Iowa Election Results

It was a big day for Democrats in the state of Iowa, as in most other places around the country. Democrat Eric Palmer beat longtime Republican state representative Danny Carroll 5,697 to 5,021, with 53.15 percent of the vote.

This helped Democrats take control of the state legislature after years in the minority. Several seats are still very close and not yet decided, but the Des Moines Register predicts 54 out of the 100 House seats and 30 of 50 Senate seats in Democratic hands. Before the election Republicans held a 50-49 edge in the House, and the parties each had 25 Senate seats.

Democrat Chet Culver, the Iowa Secretary of State, won election as governor with 563,538 to Republican Jim Nussle's 464,228. Culver took 54.03 percent of the vote.

U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell (D) beat back a determined challenge from Republican Jeff Lamberti, taking 114,558 votes to Lamberti's 103,182. Boswell had a 51.76 percent majority.

Democrats Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack won the 1st and 2nd House Districts for the Democrats over Republicans Mike Whalen and Jim Leach. The GOP held on the 4th and 5th districts, with Tom Latham and Steve King handily winning reelection.

Michael Mauro (D) beat Mary Ann Hanusa (R) for Secretary of State with 53.63 percent.

Republican Bill Northey defeated Democrat Denise O'Brien for Secretary of Agriculture with 51.42 percent of the vote.

For more results and reactions, be sure to see this Friday's S&B.