NOM-Backed Candidate Loses in Iowa

The National Organization for Marriage met defeat in Iowa on Tuesday when Republican candidate Stephen Burgmeier (pictured), who received substantial financial support from the antigay group, lost a special election for a state house seat.

In recent weeks, the race for the district 90 seat in southeast Iowa became a bellwether for those seeking to determine how same-sex marriage, which was legalized in Iowa in April, would affect statewide races in 2010.

According to The Des Moines Register, "Democratic candidate Curt Hanson, a retired schoolteacher, won against GOP candidate and Jefferson County supervisor Stephen Burgmeier by 3,932 to 3,825 votes, according to unofficial tallies."

As supervisor, Burgmeier led calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn the state supreme court's unanimous marriage equality ruling. He benefited from $86,060 in political advertising on local radio and television, paid for by NOM.

NOM's spending is now the subject of a complaint filed on Monday, charging that the organization violated campaign disclosure laws.