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Iowa's 3rd Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)

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Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 16, 2018
Primary: June 5, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
David Young (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Voting in Iowa
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): R+1
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th
Iowa elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

Small business owner Cindy Axne (D) defeated political organizer Pete D'Alessandro (D) and teacher Eddie Mauro (D) in the Democratic primary for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District on June 5, 2018.[1]

Axne's campaign focused on the economy and healthcare. She supported equal pay legislation, a public option for health insurance coverage, and keeping the Affordable Care Act.[2] She secured the support of EMILY's List, former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Louis Lavorato, and multiple local figures.

D'Alessandro ran on a progressive platform that included Medicare for all and tuition-free college.[3] D’Alessandro ran Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign in Iowa and Sanders endorsed him.[4]

Mauro’s campaign included universal health care, renewable energy, and affordable education.[5] The Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council and Sen. Tony Bisignano (D) endorsed him.[6]

Iowa voter? Dates you need to know.
Primary electionJune 5, 2018
Candidate filing deadlineMarch 16, 2018
Registration deadlineJune 5, 2018 (at the polls, with proof of identity and residence or attestation by a registered voter from precinct)[7]
Absentee application deadline5pm on June 1, 2018[8]
General electionNovember 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary typeOpen
Early voting deadlineJune 4, 2018 (if polls don't open at noon), 11am on June 5, 2018 (at county auditor's office, if polls open at noon)[9]
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.


For more on related elections, please see:


Election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Iowa District 3

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Cindy Axne
Cindy Axne
 
58.0
 
32,910
Image of Eddie Mauro
Eddie Mauro
 
26.4
 
15,006
Image of Pete D'Alessandro
Pete D'Alessandro
 
15.6
 
8,874

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 56,790
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidates

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

Cindy Axne

Cindy.Axne.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter
At the time of the 2018 primary, Axne was a small business owner running a digital design firm. She worked for the State of Iowa from 2005 to 2014 and has also worked in various capacities as a political activist. Axne earned an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and graduated from the University of Iowa.[10]

Axne highlighted the economy, healthcare, and education as priorities on her campaign website. She reported $263,617 in funds raised as of December 31, 2017, and was endorsed by former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Louis Lavorato and multiple local figures.

Pete D'Alessandro

Pete D'Alesssandro.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter
D'Alessandro is a political and community organizer. He was the campaign coordinator for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) in Iowa from 2015-2016 and worked as the delegate director at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. D'Alessandro also served as the political director for Gov. Chet Culver. D'Alessandro graduated from Illinois State University.[11]

D'Alessandro was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and progressive organizations such as Our Revolution and The People for Bernie Sanders in this race. He reported $84,806 in funds raised as of December 31, 2017.

Eddie Mauro

Eddie Mauro.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter
Mauro is a small business owner and former teacher. His professional experience includes serving as the president of the insurance firm UIG. He is a founding member of A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS), a social justice advocacy group. He was also a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 41 of the Iowa House of Representatives.

Mauro graduated from Simpson College with a degree in education and earned a certificate of theology from Creighton University.[12]

Mauro's campaign website highlighted supporting veterans, national security, and the economy as campaign priorities.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many He led the candidates in funds raised at the end of March, reporting $513,199 in contributions.


Campaign tactics and strategies

Campaign advertisements

Cindy Axne

Campaign themes and policy stances

Candidate policies

The candidate policies below were taken directly from their campaign websites.

Cindy Axne

Growing Our Economy and Helping Families Succeed

When Cindy goes to Washington, her top priority will be putting Iowa families to work in good-paying jobs. She’ll level the playing field by raising wages, addressing unfair trade deals that put our workers at risk, protecting our unions and promoting Main Street over Wall Street.

For too long, Washington politicians have been putting partisan politics before Iowa families. Their failure to act has hurt the most vulnerable in our communities and hindered our small business owners and entrepreneurs from starting and growing businesses. As a small business owner, Cindy understands the challenges facing Iowans. Cindy will fight for our local businesses by creating grant programs to support entrepreneurs and small businesses and passing tax relief so our small businesses can grow.

