’re a moron. Old bastards like you vote in droves… not 20,30,40-something people who can’t afford to feed themselves.
I think what he is saying is that out of about 26,000 votes, if only 250 had switched, Mrs. Latham would have won.
That is less than one percent, and it is likely certain that at least 250 Ragan voters are on some form of welfare.
Not surprising as she has the backing of civil employee unions – especially the teachers union (largest in America) – all liberals – 97% + of these people also voted for Hilleary Clinton in 2016 presidential election and will vote democrat in 2020.
Why would the above orginizations vote for anyone but a denocrat? Repiblicians do not support them so why in the world would they even concider voting republician?
Amanda is a textbook Liberal, she is very good at spending someone elses money
@ Sad, that is true. Maybe now that she damn near lost, she will stop bitching about all the Medicaid she wants to make us pay for.
No Amanda won’t never stop pushing for that no way.
See she needs the votes of the fat white chicks has babies with them transplants from Waterloo, Chicago, Detroit, ect.
Wendy you are so right, we are with you. You know, it did not use to be legal for blacks & whites to mix, it should still be that way.
We are not racist, we play the Mills Brothers on our hi-fi all the time. We also love to hear Nat King Cole sing, I make aunt Jemima pancakes for my husband breakfast every Sunday before we go off to church.
But this new crop the ones lives in Mason, they are just bad.
We must get rid of them or they will take over.
I wonder which one of the constant posters on this site wrote this. It is so blatantly racist and stupid that it has to be made up. No person with a brain thinks this way.
@ anon, I have a good brain and so does the wife, we agree with Suzy.
Were sick and tired of all this political correctedness, it will be the death nell of the US of A.
Your really out of it if you think Suzy is wrong, alot of black’s they don’t want their kind marry white’s neither.
If God wanted us to mix he would not of put them over there in Africa and us here in America.
Read the bible will you.
@ Suzy, you go girl, your 100% right here.
These lazy loafers they make all these babies soak they up our money, makes me sick. My neighbor lady, she says the same.
Very glad somebody said what I am thinking, there should be some way we can stop all this since we pay for them.
All of you idiots can move if you don’t like the diversity. Find a place where you can live in your lily white, ignorant world.
This is to anonymous, no we are not racist, we have always treat blacks just like regular people.
These ones here in Mason city now make lot’s of trouble, they need to stop making these welfare babies and robbing people, his does include breaking into houses and stealing.
There are good and bad people that are all races, but too many of these blacks keep getting arrested and making trouble.
They use to be afraid of the cops not now though. Lot’s of them don’t work some never did, this is bad for good people and us that has to pay for them.
You need to change your thinking on this before its too late.
@ Anonymous, the diversity is one thing, and we can live with that.
But all these half breeds running around Mason, they are a problem.
You can call us idiots all you want, but what do you say we should do about these people and the problems they make?
Sorry, Suzy, but you are racist. You are stereotyping an entire race of people. You are the one who needs to change your thinking.
Great reporting, Matt. We all need to know what goes on behind the scenes.
The election is over just foget about it til next time.
I know Shannon Latham, nice enough person but not exactly the “sharpest tool in the shed”.
She was roped into this due to her family & ag connections.
Trust me on this, while Shannon is good person, she’s not very bright or smart.
But she does have a great pumpkin patch!
As far as Steve Minert goes, he knows better, as his checkered past would have bitten him in the ass.
And with Todd Blodgett, while a nice enough guy personally, his background is definelty suspect to say the least.
@ anonymous, if it wasn’t for their families’s money and people they know, Minert and Blodgett would both be locked up.
@ Knows, I bet you won’t say that to them in person.
Your right Jill. Stevie would slap the bitch upside the head, Blodgett would introduce him to his gun!!!!!
Yes, and neither one of them would get arrested for doing that.
But if we assault someone or pull a gun on them, we go down.
Isn’t Cerro Gordo county justice just wonderful?
