State Rep. Pat Murphy, the front-runner in a crowded open-seat race in Iowa’s 1st District, went up Thursday with his first ad of the cycle.  

The 30-second bio spot will air on broadcast television in Cedar Rapids, which makes up a large chunk of the district, according to Murphy’s campaign. The seat is open this cycle thanks to Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley’s Senate bid.  

https://youtu.be/XmUUYWYldFI  

Murphy is one of five Democrats seeking the Hawkeye State seat, including former state Sen. Swati Dandekar, Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon, state Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic and attorney Dave O’Brien.  

Democratic operatives in Iowa say the race is likely to be decided in the June 3 Democratic primary . They add that Murphy, the former state House speaker, is the front-runner.  

Vernon, too, is up on air with a bio spot , narrated by her daughters.  

This race is rated a Safe Democratic  contest by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.