Cindy will fight to pass equal pay legislation. Here in Iowa, women and their families are losing a combined income of nearly $5 billion each year. Cindy will also support a National Paid Family Leave Act, so no one risks losing a day’s pay to care for a sick child or loved one. And she’ll work to increase the availability of affordable childcare so working families can save for their children’s future.

Affordable, Effective Healthcare for All

Cindy was one of thousands of Iowans who received a letter from Aetna last year notifying her that her family would no longer be able to receive healthcare from the company. It was the third such letter in nearly four years each one forcing Cindy to scramble to find a new plan that they could afford, while the clock was ticking down on their coverage. Sadly, her family’s story is not unique. Every day, Cindy hears stories of families leaving their businesses for health insurance or families forced to move out of Iowa because they can no longer afford health insurance here.

In Congress, Cindy will fight for a real public option that allows Americans to choose between Medicare or Medicaid so that every American has the access to high quality affordable healthcare. Cindy will fight to maintain and improve the Affordable Care Act and stop House Republicans from allowing the return of lifetime limits, make sure that people cannot be discriminated against for having a pre-existing condition and lower costs including prescription drugs. Finally, Iowa ranks dead last for state psychiatric beds per capita, that’s unacceptable. That’s why Cindy will increase funding for our mental health facilities and work with partner organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness to address this crisis.

Protecting our Public Schools

As a mother of two sons in public schools, Cindy understands the importance of a high-quality education. It’s why she fought to pass all day public kindergarten in West Des Moines after finding out that West Des Moines’ lottery system meant that half the children in the community were denied access to all day public kindergarten and got two and a half hours of education instead. For America to continue to lead the way in the global economy it’s time we reinvest in our public-schools. We must prepare our children to compete in a global market by promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs that enable students to graduate with the skills they need to be successful in today’s workforce.

Preparing the next generation for good-paying jobs that support a family requires providing young people with affordable access to community college, apprenticeships, trade schools or four-year colleges. Cindy will fight for a greater investment in our community colleges and grow apprenticeship programs and trade schools so that every student has the opportunity to succeed. She will work to expand Pell Grants and cap the interest rates on student loans so that Wall Street banks aren’t profiting by burdening young people with debt that will take them decades to repay.

Protecting Iowa’s Farms & Rural Communities

As a fifth-generation Iowan, with farm roots in Warren County, Cindy understands the importance of our rural areas. In Congress, she will fight to rebuild our infrastructure, grow our rural economies, protect our farmers and maintain our rural quality of life. Cindy will stand up for Iowa’s family farms and that starts by ensuring the Farm Bill works for all farmers including new farmers and small to mid-size farms.

For our rural communities to be competitive, we must reinvest in a solid infrastructure. That means repairing our roads and nearly 5,000 structurally deficient bridges, water and sewer systems, and finally making sure that everyone has access to cellular and broadband technology. Not only will that fix our infrastructure, but it will create thousands of jobs in the process.

Iowa can be the leader in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. While Cindy was at the State of Iowa, she oversaw the Governor’s Agenda on Clean Energy and the Environment, helping bring the wind industry to scale in Iowa. In Congress, Cindy will fight to increase research and development in the areas of soil health, carbon sequestration and water quality to clean up our water, improve soil for better yields and create jobs in the process.

In order to protect our rural quality of life. Cindy will fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, so our rural hospitals can continue to operate and serve those who are at risk. She will fight for funding for our public schools, so they can retain quality educators, keep up with technology, and bring in more trades programs for our children. She’ll protect and grow our main streets by providing tax breaks for our micro businesses that make up 92% of all U.S. Businesses. Cindy will work with local communities to create work hubs, turning derelict buildings into sustainable, connected workplaces, creating the infrastructure for employers to bring good paying jobs to our small towns.

Building Iowa’s Leadership in Renewable Energy & Tackling Climate Change

Climate change is real, and we are feeling the devastating effects. It’s already affecting America’s economy and it will only get worse if we don’t act. We have seen it first hand here in Iowa, with crippling droughts and floods putting our food supply and farmers’ livelihoods at stake. In Washington, Cindy will fight to protect our environment and invest in renewable energy.