Plenty of families in town a lot more threatening than the blodgetts and minerts. They are but small fish in a much bigger pool connected to the pacific and atlantic oceans if you catch my drift. Pretty sure the older guy that lived in that shitty house on the corner near the old steak house was up to something. Never got into trouble for shit, and his son has been to jail for seriously injuring people with little to no punishment. Ive felt the pricks wrath first hand. I have several bones he broke that will never heal correctly. Hes changed his name I don’t know how many times….. im not worried though, from the sounds of it the punk was beat up pretty bad in a car accident. Living off of others, while living really well some how? I heard he may be getting medical payments through the military, but I doubt it. He was removed dishonorably from what I heard.
@ anon, I feel for you let me tell you, if somebody is giving you grief you should talk to Todd, he has got rid of some bad dude’s here in MC.
I know this on count of, my ex, she lived next to this crack dealer he was selling that shit all over the n. end. She knows Blodgett, well he sends some guys to the pushers house, they tell him to leave out of town.
Ok so he did not take the hint, they go back a couple day’s later, beat the F out of him, he was like 2 weeks up to Mercy before he left out.
A cop I know, he said MCPD, they cant do things this way, but there real glad somebody does.
I agree
Anyone wonder why meth is still a problem in this area? Other than them being able to snitch on each other for minimal sentencing. There are wealthy people in this area who have no means of properly explaining how they started the businesses they have.
Yes, meth is a problem, but I want to know why none of our law enforcement around here does anything about Mr. Blodgett and his team of thugs who rough people up and even force them to leave this area.
A retired MCPD officer told us how over the years the “Law” in Cerro Gordo county just gives Blodgett a hall pass on his thuggery. Part of the problem is our Republican sheriff and his deputies, who also look the other way in the face of this violence.
Only a landlord who is owed rent money has a right to forcibly evict people from their homes, even if they are not being otherwise lawful.
But Toddy boy acts like he’s above the law, and he gets away with it. I have also heard that he, too, is a drug addict. People say he likes to smoke crack cocaine.
This violent man has been getting away with his violence for way too long. Crystal meth and other drugs are problems, yes, but so is this drug-addicted vigilante whose thugs have hospitalized people and then illegally sent them packing.
You better start running because you could be next.
My Todd could beat you up! All i need to do is tell him you called him a doody head. And he will pound you! He’ll pound your wife too and your kids. All I have to do is tell him what you said.
Latham ran one of the dirtiest campaigns ever. Half truths, and refused to debate or even appear at a townhall with Ragan. Mineart would be the same….so tired of candidates with no stands, just run negative ads. And shame on Upmeyer….she knows the quality of Ragan but stood on partisan politics.
I volunteered at Democratic HQ and made phone calls to get the vote out for Amanda. But I do not think she could have beat Minert.
Last time, when the orange serial liar ran, he out-paced Mrs. Clinton, even here in Mason. Good ‘ole River City is loaded up with racists, misogynists and male chauvinists, who would have been ripe targets for the Republicans. Minert would have harvested enough of those votes to have won, I believe.
In 1996 and 1998, my husband and I put out yard signs for Mike Dunn and Joe LaPointe when they ran against Gary Blodgett. Each time, Dr. Blodgett raised something like 30 or 40 times what our side was able to, and Todd B paid hundreds of north end residents some pretty big money to put out yard signs for his daddy.
After a Democrat unwisely went around and illegally took down some of those Blodgett yard signs, he was roughed up rather severely one night, by some toughs who, he suspected, might have been hired by Todd.
I am just happy Amanda won, again, she serves us so well.
But beware these Republicans, they are vicious.
Stop using the race card with republicans. It undermines the rest of your statements and makes you sound uneducated.
Woulda Coulda Shoulda…….. it matters not. The entire argument is irrelevant and without merit. At least our editor is engaged in something other than copy and paste journalism.
This is for the retire teacher said bad things on Todd, your a puke. I do know Todd he is in my narcotic anonomous group.
His name is not Toddy boy you puke.
He has help me, help’s alot of us we are grateful recovering addict’s that has found new way’s to live.
You hate on Todd, when you point your finger at him theres 4 more points right back at you.
