NEWS FLASH

Republican In Iowa’s Special Election: Marriage Equality Should Be Put To An Up Or Down Vote | Candidates for Iowa’s special state Senate election briefly touched on same-sex marriage during a candidate forum on Thursday. Democrat Liz Mathis reiterated her support for the Iowa State Supreme Court appellate decision in favor of marriage equality, characterizing it as “constitutionally sound,” while Republican challenger Cindy Golding said Iowans should be allowed to vote on the issue. “Until we allow the citizens of Iowa to vote on this issue and the citizens of Iowa to vote it up or vote it down, it will continue to take all of the political attention and energy off of other issue,” she said. A Republican victory would evenly split the balance of power in the Senate and pave the way for a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriages. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has partnered with Iowa’s FAMiLY LEADER to turn out the social conservative vote for Golding, and the groups have “canvassed neighborhoods to knock on doors” on Golding’s behalf.