Cindy is proud of her work on the Governor’s Agenda for Energy Efficiency and Clean Environment, which helped bring the wind industry to scale and made Iowa the number two state in the nation in wind energy production. She’ll work to bring clean energy jobs to Iowa including solar, wind, smart grid technology and battery storage. She’ll also promote investment in more efficient cars, appliances, buildings and industrial plants to cut energy use in half.

Returning our Democracy Back to the People

In the years following the Supreme Court decision Citizens United, our democracy has been under attack by dark money. We’ve seen billions wasted on political campaigns from corporations and mega donors trying to buy our elections. It’s why our campaign has pledged not to take corporate PAC money, and instead is focused on being powered by grassroots supporters. It’s time Washington passes true campaign finance reform, and that starts with passing legislation that forces outside groups to disclose their donors. Finally, we must pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United ruling and bring an end to the dark money which is buying our elections.

Women’s Reproductive Rights

Here in Iowa and around the country we have seen women’s rights attacked. Just last year alone, Iowa lost four planned parenthood facilities leaving over 14,000 women and men without primary care services. That’s unacceptable. As a member of Congress, Cindy will fight to keep Washington politicians out of the Doctor’s office and out of the personal decisions between women and their doctors. That’s why Cindy will ensure that Planned Parenthood funding continues, allowing women and men to continue to receive vital healthcare services.

Keeping our Promises and Protecting Social Security and Medicare

It’s been our commitment for the last seventy years, if you work hard and pay your taxes that Social Security and Medicare will be there for you when you retire. But Donald Trump and Paul Ryan’s budgets try to cut Medicare and privatize it, threatening seniors who have worked hard and paid into these systems. Cindy will stop Trump and Ryan, honoring the promises we’ve made to seniors. As a volunteer for years with Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly, Cindy’s seen up close how much our seniors depend on Social Security and Medicare. In Congress, Cindy will fight Republican efforts to privatize and defund these programs so our seniors and families can live their lives with dignity.

Veterans

Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District is home to over 40,000 veterans. These brave men and women put their lives on the line here and abroad to keep our country safe. But America is letting them down, not doing our duty to provide them with the health care, support, and job opportunities to succeed in civilian life. When Cindy’s in Congress, she will fight to reform and modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs so our veterans get the physical and mental health care they need, skills training and job opportunities, and making sure companies are hiring and rehiring veterans after they serve.

Equality for our LGBTQ community

Cindy was proud when Iowa led the way on marriage equality, and now it’s the law of the land in America. But the fight for equality is not over. Every day our family members, friends, and co-workers face discrimination in the workforce and their personal lives. Cindy will fight for the Equality Act which will crack down on discrimination against LGBT Americans from employers, landlords, or anyone else. And she will defend hard-won LGBT rights that are under assault in Washington.[10]

Pete D'Alessandro

I’m running because we have a critical opportunity in 2018 to elect candidates willing to do more than just stand against Donald Trump. Now is the time to elect a candidate willing to stand for something by supporting a true, progressive plan to get our country back on the right track.

That’s what I’m going to focus my campaign on. To win the future, we need to take a stand. That’s why I will fight for a $15/hour living wage that supports American workers, support expanding Medicare-for-all as the best way to provide affordable and accessible healthcare coverage to Americans, provide tuition-free college for students who work hard, and be a leader as we fight our global climate crisis.

If the United States can afford billions in tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, we can surely find a way to take basic steps to support working families like those across the Third District.

It’s time for a bold agenda that raises wages, improves lives, and restores our country’s leadership in the world. Together, we can win the future.[3]

Eddie Mauro

Veterans

We have a responsibility to those who’ve put their lives on the line so that we may remain free. We must support them with the resources they need when they are serving, both at home and abroad, and support them when they return home with top of the line health care, mental health services, and job training and job placement. My office will leave give it their all every day for Iowa’s veterans, serving as both their advocate and a resource.

