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Notable Iowa races, 2016
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Presidential • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State judges • Local judges • Candidate ballot access |
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| Notable Iowa Races | |
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| Primary | June 7, 2016 |
| General | November 8, 2016 |
| 2016 Notable Races | |
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| Choose a state below: | |
Ballotpedia identified 20 notable Iowa state legislative races in 2016. The Iowa State Senate was also one of 20 battleground chambers Ballotpedia tracked in the November 2016 election.
Overview
- Main articles: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2016 and Iowa State Senate elections, 2016
Republicans sought total control of the state government
Republicans controlled the governorship and the state House, which placed them within reach of a state government trifecta.
| Partisan breakdown of the Iowa Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Republicans | Democrats | |
| Iowa House | 57 seats | 43 seats | |
| Iowa Senate | 24 seats | 26 seats | |
The two most vulnerable Democrats targeted by Republicans were Assistant Majority Leader Mary Jo Wilhelm (D) in District 26 and state Sen. Jeff Danielson (D) in District 30.
In 2012, Wilhelm won by just 126 votes—0.4 percent of all votes cast. She was defeated by Waylon Brown (R) in November. The district was roughly split among registered Republicans and Democrats and included over 17,000 unaffiliated voters.[1][2]
In 2012, Danielson won by one percentage point. In 2008, he won by just 22 votes. According to the blog Bleeding Heartland, "Danielson’s district was the most Republican-leaning Iowa Senate district held by a Democrat [in 2012]" and his victory was likely helped by the re-election of Barack Obama (D).[3]
Republicans also targeted vulnerable state Senate Democrats in District 32, District 34, District 36, and District 46.
What makes a race notable?
Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:
- Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
- Rematches between candidates
- Races that receive considerable media attention
- Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
- Competitive races involving party leaders
- Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
- Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements
Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!
Notable primary elections
State Senate District 16
- Two Democrats competed for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.
Incumbent state Sen. Dick Dearden (D) declined to run for re-election. Nate Boulton (D) faced Pam Conner (D) in the Democratic primary contest. No Republicans filed to run for the seat.
Boulton is a labor attorney. Boulton's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for workers' rights and labor unions, reforms to public school funding processes, state protection of natural resources and action against climate change, and job creation programs.[4]
Conner is an administrative assistant to the Iowa labor commissioner. Conner's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for an increase in the minimum wage, more funding for public education, and job training programs.[5]
The candidates received the following key endorsements:[6][7]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulton | Conner | |||
| United Auto Workers (UAW) | AFSCME Local 1868 | |||
| United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) | International Union of Painters & Allied Trades Local 246 | |||
| Iowa Association for Justice | Teamsters Local 90 | |||
| Ironworkers Local 67 | State Sen. Matt McCoy (D) | |||
| Teamsters Local 238 | State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D) | |||
| Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 7102 | Des Moines City Council member Linda Westergaard | |||
| Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 | Polk County Supervisor John Mauro | |||
| American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 44 | ||||
State House District 6
- Two Republicans competed for the open seat left by the Republican incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Ron Jorgensen (R) declined to run for re-election. Jacob Bossman (R) faced Jim Carlin (R) in the Republican primary contest. Perla Alarcon-Flory (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Bossman's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for local control of public education, renewable energy, and job creation in the district.[8]
Carlin's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for lower corporate tax rates, local control of public education, and anti-abortion policies.[9]
As of May 17, 2016, Alarcon-Flory had no campaign website.
State House District 55 (primary)
- Two Democrats and two Republicans competed for an open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.
Along with the District 55 primary contest, the District 55 general election race was a race to watch.
Incumbent state Rep. Darrel Branhagen (R) declined to run for re-election. Steve McCargar (D) faced Pat Ritter in the Democratic primary contest. Alex Popenhagen (R) faced Michael Bergan (R) in the Republican primary contest.
McGragar is a preschool teacher and served as a county supervisor from 1991 to 1992. McGragar's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for a state-operated Medicaid system, an increase in the state's minimum wage, the creation of a new environmental quality department, and economic development funds for worker-owned businesses.[10][11]
Ritter is a private attorney. Ritter's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for a balanced state budget, support for small businesses, and renewable energy projects.[12][13]
Popenhagen is a member of the Elgin City Council and a former reserve deputy in Fayette County, Iowa. In a candidate statement, Popenhagen expressed support for local control of public education, the Second Amendment, and opposition to abortion and excessive government spending.[14]
Bergan is a director at HAWC Partnerships for Children, an early childhood organization. In an interview, Bergan stated he would focus on public safety, infrastructure, public education, and economic development as a state representative.[15]
State House District 63
- Three Democrats competed to challenge the GOP incumbent in November.
