DES MOINES — In the final gubernatorial debate between Democratic Gov. Chet Culver and former four-term Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, the two candidates were asked where they stood on the retention vote of three of Iowa’s Supreme Court justices. Culver quickly said he would vote to retain all of them, but Branstad refused to provide a definite answer.

“I think people should vote their own convictions on these issues,” Branstad said. “I’m not going to try to influence the way they vote on ballot issues.”

Culver said “governors need to lead” and said he is not only supporting the justices, but also that the merit selection system is the best in the nation.

“I think leadership and the essence of leadership is standing up, taking a stand, and people respect that,” said Bob Vander Plaats, head of the American Family Association’s Iowa For Freedom, leading the way to give the justices the boot Tuesday.

Vander Plaats spoke at the conclusion of a Judge Bus tour, sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council, at the steps of the Iowa Supreme Court on Thursday.

The three justices face a routine vote of retention, which typically is a passive affair, but this year they encounter strong opposition from conservative activists. The activists claim the court practiced “judicial activism on steroids” for their unanimous ruling that declared the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. This, in effect, legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

DOMA was signed into law in 1998 by then-Gov. Branstad during his last term. His lieutenant governor at the time, Joy Corning, became a co-chair of Justice, Not Politics, a group formed to support the justices.

Branstad’s Republican predecessors, Gov. Robert Ray and Lt. Gov. Art Neu, have also been outspoken in support of the justices, along with Vander Plaats’ former secretary and treasurer of his gubernatorial campaigns, attorney and Republican Dan Moore.

Other advocates supporting the Supreme Court justices include former Gov. Tom Vilsack and his wife, Christie Vilsack, Sen. Tom Harkin and Ruth Harkin, member of the Iowa Board of Regents, former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, a number of gay rights groups and former Iowa Supreme Court justices such as Mark McCormick.

“The threat to our judicial system, I think, is the organizational effort to oust judges based on an unpopular decision,” McCormick said.

Culver has gone so far as to attend fundraisers for gay rights groups.

Branstad reiterated his sentiment to the Sioux City Journal editorial board and said he wouldn’t comment on any of the ballot issues. But he then went on to support other ballot issues including again amending the Iowa Constitution to ban marriage equality.

“I’d encourage him to stand up and take a stand like Gov. [Tim] Pawlenty has, like Mike Huckabee has, like Newt Gingrich has,” Vander Plaats said, listing off notable Republicans who have spoken out in favor of Iowa For Freedom’s efforts.

Vander Plaats dismissed the bipartisan opposition to his group as the “ruling class bonding together.”

To date, conservative groups, mostly based outside of Iowa, have spent nearly $1 million in an effort to oust the justices.