National security

I support an American foreign policy that emphasizes diplomacy and makes flexing our military muscle a last rather than first resort. I believe our security can be enhanced through trade and other international agreements that guarantee, with verifiability, that our enemies abide by certain obligations. I believe Israel is a key democratic ally in the Middle East, which deserves our support.

Jobs & economy

Too many families are still struggling and wages just aren’t keeping up with how much things cost. The surest solution is to create more good paying jobs. To do it, we have to make creating jobs and raising incomes a top priority.

That means we keep Iowa’s economy growing by keeping up with changing technologies, adapting to new industries, and meeting the demands of a new 21st Century economy. While David Young and Republicans are pushing tax cuts for big corporations and special interests, my plan rewards small businesses right here in Iowa that not only provide valuable goods and services to Iowa’s families, but hire, train, and pay Iowans a livable income. Full employment means an economy that works for everyone, with equal pay for equal work, paid family sick leave, and affordable childcare.

Infrastructure

Is it crazy to think that 100% of our roads and bridges should be drivable and safe? We have to have the foresight to manage and take care of the critical infrastructure needs of our state – roads, bridges, waterways and rail – as well as collaborate with City and County leaders, providing them with the resources and flexibility needed to address challenges in a timely fashion. Investments in these areas not only create jobs, they are critical to sustaining a growing economy.

Farmers and rural communities

I will protect the tools in the Farm Bill and Crop Insurance Program that positions Iowa Farmers for success. We must respect Iowa’s history and legacy, making certain that we demonstrate our thanks for Iowa Farmers. They are, and will continue to be, instrumental to the success of Iowa and the Midwest economy, particularly the small independent and family farmer. That’s why I am committed to ensuring Iowa’s independent farms remain vibrant and profitable. Additionally, we must invest in research and development to plan for the next generation of products and to create fields of opportunities for new and current farmers. We must also develop policies that encourage soil conservation – cover crops, buffer strips, extended rotations and more while working with rural and urban communities on water quality solutions.

To protect our rural communities we must invest in rural infrastructure and promote community bank lending for main streets and town squares in rural Iowa. We must also invest in our rural schools, hospitals, and job training programs that introduce workers with developing skills with employers needing workers. Finally, let’s help our communities not only develop activities that attract visitors – the arts, festivals, retail, or historical points of interest, but work with innovators on marketing these attractions to bring visitors and vibrancy to our rural communities.

Healthcare

While David Young and the Republicans in Congress are scheming to take health care away from 23 million Americans, I’m committed to 100% of Iowans getting affordable and comprehensive care. All of us deserve health care that is affordable, and keeps families healthy and out of bankruptcy. David Young and Republicans’ are deliberately undermining the Affordable Care Act forcing premiums to go up and threatening insurance markets. Young’s plan to repeal the ACA leave older Iowans paying an age tax, paying as much as five times more than younger Iowans. It also guts protections for pre-existing conditions, making it harder to get insured if you get sick, and it reduces funding for Medicare and Medicaid. In short, Young and Republicans will force Iowans to pay more for less.

Women's health

I support a woman’s right to choose and I oppose efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Energy and climate change

With an energy portfolio that already includes biomass, wind, solar, biodiesel and other forms of renewable energy, Iowa is well positioned to be a leader in the renewable economy.

We must immediately set policy that addresses the climate challenges in front of us for today and the future. It makes sense because global climate change not only impacts our rural communities (changing intensity of rain, wind, and drought is impacting farmers and our valuable soil), it also makes good economic sense – it’s cheaper, cleaner, and creates good jobs. The fastest-growing sector of energy jobs right now is renewable, not carbon-based. Let’s seize this opportunity to preserve our world for future generations and also create green energy jobs. Learn more in my White Paper, "The Climate Crisis".

