DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Rep. Steve King and Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack are negotiating for a series of debates leading up the November election in western Iowa’s newly redrawn 4th District. King, who has declined to debate his Democratic opponents in the past, has challenged Vilsack to a series of six debates. Vilsack on Thursday sent a letter to King saying she supports debates and this is the first step in the negotiations. Vilsack is the wife of Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor now serving as U.S. agriculture secretary. She says she’s reaching out to news organizations and other groups who may be interested in sponsoring the debates. King was first elected in November 2002 in Iowa’s 5th District. Iowa lost a congressional seat after the 2010 census.