Iowa State Senate elections, 2014
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TheIowa State Senate elections provided an opportunity for theRepublican Party to makeIowa atrifecta, meaning complete control of the state government. Republicans controlled thegovernor's office and theState House, but not the State Senate.[1] Democrats fended off the challenge and retained the Senate.
Iowa's senate elections attracted outside attention, including from potential2016 presidential contender andGovernor of TexasRick Perry. Republican control of theupper house would have helped them to advance issues on their agenda, including eliminating a manufacturing tax and banning telemedicine abortions where rural women in the state can get access to abortion pills after approval from remote doctors through videoconference consultations.[1][2]
TheDemocratic Party devoted resources to winning back theHouse of Representatives inIowa.House Minority LeaderMark Smith said that the party was playing offense and that it had recruited candidates who fit the districts. He said the party's chances were bolstered because of unexpected Republican retirements and that the incumbents were a "vulnerable freshman class dominated by tea party members who have taken extreme positions." The Democrats also recruited more candidates for the House than the Republicans - 77 to their 69.[1][3]
Speaker of the HouseKraig Paulsen was optimistic that the Republicans would gain seats. He cited voter frustration with government in general and in Washington, and thank yous from voters for recent legislative accomplishments.[3]
The Iowa Senate was one of 20 state legislative chambers noted by Ballotpedia staff as being abattleground. The Iowa Senate had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republican of two seats, which amounted to 4 percent of the chamber. In 2012, when 26 seats were up for election, a total of 12 districts were competitive or mildly competitive. One of those districts,District 49, was up for election again in 2014. That district had a margin of victory of 9 percent in 2012. It did not change hands in 2014.
Half of the 50 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2014. In 12 of the contested seats, there was only one major party candidate running.
Elections for theIowa State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of theIowa State Senate. Despite an opportunity for theRepublican Party to makeIowa atrifecta, there was no change to the total seats held by each party. TheDemocratic Party maintained 26 seats, while the Republicans continued to hold 24.
Incumbents retiring
Five incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Nancy Boettger |  Republican | Senate District 9 |
| Hubert Houser | Republican | Senate District 11 |
| Dennis Black |  Democratic | Senate District 15 |
| Jack Hatch | Democratic | Senate District 17 |
| Sandra Greiner | Republican | Senate District 39 |
Majority control
Heading into the November 4 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in theIowa State Senate:
| Iowa State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 26 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | 24 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
Qualifications
TheIowa Constitution states, "Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence and citizenship."[4]
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In 12 of the 25 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of six Democrats and six Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 13 of the 25 districts up for election.
Primary challenges
A total of four incumbents faced primary competition on June 3. Five incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 16 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. Every incumbent facing primary competition advanced past the June 3 primary. The state senators that faced primary competition were:
- District 19: IncumbentJack Whitver (R) defeatedBrett H. Nelson in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidate filed to run.
- District 23: IncumbentHerman C. Quirmbach (D) defeatedCynthia Oppedal Paschen in the Democratic primary.
- District 35: IncumbentWally E. Horn (D) defeatedLance Lefebure in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidate filed to run.
- District 45: IncumbentJoe M. Seng (D) defeatedMark James Riley in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidate filed to run.
Retiring incumbents
Five incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 20 (80.0%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, two Democrats and three Republicans, can be foundabove.
Context
If the Republicans managed to gain control of theIowa State Senate, it would have created aRepublican trifecta for the first time since 1998. Democrats held control of the governorship and both legislative chambers from 2007 to 2010. Some believed that with full Republican control, new conservative policies such as tax cuts and restrictions on abortion may have been enforced.[5]
Tim Storey, of the National Conference of State Legislatures, believed that Iowa'sredistricting process is what made it a perennial battleground state. Storey said,
| “ | You cannot separate the Iowa form of redistricting from Iowa’s permanent status as a battleground for both legislative chambers. That’s the nature of Iowa.[6] | ” |
| —Tim Storey[5] | ||
Iowa uses a team of nonpartisan analysts with a computer program to draw its boundaries without regard to any statistic except population.[5]
Former presidential candidate and currentgovernor of TexasRick Perry (R) helped raise money for some Republican candidates in mid-August. Perry spoke in support ofShawn Dietz,Crystal Bruntz andMichael D. Moore, all candidates in the Associated Press' list of races to watch. Some believed this was Perry's way of increasing his supporter base in Iowa for a rumored 2016 presidential run.[2]
TheIowa State Senate was identified by Louis Jacobson ofGoverning magazine as one of 17 chambers that was "vulnerable to a change in control in November." Jacobson rated the state senate contest in Iowa as a "tossup." It was one of four state senates held by a Democratic Party majority that Jacobson rated as tossups; the others beingColorado,Nevada andNew York.[7]
Races to watch
The Associated Press identified the following as races to watch:[8]
Democratic Incumbents
- District 5 - IncumbentDaryl Beall (D) was defeated byTim Kraayenbrink (R).
