It took longer than anticipated, however about 18 hours after the polls closed, the total election outcomes from Story County have been lastly posted to the Iowa Secretary of State’s web site, confirming that Republicans will maintain all three Marshall County legislative seats when the following session begins in January.
In Senate District 26, which incorporates all of Marshall County and most of Story County outdoors of Ames, Republican Kara Warme of rural Ames prevailed over Democrat Mike Wolfe of rural Maxwell after receiving 17,945 of the 30,107 votes solid throughout each counties (59.6 p.c). Warme, who serves because the chief growth officer at YSS, gained a contested major over Senate staffer Gannon Hendrick of McCallsburg again in June, and she is going to now substitute retiring Sen. Jeff Edler (R-State Heart).
“I’m so grateful to the voters of Marshall County for entrusting me with this chance to serve you within the Iowa Senate. It’s been a privilege attending to know households and companies throughout the county. An enormous thanks to the various volunteers, donors, and signal hosts who helped unfold our constructive imaginative and prescient of preserving Iowa for future generations,” Warme stated. “I feel we’re all glad for the campaigning to finish and the true work to start. I’m trying ahead to continued partnerships throughout the district and to showcasing our strengths and success tales to drive extra alternatives statewide.”
Brett Barker, a pharmacist who at present serves because the mayor of Nevada, additionally gained his race in Home District 51, which covers about ¾ of Marshall County outdoors of Marshalltown and the southeast quadrant together with the identical swath of Story County because the Senate district. Barker obtained 11,256 of the 17,998 votes solid (62.54 p.c) and defeated Democrat Ryan Condon of Nevada, a Nationwide Guard veteran who works for the state’s Well being and Human Companies (HHS) division.
He’ll substitute retiring Rep. Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada), who had served within the Home since 2006.
“We labored actually arduous beginning a 12 months in the past to get to each nook of the district, and I used to be in a position to get in entrance of 15,000 voters at their doorways. And I knew the arduous work was gonna repay,” Barker stated. “I’ve been working for a very long time right here in the neighborhood, have a report to face on and was in a position to meet quite a lot of voters. So I felt actually good going into it, and I’m grateful that they rewarded our arduous work.”
Along with reaching a lot of voters, the incoming consultant felt he was in a position to “ignore the noise” and run a clear race, enabling he and Warme to outperform President-elect Donald Trump and Rep. Randy Feenstra on the ticket in a lot of the precincts inside HD51. As he heads to Des Moines, Barker goals to concentrate on healthcare and financial growth.
“I’m identified for being a realistic voice — somebody who listens and learns after which takes a place on issues, and I feel that may serve me properly within the legislature,” he stated.
To the east in Home District 53, incumbent Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) secured one other time period over upstart challenger Tommy Hexter, a 25-year-old Democrat from Grinnell. Within the district, which covers about ¾ of Tama County outdoors of the northeast nook and all of Poweshiek County, Fisher obtained 8,877 votes (56.88 p.c) to Hexter’s 6,729 votes (43.12 p.c).
Fisher, who was first elected in 2012, instructed the T-R he was “honored and humbled” that voters had chosen him as soon as once more.
“Tommy labored arduous on the race, however on the finish of the day, I feel my expertise and my values are what gained the day, and I’m simply trying ahead to getting again to Des Moines and getting again at it,” he stated.
As soon as he returns, two of Fisher’s prime priorities shall be pushing for additional property tax reform and resuming his ongoing effort to strike gender id from the Iowa Civil Rights Code.
“We maintain urgent that challenge. I feel it’s turning into increasingly more apparent that we’ve gotta get that executed with a purpose to defend our daughters and ladies,” he stated.
Conversely, Hexter stated he usually felt good in regards to the consequence.
“I feel the outcomes are very stable. My benchmark was 40% generally. The final Democratic challenger bought in between 42-43 p.c,” he stated. “Getting over 40 p.c for my first marketing campaign was encouraging.”
Tama County elects first feminine supervisor
Historical past was made in Tama County on Tuesday when voters elected a girl to the board of supervisors for the primary time ever.
Working unopposed on the Nov. 5 common election poll for Tama County Supervisor District 3, Heather Knebel, a 35-year-old Republican from rural Traer, sailed to victory in her race with 1,645 votes.
When contacted Tuesday night for remark, Supervisor-elect Knebel was overjoyed however remained humble in her response.
“Thanks a lot to everybody that supported me this final 12 months throughout my marketing campaign!” Knebel stated. “Between the type phrases, donations, placing out indicators, and getting out to vote. I’m endlessly grateful. I thank God for this chance. I’m excited for January so I can get to work representing the individuals! Thanks all!!”
Knebel’s district consists of the communities of Gladbrook and Traer whereas encompassing the townships of Spring Creek, Crystal, and Perry plus components of far northern Carlton (excluding Garwin) and Howard. The seat is a two-year time period.
