An Odebolt resident who launched a primary election challenge to former state Rep. Mike Sexton last year is seeking the Iowa House seat he recently vacated.

Wendy Larson has announced her candidacy for the House District 7 seat. That district includes Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac counties plus western Webster County.

“I will stand up for conservative values by upholding the Constitution,” Larson said in a written statement. “I believe in America and love what it stands for, and I am ready to protect, defend and expand freedoms in Iowa. I promise to stand on our American principles of faith, family and freedom.”

She said she is opposed to the use of eminent domain to acquire land for carbon dioxide pipelines. She said she is also opposed to “foreign land ownership endangering security and indoctrination of children in schools.”

Larson and her husband, Chad, have three children who were home schooled. She is a deaconess at Kiron Baptist Church and a volunteer at the Mobile Food Pantry.

The candidate earned a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is a small business owner.

Republicans in District 7 will select their candidate during a nominating convention to begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Calhoun County Courthouse.

Rachel Burns, of Odebolt, is the Democratic candidate for the seat.

Sexton resigned Sept. 19 to become head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development programs in Iowa. A special election to replace him will be on Dec. 9.