Incumbent state Rep. Sandy Salmon (R) ran for re-election. Three Democrats competed to challenge Salmon in November: Eric Stromberg (D), Matthew Glen Evans (D), and Teresa Meyer (D).
Salmon defeated Meyer in 2014 by a margin of 58 percent to 41 percent. In 2012, Salmon narrowly defeated Bill Heckroth (D) by a margin of 50 percent to 49 percent.
Stromberg is a substitute teacher and a former director of faith formation at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waverly, Iowa. Stromberg's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for government oversight of the privatization of Medicaid, public spending on renewable energy, greater access to medical marijuana, and greater state aid to public school districts.[16]
Evans is a command center monitor at CBE Companies. Evans' campaign website highlighted the candidate's support of an increase in the state's minimum wage, greater access to broadband Internet in rural areas, personal finance education in public schools, and greater access to contraceptives.[17][18]
Meyer is a registered nurse. Meyer's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support of infrastructure improvements, the expansion of in-home care for senior citizens, the creation of high-wage jobs, an increase in teacher pay, and the expansion of public preschool education.[19][20]
State House District 68
- Two Democrats competed to challenge the GOP incumbent in November.
Incumbent state Rep. Ken Rizer (R) ran for re-election. Two Democrats competed to challenge Rizer in November: Sam Gray (D) and Molly Donahue (D).
Rizer defeated the former Democratic incumbent in 2014 by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent.
Donahue is a behavior disorders teacher. Donahue's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for an increase in the minimum wage, Medicaid expansion, more affordable childcare, more funding for public education, and equal pay for women who perform the same work as men.[21]
Gray is a small business owner. Gray's campaign website highlighted the candidate's support for tax breaks for middle-income earners, an increase in the minimum wage, more funding for public education, and sustainable agricultural practices.[22]
The Democratic candidates received the following key endorsements:[23][24]
| Key endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donahue | Gray | |||
| AFSCME | Former state Sen. Beverly Hannon (D) | |||
| Iowa State Education Association | James Pierce, President of Kirkwood Democrats | |||
State House District 77
- Two Democrats and two Republicans competed for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.
Incumbent state Rep. Sally Stutsman (D) declined to run for re-election. Amy Nielsen (D) faced Abbie Weipert (D) in the Democratic primary contest. Royce Phillips (R) faced Paula Dreeszen (R) in the Republican primary contest.
At a May 2015 candidate forum, the candidates discussed several issues, including education, renewable energy, and Medicaid.[25]
Weipert and Nielsen said that they supported more funding for public education. Dreeszen said that she supported limiting government's role in education and revoking Common Core standards.[25]
The four candidates supported renewable energy projects, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy projects.[25]
Weipert and Nielsen opposed Gov. Terry Branstad's (R) plan to privatize the state's Medicaid system. Dreeszen, while supportive of privatization, said that she supported greater oversight of the process. Phillips also supported greater oversight of the privatization process.[25]
Active voter registrations in District 77 favored Democrats. Active registrations in the district included 7,620 Democrats, 5,607 Republicans, and 6,992 with no party identification.[26]
Notable general elections
State Senate District 26
- The Democratic assistant senate majority leader faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mary Jo Wilhelm (D) ran for re-election. Waylon Brown (R) defeated Wilhelm in November.
The District 26 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Wilhelm won close races in 2008 and 2012. Wilhelm defeated incumbent state Sen. Mark Zieman (R) in 2008 by just 1,026 votes out of 27,698 votes cast. Due to redistricting, in 2012 Wilhelm faced incumbent state Sen. Merlin Bartz, whom she defeated by just 126 votes out of 30,934 votes cast.
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 26 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 11,116 Democrats, 11,556 Republicans, and 16,407 with no party identification.[27]
State Senate District 28
- The Republican incumbent faced a Democratic and a Libertarian in a closely divided district.
