Four people are seeking to fill the seat that will be left vacant by the retirement of state Rep. Dolores Mertz during the 2010 elections.
And in another House of Representatives race, Republican Stewart Iverson Jr. is trying to return to the Iowa Capitol where he served for 17 years by running against state Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City.
Meanwhile, two Republicans are vying for the chance to run against state Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge.
At the opposite extreme is state Rep. David Tjepkes, R-Gowrie, who faces no Democratic or Republican opposition in his bid for a fifth term.
The list of candidates in the races for the state Legislature and the 4th Congressional District became final at 5 p.m. Friday when the deadline for filing nomination petitions with Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro expired.
The office-seekers who made the deadline will appear on their party's ballot in the June 8 primary election.
Primary election winners will advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
Seeking to replace Mertz
Mertz, D-Ottosen, announced earlier this month that she will retire when her term expires at the end of this year. She has served in the House for 22 years.
She represents the 8th House District, which includes Humboldt and Pocahontas counties, southern Kossuth County and northwestern Webster County.
One Democrat, Susan Bangert, of Algona, is running for that House seat. A call seeking comment from Bangert wasn't immediately returned Friday night.
Republicans Stephen Richards, of Algona; Tom Shaw, of Laurens; and Alissa Wagner, of Rutland; are seeking their party's nomination.
Richards, a physician, was narrowly defeated by Mertz in 2008.
Shaw, a veteran of 20 years in the Navy, is the police chief in Laurens. He has not held elected office before.
''I think it's just time for our Legislature to get back to legislating based on the United States Constitution and the Iowa Constitution,'' Shaw said.
Wagner said some people asked her to run for the House of Representatives just this week.
''Dolores has done a great job,'' she said. ''I want to continue on the same note that she has.''
Wagner is the human resources director for Blacktop Service Co. in Humboldt. She grew up between Fort Dodge and Humboldt and graduated from St. Edmond High School. She has a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in Ames and a master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Iverson comeback
Bailey faces no opposition from within the Democratic Party in his bid for a third term.
But in November, he will face Iverson, a former Senate majority leader from Clarion.
Iverson served in the House from 1990 to 1994. Then he served in the Senate from 1995 to 2006.
Bailey and Iverson are running in the 8th House District, which includes Wright County, most of Hamilton County and southeastern Webster County.
Senate race showdown
Larry Aden, of Jolley, and Chris McGonegle, of Fort Dodge, are seeking the Republican nomination in the 25th Senate District.
A call seeking comment from Aden wasn't returned Friday.
McGonegle is a flooring contractor who is making his first run for office.
Aden and McGonegle hope to oppose Beall, who is seeking his third term.
Beall represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Calhoun and Greene counties and most of Webster County.
Other races
U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames, is seeking his ninth term in the sprawling 4th Congressional District, which includes Webster County.
His Democratic opponent in November will be Bill Maske, a school superintendent from Truro.
The 5th Senate District race will feature Sen. Rich Olive, D-Story City, facing a challenge from Robert Bacon, of Maxwell, as he seeks his second term. The district includes Hamilton and Wright counties plus parts of Story and Webster counties.
In the 49th House District, Rep. Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge, is seeking her fifth term. She has no primary election opponent and will face Republican Matt Alcazar, of Fort Dodge, in the November general election. The district they're seeking to represent includes Fort Dodge and northeastern Webster County.
Tjepkes, who is totally unopposed, represents the 50th House District. That district includes Calhoun and Greene counties and southern Webster County.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net