In the course of the June 4 major election, Knebel defeated Republicans Eli Hoskey of Toledo and Robert ‘Bob’ Vokoun of Gladbrook for her celebration’s nomination with 64.4% of the vote. With no Democratic candidate on the poll in both the first or common, Knebel all however ensured a trailblazing end result on Tuesday.
Forty-seven years in the past, Republican Jean Kruse of Traer turned the primary lady to serve on the Tama County Board of Supervisors after she was appointed to fill a emptiness ensuing from the sudden passing on Oct. 11, 1977, of then-District 1 Supervisor Robert Chilly.
On the time of her appointment, Kruse was a 36-year-old mom and small enterprise proprietor. Kruse endorsed Knebel – additionally a younger mom and small enterprise proprietor – in her personal District 3 race forward of the June major this 12 months.
District 3 is considered one of 5 new Tama County supervisor seats. In the course of the November 2022 midterm election, voters overwhelmingly handed a public measure to maneuver the county from a three-member board to a five-member board – a type of authorities the county has not utilized since 1934. The general public measure was positioned on the Nov. 2022 poll on account of a petition drive organized by members of Tama County In opposition to Generators (TCAT).
Elsewhere within the county Tuesday night, Republican incumbent Curt Hilmer of Dysart was reelected to District 1 for a second time period after working unopposed; Republican David Turner of Tama, additionally working unopposed, was elected in District 2; Republican Mark Doland of rural Toledo narrowly beat Democrat Berleen Wobeter of rural Toledo by 43 votes in a bruising race for the District 4 seat; and Republican Curt Kupka of Chelsea handily beat Democrat Bruce Lenhart of rural Tama for the District 5 seat.
At presstime, Doland had not responded to a request for remark. Wobeter mirrored on the race in a press release shared with the T-R.
“After I picked up my nomination papers for the June major I used to be unsure of what was to return however keen to satisfy the problem,” she stated. “It’s disappointing to lose by so few votes however I’ve completely no regrets and have been given a lot greater than the numbers point out. Campaigning means stepping out in unfamiliar methods with the wealthy reward of recent relationships. Family and friends supported my efforts in methods I didn’t anticipate however so gratefully acknowledge. ‘You don’t know your group till you see who opens the door’ is my treasured new slogan. And my endlessly and all the time ‘good’ husband was my rock.”
Whereas Wobeter didn’t rule out working once more and/or attending future board of supervisor conferences, she stated she is at present not sure of the trail forward following defeat.
“I feel it may also be precious to look at how numerous guarantees made by supervisor candidates play out within the boardroom. There are sure to be some attention-grabbing new dynamics and even potential costly litigation ought to sure selections be made,” she stated in seemingly reference to the incoming board’s strongly anti-wind turbine place. “Hopefully work will proceed with respect and dedication.”
Additionally on Tuesday, Republican Karen Rohrs of Toledo – the county’s deputy auditor/elections administrator – gained her race for Tama County Auditor after working unopposed, whereas Republican Casey Schmidt of Dysart – additionally working unopposed – gained his race for Tama County Sheriff. Schmidt beforehand breezed to victory throughout the June 4 major by taking practically 54% of the vote share in a three-way race in opposition to detectives Lucas Dvorak of Gladbrook and Trevor Killian of Toledo. Rohrs will substitute retiring Auditor Laura Kopsa (D-Tama), whereas Schmidt replaces retiring Sheriff Dennis Kucera (R-Traer).
A direct poll initiative particular to all Tama County voters handed with overwhelming help. The measure to make EMS a vital service of the county and create a 75 cent levy to fund this system garnered help from 76.6 p.c of voters, with 6,044 in favor and simply 1,842 opposed.
Elsewhere within the higher T-R protection space, Republican Hardin County Supervisor BJ Hoffman gained one other time period over Democratic challenger Lisa Lawler after receiving 3,492 of the 5,141 votes solid (67.92 p.c) whereas Sheriff Dave McDaniel ran unopposed for re-election. Republican Jolene Pieters additionally ran unopposed for county auditor, and Rep. Josh Meggers (R-Grundy Heart) gained an uncontested race to serve one other time period within the Iowa Home.
In Grundy County, Republicans LJ Kopsa of District 1, Vic Vandehaar of District 3 and Jeff Pabst of District 5 all gained seats on the Board of Supervisors working unopposed. Kopsa, who hails from rural Beaman, narrowly gained a June major over fellow Republican Shane Jacobson and can substitute Lucas Halverson. Halverson turned one of many youngest supervisors in county historical past when he gained his seat in 2020 and isn’t in search of re-election. Republican Auditor Alan Tscherter and Sheriff Kirk Dolleslager each gained re-election working unopposed.