- District 27 - IncumbentAmanda Ragan (D) defeatedShawn Dietz (R).
- District 29 - IncumbentTod R. Bowman (D) defeatedJames R. Budde (R).
Republican Incumbents
- District 7 - IncumbentRick Bertrand (R) defeatedJim France (D) andMaria Rundquist (I).
- District 13 - IncumbentJulian B. Garrett (R) defeatedPam Deichmann (D). Garrett was elected in a2013 special election.
- District 41 - IncumbentMark Chelgren (R) defeatedSteve Siegel (D).
Open Seats
- District 15 -Chaz Allen (D) defeatedCrystal Bruntz (R).
- District 39 -Kevin Kinney (D) defeatedMichael D. Moore (R).
List of candidates
District 1
June 3 Democratic primary:- No candidates filed.
June 3 GOP primary:- David Johnson: 4,915
a - Incumbent Johnson first assumed office in 2003.
- David Johnson: 4,915
November 4 General election candidates:
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- David Johnson: 18,774
District 3
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Bill Anderson: 3,536a - Incumbent Anderson first assumed office in 2011.
- Bill Anderson: 3,536
November 4 General election candidates:
- Bill Anderson: 17,176
District 5
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Daryl Beall: 1,317a - Incumbent Beall first assumed office in 2003.
- Daryl Beall: 1,317
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Tim Kraayenbrink: 2,770a
- Tim Kraayenbrink: 2,770
November 4 General election candidates:
- Daryl Beall: 9,801
- Tim Kraayenbrink: 12,383
District 7
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Jim France: 599a
- Maria Rundquist: 483
- Jim France: 599
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Rick Bertrand: 2,117a - Incumbent Bertrand first assumed office in 2011.
- Rick Bertrand: 2,117
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jim France: 5,738
- Rick Bertrand: 8,766
- Maria Rundquist: 832
District 9
Note: IncumbentNancy Boettger (R) did not run for re-election.
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Jason Schultz: 3,904a
- Jason Schultz: 3,904
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jason Schultz: 16,293
District 11
Note: IncumbentHubert Houser (R) did not run for re-election.
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Art Hill: 1,135
- Tom Shipley: 2,871a
November 4 General election candidates:
- Tom Shipley: 17,681
District 13
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Pam Deichmann: 669a
- Pam Deichmann: 669
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Julian B. Garrett: 3,220a - Incumbent Garrett first assumed office in 2013.
- Julian B. Garrett: 3,220
Libertarian Party candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Pam Deichmann: 8,900
- Julian B. Garrett: 15,326
- Clair Tom Thompson: 893
District 15
Note: IncumbentDennis Black (D) did not run for re-election.
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Chaz Allen: 696a
- Chaz Allen: 696
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Jeremy Filbert: 833
- Crystal Bruntz: 1,771a
November 4 General election candidates:
- Chaz Allen: 13,307
- Crystal Bruntz: 12,008
District 17
Note: IncumbentJack Hatch (D) did not run for re-election.
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Tony Bisignano: 1,443a
- Nathan Blake: 1,425
- Ned F. Chiodo: 1,002
- Tony Bisignano: 1,443
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
- Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Tony Bisignano: 10,548
- Jonathan Lochman: 5,374
- Jim Bollard: 978
Note: Lochman filed to run on July 25, 2014.
District 19
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Brett H. Nelson: 635
- Jack Whitver: 2,362a - Incumbent Whitver first assumed office in 2011.
- Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jack Whitver: 16,742
- Brett H. Nelson: 3,802
Note: Nelson filed to run as an Independent on August 13, 2014.
District 21
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Matt McCoy: 1,081a - Incumbent McCoy first assumed office in 1997.
- Matt McCoy: 1,081
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Matt McCoy: 17,851
District 23
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Cynthia Oppedal Paschen: 598
- Herman C. Quirmbach: 1,593a - Incumbent Quirmbach first assumed office in 2003.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Jeremy Davis: 1,465a
- Jeremy Davis: 1,465
November 4 General election candidates:
- Herman C. Quirmbach: 11,713
- Jeremy Davis: 8,094
District 25
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Bill Dix: 3,482a - Incumbent Dix first assumed office in 2011.
