Republican state Rep. Christopher Rants says he's edging closer to running for governor, saying the party wants someone who can bridge gaps between social and fiscal conservatives.
Rants is a former House speaker from Sioux City who is in his ninth term in the Legislature.
The 41-year-old Rants is known for his sometimes caustic approach to politics but in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, he argued he could bring together a state Republican party divided between religious conservatives and those focused on budget matters.
If he runs, Rants would likely join Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats, who has indicated he'll seek the office.
Democratic Gov. Chet Culver has made it clear he'll run for a second term.
