Political Campaigns
Braley won this open seat after eight-term Republican congressman Jim Nussle stepped down to make an unsuccessful run for Governor in 2006. The 1st district had been in Republican hands since 1979. However, eastern Iowa has swung heavily to the Democrats since the 1990s. The district has supported the Democratic candidate for president in every election since 1988. The district, which was numbered as the 2nd District for most of the period from Iowa's statehood until 2003, became even more Democratic when Davenport and Bettendorf were shifted into it from the old 1st District (now the 2nd). Many considered it likely that Nussle would be succeeded by a Democrat once he retired.
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