After gaining official candidacy status in March, a challenger for Iowa’s 4th District House of Representatives seat has begun focusing his campaign efforts on securing a base of loyal supporters.

Selden Spencer, a Democrat and neurologist from Huxley who practices in Ames, will challenge incumbent Tom Latham, a Republican in his sixth term, for the 4th District spot in November’s midterm elections.

Spencer said he has begun focusing his campaign on consolidating support from Democrats in Iowa’s 4th congressional district, which includes Ames.

“This is still preliminary, but the standard approach to these campaigns is to try to secure a loyal base,” Spencer said.

Establishing himself with voters in his party will occupy the early stages of his campaign, but he said he plans to attract centrist voters to his camp, as well.

“There’s probably 20 percent of the electorate that’s more or less independent,” he said. “We need to appeal to them, and I think there are enough disaffected Republicans that we can approach, as well.”

James Carstensen, communications director for Latham, said the congressman won’t hit the campaign trail until later in the year, preferring to focus on his responsibilities in Washington.

Because Latham currently faces no opposition for the GOP nomination, Carstensen said the congressman will probably not have to focus on his campaign until well after the June primaries.

“As far as the campaign season for Mr. Latham, it’ll begin as soon as he’s completed his work on Capitol Hill,” Carstensen said.

Nicole Woodroffe, president of the ISU College Republicans, said the group has helped Latham’s past campaign efforts by knocking on doors and mobilizing voters on his behalf.

Woodroffe, senior in political science, said Latham’s experience in Congress for more than a decade gives him a substantial advantage.

“Latham has a pretty strong hold of his supporters who’ve been with him for the last several campaigns,” she said.

“I see no reason why they wouldn’t continue to support him in November.”

ISU Democrats President Drew Larson, senior in accounting, said he agrees Spencer faces a significant obstacle in Latham’s incumbency advantage, but he said Spencer can capitalize on his background in health care.

Spencer’s resume includes no political experience, but Larson said his expertise in medicine puts him in a position to build a strong candidacy.

“He’s seen the problems that people face in terms of health care,” he said.

“Incumbency is an advantage, but there are certainly many people out there who would consider voting for him.”