Incumbent Michael Breitbach (R) defeated Jan Heikes (D) and Troy Hageman (L) in the general election. Breitbach was elected to the seat in 2012 by a margin of victory of 0.2 percent.
State Senate District 30
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Sen. Jeff Danielson (D) ran for re-election. Danielson defeated Bonnie Sadler (R) in November.
The District 30 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Danielson won close races in 2008 and 2012. Danielson defeated challenger Walt Rogers (R) by just 22 votes out of 32,184 votes cast in 2008—the narrowest margin that year. Danielson defeated challenger Matt Resisetter (R) by just 681 votes out of 33,211 votes cast in 2012.
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 30 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 12,247 Democrats, 12,652 Republicans, and 14,231 with no party identification.[27]
State Senate District 32
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Sen. Brian Schoenjahn (D) ran for re-election. Craig Johnson (R) defeated Schoenjahn in November.
The District 32 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Schoenjahn won in 2012 with 50.6 percent of the vote, compared to 53 percent in 2004 and 63 percent in 2008.[28]
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 32 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 10,172 Democrats, 11,301 Republicans, and 16,889 with no party identification.[27]
State Senate District 34
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Sen. Liz Mathis (D) ran for re-election. Mathis defeated Rene Gadelha (R) in November.
The District 34 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Mathis won a special election in 2011 and won with almost 60 percent of the vote in 2012. Despite Mathis' previous wins, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said the district is a target for Republicans.
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 34 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 12,681 Democrats, 13,456 Republicans, and 14,920 with no party identification.[27]
State Senate District 36
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Sen. Steve Sodders (D) ran for re-election. Jeff Edler (R) defeated Sodders in November.
The District 36 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Sodders won in 2008 and in 2012 with roughly 53 percent of the vote both years.
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 36 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 12,681 Democrats, 13,456 Republicans, and 14,920 with no party identification.[27]
State Senate District 46
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Sen. Chris Brase (D) ran for re-election. Mark Lofgren (R) defeated Brase in November.
The District 46 seat was targeted by Republicans as a potential pick-up.[27]
Brase won in 2012 with 51.2 percent of the vote.[29]
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 46 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 11,528 Democrats, 12,072 Republicans, and 15,083 with no party identification.[27]
State House District 15
- The Democratic incumbent faced a Republican challenger.
Incumbent state Rep. Charlie McConkey (D) ran for re-election. McConkey defeated Bill Riley (R) in November.
McConkey won by just 75 votes out of 6,603 votes cast in 2014.
State House District 30
- District 30 featured a candidate rematch.
Incumbent state Rep. Zach Nunn (R) ran for re-election. Nunn defeated former incumbent Rep. Joe Riding (D) in November.
Nunn defeated Riding by a margin of 56 percent to 43 percent in 2014.
State House District 51
- District 51 featured an open seat in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Rep. Josh Byrnes (R) declined to run for re-election. Jane Bloomingdale (R) defeated Tim Hejhal (D) in November.
The district was closely divided. Barack Obama (D) won the district in 2012, while active registered Republicans outnumbered active registered Democrats. Active voter registrations in the district included 5,136 Democrats, 6,237 Republicans, and 7,855 with no party identification.[27]
State House District 55 (general)
- District 55 featured an open seat in a closely divided district.
Along with the District 55 general election race, the District 55 primary race was a race to watch.
Incumbent state Rep. Darrel Branhagen (R) declined to run for re-election. Pat Ritter (D) defeated Steve McCargar (D) in the Democratic primary contest. Michael Bergan (R) defeated Alex Popenhagen (R) in the Republican primary contest. Bergan defeated Ritter in the general election.
Democrats sought to flip District 55, which was a closely divided district. Before Branhagen took office in 2014, the seat was held by Rep. Roger Thomas (D), who served eight terms. The district also supported Barack Obama (D) in 2012.[27]
According to The Des Moines Register, active voter registrations in District 55 slightly favored Republicans. Active voter registrations in the district included 5,539 Democrats, 6,568 Republicans, and 6,499 with no party identification.[27]
State House District 58
- District 58 featured an open seat in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Rep. Brian Moore (R) declined to run for re-election. Andy McKean defeated Joshua Sundstrom and Allen Ernst in the Republican primary. Peter Hird (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Hird dropped out of the race following the Democratic primary and was replaced by Jessica Kean. McKean defeated Kean in the general election.
