UPDATE: Iowa Senator Pat Ward Has Died; National, State GOP Leaders React

State officials announced today that State Sen. Pat Ward, a moderate Republican from West Des Moines, died today following a battle with breast cancer. She was 55.

Ward, who was running for election in Senate District 22 against Democrat Desmund Adams, was absent from the Waukee State House and Senate Candidate Forum on Oct. 6. Officials cited an illness as the reason for her absence.

Dallas County Republican officials said they are encouraging voters to cast their ballots for Ward. The Iowa Republican website says state code calls for a special election in such a case; so the November election results will be essentially meaningless in Senate District 22. On Dec. 11 a special election will be held between Democrat Adams and a Republican candidate selected at a special nominating convention.

Reaction from Husband

The senator’s husband, John, recalled that she had said Sunday that “she was tired of fighting and she couldn’t do it anymore” and canceled her debate schedule.

The last three weeks of the campaign had been “very stressful,” he said, but “she continued thinking she was going to win this battle with cancer."

"She continued to campaign, albeit by telephone and email,” John Ward said Monday. “She was looking forward to winning the election and going back to the Senate.”

In her public life, Ward “did everything with passion,” her husband said, and brought an injected civility into the political process.

“She was passionate about the things she cared about – tax reform, getting everybody employed, and her wanting to have people work together, on the Republican side and the Democratic side,” he said. “She had a lot of Democratic friends and was very successful at compromise and working on issues that would benefit everybody. That, I think people will miss.”

He said funeral arrangments are pending.

Reaction from Elected Officials, Party Leaders

GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney released this statement:  

“Ann and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Senator Pat Ward. Pat was a dedicated public servant who always put her constituents first, and she fought tirelessly on behalf of the community and the state she loved. Her commitment, her passion, and her legacy will endure. Pat’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statements this morning:

“It was with shock and sadness that I learned of my friend Pat Ward’s passing,” Branstad said. “She had a wonderful career in public service, and was such a caring and passionate person. As a senator, she was a champion for her district, took the time to get to know the issues, and worked in a bipartisan manner to enact meaningful legislation on behalf of her constituents. She always had a positive outlook on life, even in illness, and her smile would brighten each room she entered. The thoughts and prayers of Chris and I are extended to her large network of family, friends and constituents.”

“Having served with Pat in the Senate, I witnessed firsthand her dedication to the state of Iowa, and her incredible work every day on behalf of her constituents,” Reynolds said. “Pat Ward was a dear friend, and the news of her passing is incredibly difficult and painful to hear. I hope all Iowans will look at her example, the way she cared for others and worked to make the world a better place, and remember her significant life and achievements. Our administration will miss her as a policy maker, and we all will personally miss her as a friend.”

Senate Republican Leader Jerry Behn released the following statement:

“This is truly a sad day for Iowa. Senator Pat Ward was a courageous fighter not just for the hard-working Iowans she represented tirelessly every day in the Iowa Senate, but also a courageous fighter in her battle against cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband John and her entire family and friends. The Iowa Senate Republicans lost a terrific colleague and incredible friend and we mourn her loss deeply.”

Behn's office said party leaders will discuss in coming days what the process is should Ward win the election posthumously.

The Republican Party of Iowa released a statement from Iowa GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker on Ward's death.

"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Iowa State Senator Pat Ward. Public service and dedication to the people of Iowa were hallmarks of her career," Spiker said. "On behalf of all Iowa Republicans, I would like to express our gratitude for Pat’s service to the people of Iowa. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat’s friends and family during this difficult time."

Ward Remembered as 'Tenacious' on Education, Jobs

Mary Kramer, who represented the Senate district before Ward, said she and other volunteers had no idea when they placed pink breast-cancer survivor ribbons on Ward’s campaign signs that she would lose her fight with the disease.

“However inconvenient cancer is, one can’t predict when there’s going to be a downturn –  or if there’s a downturn,” she said.

Kramer said Ward approached her disease with the same tenacious spirit she approached her job as a legislator, and her strong, clear voice on issues like Gov. Terry Branstad’s education reform proposal and jobs creation will be missed.

“I admired her tenacity a lot, not only for her beliefs in the Republican caucus, because was soundly a fiscal conservative, but she was an equally sincere, issue-driven person on social issues,” Kramer said.

Kramer said Ward didn’t feel the need to speak about everything or to jump into the conversation when everything else had been said. That was a great strength that made Ward’s voice more powerful, Kramer said of her friend.

“When you are careful about when you do speak thoughts, your feelings and opinions have much more weight – much more,” Kramer said.

Chad Airhart, Dallas County Recorder said:

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Senator Pat Ward. Pat passed away this morning. She was a wonderful person and a dedicated public servant. She will be missed."

Dallas County GOP party Chairman Mike Elam said:

"There's great sorrow to hear of her passing. I don’t yet know where we’re going to proceed. We're going to try to get together today to understand the path forward. It's nothing I've ever had to deal with. We'll meet with our leadership in the Senate and Legislature so we all understand the procedure moving forward so we can communicate it with the people. With the little I do know, we will encourage people to still vote for Pat Ward on the ballot so if she's elected, there will be a special election of an individual to succeed her."

Gary Kirke, West Des Moines businessman:

“She was just a tremendous lady – very, very energetic; very, very smart; and she enjoyed her job more than anything else in the world,” he said. “It will be hard to fill her shoes.”