Four Democratic hopefuls are vying for the party’s nomination to run against Republican Jim Nussle in the Iowa gubernatorial race this fall.

The decision between Mike Blouin, Chet Culver, Ed Fallon and Sal Mohamed will be made in the June 6 primaries.

In the 2005 mayoral race, 6,756 people voted out of 46,971 registered voters in the city of Ames.

“I think it’s important for everyone to participate in elections. It’s our right and we need to take advantage of it,” said Julianne Bacon, junior in psychology.

Bacon said she has researched all the candidates and didn’t make a decision until she knew each platform.

Katherine Lundberg, sophomore in political science, said she also made her decision based on candidate’s platforms.

“I checked the Web sites – they were a good resource – and talked to friends. A lot of my friends are on candidates’ staffs so they helped out a lot too,” she said.

Lundberg said she also went to the debate in the Memorial Union.

Not all students are informed about the candidates.

“More than likely, I won’t vote. I’m not aware of it,” said Carmen Paz, sophomore in biochemistry.

Paz said she didn’t know who the candidates were, so she didn’t think she should vote.

Robert Houk, professor at the Ames Laboratory, said he wasn’t planning to vote either, but for a different reason.

“I’m a Republican,” he said.

With Nussle the only Republican candidate, the primaries are a bigger issue for Democrats.

“I’d recommend students to look up candidates’ positions on the Internet, and participate in the primaries,” he said.

Houk knew all the candidates, Democrat and Republican.

Absentee ballots for the primaries are available from the county auditor.

Hopefuls differ on big issues

Abortion:

Blouin: Anti-abortion, but will not expand or restrict any abortions in Iowa. Instead wants to deal with the cause of unwanted pregnancy.

Fallon: Will veto any legislation impacting the right to choose, but will try to bring the two sides together to reduce number of abortions.

Culver: Will protect a woman’s right to choose and veto any legislature infringing on that right.

Mohamed: Abortion rights activist and believes abortion is an issue of choice, not an issue of religion.

Nussle: Anti-abortion, including votes against partial birth abortion.

Higher education:

Blouin: Will increase funding to freeze tuition for at least four years.

Fallon: Will increase funding to education systems to make the system more accessible to all Iowans.

Culver: Believes higher education should be accessible and affordable for everyone.

Mohamed: Wants every student in Iowa to have the opportunity to go to a four-year college.

Nussle: As House Budget Committee chairman, helped create a plan to cut student loans earlier this year.

Stem-cell research:

Blouin: In favor of stem-cell research consistent with federal law.

Culver: Supports stem-cell research and overturning Iowa’s ban on stem-cell research.

Fallon: In favor of repealing the ban on stem-cell research.

Mohamed: In favor of all academic freedom, including stem-cell research.

Nussle: In 2005, voted against allowing human embryonic stem-cell research.

Death penalty:

Blouin: Not in favor of reinstating the death penalty in Iowa.

Culver: Believes in some, limited cases, the death penalty is warranted.

Fallon: Strongly opposed to the death penalty.

Mohamed: Strongly opposed to the death penalty.

Nussle: Supports death penalty with attitude – more prisons and enforcement, combined with an effective death penalty.

Health care:

Blouin: Health care for all children, increase Medicaid funding and increase funding for women’s health.

Fallon: Health care availability to all by comprehensive reform.

Culver: Affordable, quality health care for every Iowan.

Mohamed: Health care reform to make health care accessible to all Iowans.

Nussle: Opposed increasing federal funding for health care.