Education and training

We need an education system that gives every Iowan from early childhood to adulthood a good education – no matter where they are in life. Whether learning their ABCs or learning advance software coding, our schools must prepare Iowans to be competitive in the changing economy. Whether you choose college, skills development, or career training no Iowan should go broke trying to get an education. A comprehensive education program follows us through each step of our lives. Early Childhood Education gets our kids off to a great start when their brains are developing fastest. Strong public schools are key to an education that prepares all Iowans to succeed. College should be accessible and affordable for all that choose that route. And Vocational Ed and public / private collaborative apprenticeship programs allow students who aren’t headed for college to stay in school and get the tools they need to compete in the 21st Century economy.[13]

Timeline

  • February 5, 2018: The Democratic Party holds caucuses: On February 5, 2018, Iowa Democrats held caucuses to elect delegates to a special convention. The Des Moines Register explained that the convention delegates will select the party's nominee if none of the candidates in a race wins at least 35 percent of the primary vote. Democratic caucus attendees aren't required to divide into candidate preference groups and delegates are not bound to any particular candidate, so the party doesn't declare caucus winners. "It'll be nearly impossible for us on caucus night to declare a winner of the Iowa caucus in 2018," state Democratic Party executive director Kevin Geiken said. "Which is why we're not going to do it."[14]
  • January 29, 2018: U.S. Sen. and 2016 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders endorses his 2016 Iowa campaign director Pete D'Alessandro[15]

Campaign finance

The table below details the campaign finance reports from the candidates in this election through March 31, 2018.[16]


Endorsements

Ballotpedia tracks endorsements of candidates by organizations and elected and appointed officials. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Axne[17] D'Alessandro[18] Mauro[6]
Federal officials
Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator ✔
Sen. Tony Bisignano (D) ✔
State figures
State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D) ✔
Louis Lavorato, former Iowa Supreme Court justice ✔
Dale Cochran, former Iowa secretary of agriculture ✔
Timothy Kacena, Iowa state representative ✔
Ralph Rosenberg, former Iowa state senator and state representative ✔
Local figures
Joe Gatto, Bill Gray, and Linda Westergaard, Des Moines City Council members ✔
Mike Matson, Davenport city alderman ✔
Rhonda Martin, Johnston city councilwoman ✔
Renee Hardman, West Des Moines city councilwoman ✔
Tom Narak, former West Des Moines Public School System superintendent ✔
Loretta Sieman, former West Des Moines city councilwoman ✔
Organizations
Justice Democrats[19] ✔
Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council ✔
EMILY's List[20] ✔
National Nurses United ✔
Our Revolution ✔
Our Revolution, Central Iowa chapter ✔
The People for Bernie Sanders ✔
Publications
The Des Moines Register[21] ✔


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Iowa's 3rd Congressional District election, Democratic primary
Poll Eddie Mauro Cindy AxnePete D'AlessandroMargin of ErrorSample Size
Selzer & Co.
May 13-16		 27%26%11%+/-4.9400
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Noteworthy events

Greenfield removed from ballot

Democratic candidate Theresa Greenfield was removed from the primary election on March 19, 2018, after the secretary of state determined she had not collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. She had initially turned in her signatures the week before the filing deadline, but her campaign manager told her the day before the deadline that he had forged some signatures. Greenfield then had to re-gather the necessary signatures to get on the ballot, and was not able to collect them all by the deadline.

The Democratic 3rd Congressional District committee voted to move Greenfield's candidacy forward on March 26, 2018. The vote cleared her candidacy to be sent to the secretary of state. The Iowa State Objection panel declined to issue an opinion on Greenfield's situation, saying it did not fall in its jurisdiction. Then, Secretary of State Paul Pate said he would allow Greenfield to appear on the primary ballot. However, the Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller then issued a legal opinion saying that he thought Iowa law did not allow for Greenfield to be put on the ballot following the filing deadline. Soon after, Pate said he would not certify Greenfield's candidacy.[22][23][24]

Sanders appears at rally supporting D'Alessandro

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) appeared at a rally supporting Pete D'Alessandro on February 23, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa. According to Inside Sources, the senator's speech focused on "reinforcing the aspects of his 'political revolution'". “We are in the process in Iowa, and in Illinois, Vermont, all over the country of transforming American politics,” Sanders said. “Of ending government by the rich and for the rich, for the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”[25]

