Residents in Iowa Senate District 1 will decide Zach Whiting's successor during a special election Dec. 14.

Gov. Kim Reynolds set the date for the vote last week. Whiting, a Republican from Spirit Lake, resigned from his District 1 post Oct. 30 due to an impending move to Texas, where he has accepted a job with a conservative think tank.

As of Tuesday morning, two Republicans – Dave Rowley and Barb Clayton, both of Spirit Lake – had announced campaigns to succeed Whiting. No Democrats have stepped forward.

District 1 includes Osceola, Clay, Lyon, Dickinson and Palo Alto counties. There...