Shame on you who ever you are, if you can not say nice stuff on people you should stFu puke.
You need to get the sirenity prayer maybe you will change. You better. I hope your not my son’s teacher your not nice.
You best change your way’s puke.
@ Drug free: It was bound to show up, sooner or later: a barely literate, grammatically-challenged Blodgett defender, criticizing someone who took Mr. Blodgett to task.
Since 2011, I have regularly logged onto N.I.T. And I have noticed that with very few exceptions, when Mr. Blodgett’s name is cited in an article, or he is quoted, intellectually deficient bloggers defend him.
This applies even when Toddy boy has broken the law, as reported here and in the Globe-Gazette, including when he pulled a loaded gun on some kid who was trying to earn college tuition by working for a carnival.
Whenever Blodgett pens one of his bombastic Op-Ed columns, all of which either advocate or condone violence, it’s a sure thing that north Iowa’s hillbillies will be out in force.
Not unlike the way a full moon brings out the creepiest, pro-Trump weirdos …
Hey Retarded NIAC posting under a different name, you are still a stuffed shirt idiot.
Question…..
Why didn’t Minert run for Steckman’s spot? She was unopposed, you would have thought the Republicans would have welcomed ANY opponent rather than have her run unopposed. Did he not live in her district? Don’t know, just asking.
It was s set up by Republican control freaks in Des Moines. They took away Republican funding that would have went to Minert.
I think people around here know Sharon is in a very safe district. Mr. Minert, according to a previous NIT article about him, lives in Clear Lake, Linda Upmeyer’s district.
I do know that Mr. Blodgett has never tried to run a candidate against Sharon.
Maybe Todd supports her, that is possible, given his support for other Democrats. Or maybe he just feels that running against her would be a waste of time and money.
Sure am glad Amanda won. I’m not worried about higher taxes and liberal policies. I’m pro abortion and no man will tell me what to do with my body and I know Amanda will protect my rights. Full funding for PP now!
That child belongs to the father too… Irregardless of your body or your right to kill.
Well how nice, a ex-teacher goes and calls Stevie a rich redneck, then make fun of Dr Blodgett goes off on lot’s of folks.
Just goes to show how snobby some can be, I bet you they do not even know the Minert’s or the Blodgett’s.
If I was Miss Ragan I would tell these fans of her’s to lay off.
Amanda is a personal friend of mine, and she is a treasure of a public servant. She fully deserved to be re-elected.
The semi-literate comments here from these ignorant rednecks drive me batty. A motorcycle dealer as our state senator?
Really, people? Really?
I suggest that you neanderthals leave this site, forthwith, and drive to a stock car race. Or, maybe go visit your local gun range or take in a gun show, or whatever you fools like to do with your spare time.
May I also suggest that some of you enroll in a remedial english course at NIACC?
And I suggest you kiss my ass.
Pucker up, Bitch.
@ RoadKing, your the king of come-back’s, GOOD one!!!!!!!
Oh look, another Democrat Grammar NAZI!
Your rhetoric isn’t a good representation of Ms. Ragan’s friends I hope.
I think I’ll vote Republican next time if that’s the case.
Stevie, he would of got alot of vote’s from the local, he is good to his workers alot of votes with them likes Harleys we were for him.
Amanda, ok now she use to be good, but she just a professionel politician time for her to be gone.
Yes to bad they didnt get Stevie in there.
Ragan got real lucky here, I am a Democrat we love Trump, we would of voted Minert.
He would of beat her in a land slide, she has held on this seat way to long.
Ragan “generously operates” that kitchen?
Oh no she don’t.
She gets paid, nothing generous about it accept to her.
Nice job of reporting, good thing for working class people that Sen Ragan won. Harleys make too much noise.
Ok so what, Amanda has got degree in social studies, big deal. We are real pissed she got back in she is a commie and a liar pants on fire.
Republican’s should of nominate Minert he would of beat Ragan they were dumb yes.
Wow, thanks genius. You just said what the entire article said.
I saw that, thought that, too …
LOL