DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Rob Sand has won Iowa’s race for governor. The two-term state auditor bested Republican businessman Zach Lahn with about 56 percent of the vote. Sand’s victory ends 15 years of Republican control of the governor’s office.
At the Iowa Democrats’ watch party in Des Moines, Sand said voters wanted checks and balances and more accountability in state government. He thanked Lahn for getting into the race and bringing attention to water quality and cancer during the campaign.
Sand
“Tonight, Iowans across the state made their voices heard, and they voted to restore our public schools to their former glory. They voted to address our cancer crisis with real solutions, not with rhetoric, and to make public service the focus of government, not politics.”
Sand wants to restore income limits on taxpayer-funded private school scholarships and to put more money into public schools.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Josh Turek will be Iowa's next U-S senator.
State Representative Turek faced a tight race against Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. Libertarian Thomas Laehn was also on the ballot.
Turek replaces retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst and has flipped a seat that's been in Republican control since 2014.
At the Iowa Democratic election party in Des Moines, Turek said he wants to work to improve healthcare and affordability for Iowans.
Turek
"I know that for far too long D.C. has been broken, that the Senate has been broken, but, but I believe to my core that the United States Senate is the single greatest vehicle to make societal change."
Iowa's highly competitive Senate race was one of the most expensive and closely watched in the country and helped Democrats take control of the Senate.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s 4th Congressional District will stay in Republican hands after Chris McGowan won the open seat.
McGowan defeated Democrat Dave Dawson in Iowa’s most conservative congressional district, 59 percent to 41 percent.
The former head of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce is a lawyer and military veteran from Sioux City. He’ll be Iowa’s only Republican in the U.S. House.
McGowan
“For a lot of folks tonight, spelled the end. For us, it's just the beginning, and I could not be any prouder than to represent my hometown in our nation's capital beginning now. Thank you so much for your support. God bless you.”
McGowan says tackling the deficit and national debt will be his top priority when he takes office in January.
DES MOINES, Iowa SPM — Iowa's representation in the U.S. House of will go from a 4-0 lock for the GOP to a 3-1 advantage for Democrats, with Christina Bohannan taking District 1, Lindsay James taking District 2 and Sarah Trone Garriott winning District 3. Chris McGowan, the lone Republican winning a seat, to represent Iowa's 4th District in the U.S. House taking over Randy Feenstra's open seat.
Republicans will maintain their advantage in the Iowa State Senate, currently with a 30 to 15 advantage with 5 seats still too close to call. In the Iowa House, the GOP is leading with a 44 to 37 advantage so far, but 19 races are still pending.
PIERRE South Dakota SPM — In South Dakota election results Republican Mike Rounds easily won a third term in the U.S. Senate. In South Dakota's only House Race, former Attorney General, Republican, Marty Jackley won comfortably over Democrat Nikki Gronli and Republican Larry Rhoden will remain Governor, besting Democratic opponent Dan Ahlers 63 to 36 percent.
LINCOLN, Nebraska SPM — In Nebraska, Republican Pete Ricketts fought off Independent Dan Osborn with just over 50% of the vote to take the Nebraska Senate Race. In Nebraska's 1st District House Race Republican Mike Flood leads Democrat Chris Backemeyer 50 to 46 percent in a race that's still too close to call. House District 2 Democrat Denise Powell won 56 to 41 percent over Brinker Harding and House District 3 was won comfortably by Republican Adrian Smith. Republican Jim Pillen will remain Governor.