- Bill Dix: 3,482
November 4 General election candidates:
- Bill Dix: 18,267
District 27
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Amanda Ragan: 981a - Incumbent Ragan first assumed office in 2003.
- Amanda Ragan: 981
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Shawn Dietz: 1,938a
- Timothy Junker: 1,212
- Shawn Dietz: 1,938
November 4 General election candidates:
- Amanda Ragan: 12,898
- Shawn Dietz: 10,012
District 29
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Tod R. Bowman: 1,920a - Incumbent Bowman first assumed office in 2011.
- Tod R. Bowman: 1,920
- June 3 GOP primary:
- James R. Budde: 1,262a
- James A. Heavens: 901
- James R. Budde: 1,262
November 4 General election candidates:
- Tod R. Bowman: 13,245
- James R. Budde: 11,002
District 31
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Bill Dotzler: 1,569a - Incumbent Dotzler first assumed office in 2003.
- Bill Dotzler: 1,569
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Bill Dotzler: 13,387
District 33
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Robert M. Hogg: 3,754a - Incumbent Hogg first assumed office in 2007.
- Robert M. Hogg: 3,754
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Robert M. Hogg: 14,430
- Harry Foster: 8,932
Note: Foster filed to run on July 23, 2014.
District 35
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Wally E. Horn: 1,644a - Incumbent Horn first assumed office in 2003.
- Lance Lefebure: 891
- Wally E. Horn: 1,644
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Wally E. Horn: 15,671
District 37
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Robert E. Dvorsky: 2,343a - Incumbent Dvorsky first assumed office in 2003.
- Robert E. Dvorsky: 2,343
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Robert E. Dvorsky: 16,613
District 39
Note: IncumbentSandra Greiner (R) did not run for re-election.
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Richard Gilmore: 338
- Kevin Kinney: 1,162a
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Bob Anderson: 947
- Michael D. Moore: 1,231a
- Royce W. Phillips: 515
November 4 General election candidates:
- Kevin Kinney: 12,371
- Michael D. Moore: 11,306
District 41
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Tom Rubel: 883
- Steve Siegel: 2,044a
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Mark Chelgren: 2,388a - Incumbent Chelgren first assumed office in 2011.
- Mark Chelgren: 2,388
November 4 General election candidates:
- Steve Siegel: 9,982
- Mark Chelgren: 10,356
District 43
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Joe Bolkcom: 3,663a - Incumbent Bolkcom first assumed office in 2003.
- Joe Bolkcom: 3,663
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Joe Bolkcom: 18,000
District 45
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Mark James Riley: 135
- Joe M. Seng: 614a - Incumbent Seng first assumed office in 2003.
- June 3 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Joe M. Seng: 13,013
District 47
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Maria Bribriesco: 562a
- Maria Bribriesco: 562
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Roby Smith: 2,626a - Incumbent Smith first assumed office in 2011.
- Roby Smith: 2,626
November 4 General election candidates:
- Maria Bribriesco: 11,580
- Roby Smith: 14,988
District 49
- June 3 Democratic primary:
- Rita Hart: 586a - Incumbent Hart first assumed office in 2013.
- Rita Hart: 586
- June 3 GOP primary:
- Brian Schmidt: 2,205a
- Brian Schmidt: 2,205
November 4 General election candidates:
- Rita Hart: 11,690
- Brian Schmidt: 10,808
See also
External links
- Iowa Secretary of State - Official primary election candidate list
- Iowa Secretary of State - Official primary election results
- Iowa Secretary of State - Official general election candidate list
- Iowa Secretary of State - Official general election results
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.2New York Times, "Midterms give parties chance for sweeping control of states," August 10, 2014
- ↑2.02.1The Iowa Republican, "Perry working hard to elect Iowa Republicans," August 12th, 2014
- ↑3.03.1SiouxCityJournal.com, "Iowa Democrats part of national effort to 'flip' House control," July 2, 2014
- ↑Iowa Legislature, "Iowa Constitution"
- ↑5.05.15.2Omaha.com, "Iowa GOP faces challenges in trying to take full control of Statehouse," August 10, 2014
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑Governing, "Democrats Playing Defense in 2014 State Legislative Races", June 23, 2014
- ↑KWWL, "Key Iowa Senate races in upcoming general election," August 10, 2014
