Tuesday’s Primaries Shape up 2018 Midterm Elections

rVoters all across Iowa went to the polls yesterday to nominate who they think ought to be on the ballot during this fall’s midterm elections.

In recent elections, Iowa Republicans have enjoyed the majority of success in state elections, as they currently control the House, Senate and Governorship in Des Moines. But Democrats are hopeful they can push back this fall, and Tuesday was their chance to nominate who they think gives them the best chance to do so. 

A few key races are on the ballot this fall, such as Iowa’s governorship. The office is currently held by Republican Kim Reynolds. Reynolds took over for Gov. Terry Branstad after he was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. Ambassador to China. 

Fred Hubbell, a Des Moines businessman, garnered the most primary votes from Democrats, and is slated to take on Reynolds in the fall election. r

rThe race for the governorship this fall looks to be a contentious one, as several key issues will be much talked about leading up to the vote this November. 

Earlier this year, Iowa’s Republican-controlled legislature passed one of the nation’s strictest abortion laws and passed sweeping income tax cuts, which are just a couple of the big issues that will hinge on November’s looming election. 

Gov. Reynolds has stood by these issues, while Hubbell most certainly will work to overturn them.  

At the national level, Abby Finkenauer, an Iowa state legislator from Dubuque, will represent the Democrats to run against GOP’s Rod Blum in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District for the  U.S. House. 

This race is sure to draw lots of national attention — and it already has — as Democrats will be looking to grab as many seats in the midterms in hopes of taking back control of the House. 

Dems see this seat as one they have a good shot of winning, evidenced by the fact that Finkenauer had already raised $1.3 million and has received several endorsements heading into the primary.

If elected this fall, 29-year-old Finkenauer will become the youngest woman elected to Congress. 

Voter turnout for Iowa saw record highs for a June primary, with nearly 280,000 casting ballots, or 13.1 percent of Iowans. The previous record was set in 2014 at around 233,000. 

Mitchell County didn’t see quite as high of a percentage — 9.41 percent — with 645 ballots cast out of 6,851 registered voters. 

For the most part, Mitchell County voted similarly to the rest of the state, except for the Republican nomination for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

State wide, Mike Naig won the vote, having served five years as deputy director to former ag secretary Bill Northey. Northey left the office after he was appointed to become an Undersecretary of the UDSA in Washington. 

Naig will take on former U.S. Department of Agriculture associate administrator Tim Gannon this November. 

Here’s a rundown of who is slated to appear on the ballot this fall:

Federal offices: 

United States Representative Dist. 1

Rod Blum (R)

Abby Finkenauer (D)

State Offices:

Governor

Kim Reynolds (R)

Fred Hubbell (D)

Jake Porter (Lib.)

State Representative Dist. 51

Jane Bloomingdale (R)

Tim Knudson (D)

Secretary of State:

Paul Pate (R)

Deidre DeJear (D)

Auditor of State:

Mary Mosiman (R)

Rob Sand (D)

Secretary of Agriculture:

Mike Naig (R)

Tim Gannon (D)

County Offices: 

County Treasurer

Susan Ellison (R)

Shannon De Paulus (D)

County Recorder 

Pat Skuster (D)

County Attourney 

Mark Walk (R)

Board of Supervisors Dist 1

Al Winters (R)

Board of Supervisors Dist 3

Steven Smolik (R)