In Spring 2007, Chris Liddell-Westefeld, an undergraduate History student at the University of Iowa, interviewed eleven Iowans who had run, unsuccessfully, for U.S. Congressional seats, focusing on the reasons they had in standing for election and on their campaigns. This project was part of an independent study project overseen by Professor Shelton Stromquist. Liddell-Westefeld obtained releases from each interviewee and transcribed the interviews. The first ten transcripts and release forms are in the first series of folders; the cassette tape recordings in the second series.

One interview, with Michael Blouin, candidate for Governor of Iowa in 2006, is restricted for seven years from the date of recording: it was not transcribed and is not available without Blouin's written permission until April 27, 2014.