State Senator Nate Boulton’s exit from the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor a dozen days before the primary has voters scrambling to reconsider their choices. A recent Des Moines Register Iowa Poll showed Boulton in second place, behind perceived front-runner Fred Hubbell. Dianne Bystrom, head of the Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, says voters who were “all in” for Boulton may migrate to anyone but Hubbell.
Those two female candidates — Cathy Glasson and Andy McGuire — both called on Boulton to exit the race after The Des Moines Register published the accusations of three women who say Boulton touched them inappropriately. Boulton apologized, but made the distinction the alleged activity happened in a social setting.
The Democratic Leader in the Iowa Senate has called on Boulton to resign from the legislature. Bystrom says it’s “not impossible, but increasingly difficult” for someone to return to elected office once confronted with allegations like this.
Boulton again apologized for anything he said or did that women who came forward believe had crossed a line.