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: Iowa's 3rd Congressional District election, 2018
Race tracker Race ratings
October 30, 2018 October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Thirty-one of 99 Iowa counties—31 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Allamakee County, Iowa 24.15% 4.17% 14.25%
Boone County, Iowa 13.69% 6.64% 7.63%
Bremer County, Iowa 13.68% 2.68% 9.31%
Buchanan County, Iowa 15.02% 13.87% 18.48%
Cedar County, Iowa 17.78% 4.59% 9.64%
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa 7.66% 13.38% 20.83%
Chickasaw County, Iowa 22.94% 11.07% 20.74%
Clarke County, Iowa 28.02% 1.47% 2.25%
Clayton County, Iowa 22.78% 7.03% 17.17%
Clinton County, Iowa 5.12% 22.84% 23.03%
Des Moines County, Iowa 6.89% 18.41% 23.04%
Dubuque County, Iowa 1.23% 14.71% 20.77%
Fayette County, Iowa 19.36% 11.96% 16.60%
Floyd County, Iowa 14.84% 14.63% 21.88%
Howard County, Iowa 20.49% 20.95% 25.78%
Jackson County, Iowa 19.27% 16.89% 24.39%
Jasper County, Iowa 18.13% 7.07% 7.50%
Jefferson County, Iowa 0.47% 15.97% 20.23%
Jones County, Iowa 19.08% 7.78% 10.40%
Lee County, Iowa 16.02% 15.49% 16.01%
Louisa County, Iowa 28.37% 0.64% 4.25%
Marshall County, Iowa 8.31% 9.36% 9.35%
Mitchell County, Iowa 24.04% 3.37% 12.31%
Muscatine County, Iowa 6.26% 15.88% 15.64%
Poweshiek County, Iowa 6.53% 9.35% 11.75%
Tama County, Iowa 20.28% 7.43% 12.19%
Union County, Iowa 27.49% 3.86% 3.70%
Wapello County, Iowa 20.60% 11.88% 13.53%
Webster County, Iowa 21.52% 5.84% 8.51%
Winneshiek County, Iowa 0.79% 14.74% 22.65%
Worth County, Iowa 21.68% 14.53% 22.42%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Iowa with 51.1 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 41.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1848 and 2016, Iowa voted Republican 69.76 percent of the time and Democratic 30.23 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Iowa voted Democratic three times and Republican the other two times.[26]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Iowa. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[27][28]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 61 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 19.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 35 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 18.8 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 39 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 13.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 65 out of 100 state House districts in Iowa with an average margin of victory of 24.5 points. Trump won 10 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+1, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 1 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Iowa's 3rd Congressional District the 226th most Republican nationally.[29]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.00. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.00 points toward that party.[30]

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Iowa heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Republicans controlled both chambers of the Iowa General Assembly. They had a 58-41 majority in the state House and a 29-20 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

  • Iowa had a Republican trifecta, meaning that the Republican Party controlled both chambers of the state legislature and the governorship. Kim Reynolds (R) served as governor; she succeeded Terry E. Branstad, who resigned on May 24, 2017, to take the position of U.S. Ambassador to China.

2018 elections

See also: Iowa elections, 2018

Iowa held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Iowa
 IowaU.S.
Total population:3,121,997316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):55,8573,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:91.2%73.6%
Black/African American:3.2%12.6%
Asian:2%5.1%
Native American:0.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:5.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91.5%86.7%
College graduation rate:26.7%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,183$53,889
Persons below poverty level:13.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Iowa.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Iowa's three largest cities were Des Moines (pop. est. 220,000), Cedar Rapids (pop. est. 130,000), and Davenport (pop. est. 100,000).[31]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Iowa from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Iowa Secretary of State website.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Iowa every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 50.7% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 41.3% 9.4%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.7% Republican Party Mitt Romney 46.0% 5.7%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 53.7% Republican Party John McCain 44.2% 9.5%
2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 49.9% Democratic Party John Kerry 49.2% 0.7%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 48.5% Republican Party George W. Bush 48.2% 0.3%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Iowa from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 60.1% Democratic Party Patty Judge 35.7% 24.4%
2014 Republican Party Joni Ernst 51.5% Democratic Party Bruce Braley 43.3% 8.2%
2010 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 63.4% Democratic Party Roxanne Conlin 32.8% 30.6%
2008 Democratic Party Tom Harkin 61.4% Republican Party Christopher Reed 36.5% 24.9%
2004 Republican Party Chuck Grassley 70.2% Democratic Party Arthur Small 27.9% 42.3%
2002 Democratic Party Tom Harkin 54.2% Republican Party Greg Ganske 43.8% 10.4%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Iowa.