According to The Des Moines Register, District 58 "may be the best opportunity for Democrats to snag a House seat held by a Republican." Active voter registrations in District 58 also favored Democrats. Active voter registrations in the district included 7,009 Democrats, 5,037 Republicans, and 8,596 with no party identification.[27]
State House District 67
- The Democratic candidate who ran a close race in 2012 sought the seat in 2016.
Incumbent state Rep. Kraig Paulsen (R) declined to run for re-election. Mark Seidl (D), who challenged Paulsen in 2014, was defeated by Ashley Hinson (R) in November.
Paulsen defeated Seidl in 2012 by a margin of 52 percent to 47 percent out of 15,845 votes cast. Paulsen was unchallenged in 2014.
State House District 95
- District 95 featured an open seat in a closely divided district.
Incumbent state Rep. Quentin Stanerson (R) declined to run for re-election. Louis Zumbach (R) defeated Richard Whitehead (D) in November.
The district was closely divided. Stanerson defeated Kristin Keast (D) in 2012 by just 200 votes but won re-election in 2014 against Keast with 55 percent of the vote. The district supported Barack Obama (D) in 2012.[27]
Registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats by only 167 votes. Active voter registrations in the district included 6,273 Democrats, 6,440 Republicans, and 7,697 with no party identification.[27]
Freshman legislators
The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.
- Amy Nielsen (Democratic), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 77
- Andy McKean (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 58
- Ashley Hinson (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 67
- Craig Johnson (Iowa) (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 32
- Dan Dawson (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 8
- David Kerr (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 88
- Gary Mohr (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 94
- Jane Bloomingdale (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 51
- Jeff Edler (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 36
- Jim Carlin (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 3
- Kristi Hager (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 56
- Louis Zumbach (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 95
- Mark Lofgren (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 46
- Michael Bergan (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 55
- Nate Boulton (Democratic), .Iowa State Senate, District 16
- Ras Smith (Democratic), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 62
- Shannon Lundgren (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 57
- Skyler Wheeler (Republican), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 4
- Thomas Greene (Iowa) (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 44
- Timothy Kacena (Democratic), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 14
- Waylon Brown (Republican), .Iowa State Senate, District 26
- Wesley Breckenridge (Democratic), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 29
Defeated incumbents
The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.
- Dan Kelley (Democratic), .Iowa House of Representatives, District 29
See also
- Iowa House of Representatives
- Iowa State Senate
- Iowa State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Gov. Branstad signs House File 2433 into law," March 21, 2016
- ↑ Globe Gazette, "Conservative group targeting Wilhelm, competitive state Senate district," February 29, 2016
- ↑ Bleeding Heartland, "Iowa Senate district 30 preview: Jeff Danielson vs. Bonnie Sadler," November 24, 2015
- ↑ Nate Boulton 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Pam Conner 2016 campaign website, "Official campaign website," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Pam Conner 2016 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Nate Boulton 2016 campaign website, accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Jacob Bossman 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Jim Carlin 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Steve McCargar 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ The Decorah Newspapers, "McCargar announces candidacy for House District 55," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Pat Ritter 2016 campaign website, "About Pat Ritter," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Pat Ritter 2016 campaign website, accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ The Decorah Newspapers, "Popenhagen seeking House District 55 seat," May 3, 2016
- ↑ The Decorah Newspapers, "Michael Bergan announces run for statehouse," May 10, 2016
- ↑ Eric Stromberg 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Information submitted through Ballotpedia's biographical submission form on April 6, 2016
- ↑ Matthew Glen Evans 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Teresa Meyer 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Teresa Meyer 2016 campaign website, "About," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Molly Donahue 2016 campaign website, "Meet Molly," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Sam Gray 2016 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Sam Gray 2016 campaign website, "Official campaign website," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ Molly Donahue 2016 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed May 4, 2016
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Iowa City Press-Citizen," May 12, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State of Iowa Voter Registration Totals," May 2, 2016
- ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 Des Moines Register, "GOP Eyes Taking Control of Iowa Senate," March 21, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Senator District 32 Results," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Senator District 46 Results," accessed May 17, 2016
