Handpicking Candidates

With the Republican and Democratic primaries just over a month away, legislative candidates are busy knocking on doors and handing out literature to prospective voters. But there is no primary race in the heavily Democratic House district 69, despite the retirement of long time Des Moines lawmaker Wayne Ford. Ford didn’t announce his intentions until a week and half before the filing deadline to get on the June ballot. Iowa Public Radio’s Jeneane beck reports some democrats are accusing party leaders of keeping the retirement a secret to avoid a primary race.