Election results (Governor), Iowa 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Terry Branstad 58.4% Democratic Party Jack Hatch 36.9% 21.5%
2010 Republican Party Terry Branstad 52.3% Democratic Party Chet Culver 42.8% 9.5%
2006 Democratic Party Chet Culver 53.7% Republican Party Jim Nussle 44.1% 9.6%
2002 Democratic Party Tom Vilsack 52.7% Republican Party Doug Gross 44.5% 8.2%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Iowa 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 3 75.0% Democratic Party 1 25.0% R+2
2014 Republican Party 3 75.0% Democratic Party 1 25.0% R+2
2012[32] Republican Party 2 50.0% Democratic Party 2 50.0% Split
2010 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2008 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2006 Republican Party 2 40.0% Democratic Party 3 60.0% D+1
2004 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3
2002 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3
2000 Republican Party 4 80.0% Democratic Party 1 20.0% R+3

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Iowa Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Eleven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D R R R R R R R R S S D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R
House D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The New York Times, "Iowa Primary Election Results," June 5, 2018
  2. ↑ Cindy Axne 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 1, 2018
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pete D'Alessandro 2018 campaign website, "About," accessed May 1, 2018
  4. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Bernie Sanders endorses Pete D'Alessandro in Iowa's 3rd District race," January 29, 2018
  5. ↑ Eddie Mauro 2018 campaign website, "Positions," accessed May 21, 2018
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Eddie Mauro 2018 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed May 21, 2018
  7. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Election day registration," accessed January 15, 2018
  8. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee voting by mail," accessed January 15, 2018
  9. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Absentee voting in person," accessed January 15, 2018
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Cindy Axne 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 27, 2018
  11. ↑ Pete D'Alessandro 2018 campaign website, "About," accessed February 27, 2018
  12. ↑ Eddie Mauro 2018 campaign website, "Meet Eddie," accessed May 1, 2018
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mauroissues
  14. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Competitive races for governor and Congress add intrigue to typically quiet midterm Iowa caucuses," January 31, 2018
  15. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Democrat Pete D'Alessandro will challenger David Young for Congress," August 26, 2017
  16. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Browse Candidates for House of Representatives," accessed May 1, 2018
  17. ↑ Democrat Cindy Axne for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed February 5, 2018
  18. ↑ Bleeding Heartland, "Who's endorsed the seven Democrats running for Congress in IA-03," January 11, 2018
  19. ↑ Justice Democrats, "Candidates," accessed May 21, 2018
  20. ↑ EMILY's List, "Cindy Axne," accessed April 15, 2018
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named register
  22. ↑ Iowa Starting Line, "THERESA GREENFIELD CLEARS FIRST OF THREE HURDLES FOR BALLOT ACCESS," March 26, 2018
  23. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Unless someone sues, Theresa Greenfield will appear on Democratic primary ballot," March 27, 2018
  24. ↑ Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, "Miller advises secretary of state: Greenfield does not qualify for ballot," March 28, 2018
  25. ↑ Inside Sources, "Bernie Sanders Returns to Iowa," February 23, 2018
  26. ↑ 270towin.com, "Iowa," accessed June 1, 2017
  27. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  28. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  29. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  30. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  31. ↑ Iowa Demographics, "Iowa Cities by Population," accessed September 4, 2018
  32. ↑ Iowa lost one U.S. House seat following the 2010 census.


Iowa's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Joni Ernst (R)
Chuck Grassley (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
Zach Nunn (R)
District 4
Republican Party (6)


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