Iowa State Senate elections, 2006

From dKosopedia

This article discusses elections for the Iowa State Senate in 2006. This year, 25 of the 50 seats will be on the ballot (all the odd numbers). Going into the election, the senate was split 25/25, so any net change will swing the balance of power.

Contents 1 Narrative 2 Results 3 District 1 4 District 3 5 District 5 6 District 7 7 District 9 8 District 11 9 District 13 10 District 15 11 District 17 12 District 19 13 District 21 14 District 23 15 District 25 16 District 27 17 District 29 18 District 31 19 District 33 20 District 35 21 District 37 22 District 39 23 District 41 24 District 43 25 District 45 26 District 47 27 District 49 28 Related Articles 29 External Links

Narrative

There are five open seats (all with Republican incumbents), while four Democrats and three Republicans are uncontested.

This page was updated on August 18, 2006, and it includes all primary winners and independent candidates. It is still possible that some candidates will drop out. We have provided websites where we can; otherwise, contact info for every candidate can be found by downloading a PDF from the Sec. of State's Office: Iowa General Election Candidates List.

Bloggers Drew Miller and John Deeth have a good analysis of these races. So does MyDD.

Results

Democrats gained five seats in the election, which means that the next Senate will have 30 Dems and 20 Republicans. They picked up four open seats in districts: 5, 9, 19 and 37, and Becky Schmitz beat incumbent David Miller in district 45. In district 41, wingnut David Hartsuch beat an incumbent in the primary, then barely held off Democrat Phyllis Thede by 51-49%.

District 1

• Incumbent: Steve Warnstadt (D) (website) Won 67-33%.
• Challenger: Barbara Blanchard (R) - Christian school administrator.

District 3

• Incumbent: David Johnson (R) Won 59-41%.
• Challenger: Mel Berryhill (D)

District 5

• Incumbent: Stewart Iverson (R) - retiring. Open Seat
• Challengers:
  • Rich Olive (D) - president of Norseman Insurance and Real Estate, and President of the Story City Development Corporation. Won by 50 votes.
  • James M. Kurtenbach (R) - State Rep.
• Results: There will be a manual recount in this district RadioIowa.com
• Outlook - Iverson surprised everyone by announcing his retirement one week after the primary. On June 24th, a Republican special convention chose Kurtenbach to replace him. Meanwhile, Olive won Russ Feingold's Pick a Progressive Patriot: Iowa online vote.

District 7

• Incumbent: Amanda Ragan (D) (website) Won 72-28%.
• Challenger: Kenneth D. Young (R)

District 9

• Incumbent: Bob Brunkhorst (R) - retiring, Open Seat
• Challengers
  • Bill Heckroth (D) (website) Won 53-47%.
  • Tom Hoogestraat (R) (website)

District 11

• Incumbent: Bill Dotzler (D) Won 70-30%.
• Challenger: Jim Buschkamp (R)

District 13

• Incumbent: Roger Stewart (D) (website) Won 66-34%.
• Challenger: LaMetta Wynn (R)
• Outlook: Wynn is the longtime mayor of Clinton, so this will be competitive.

District 15

• Incumbent: Robert Dvorsky (D)
• Challenger: None.

District 17

• Incumbent: Wally Horn (D)
• Challenger: None.

District 19

• Incumbent: Chuck Larson Jr (R) - leaving for private practice, Open Seat
• Challengers:
  • Rob Hogg (D) (website) Won 59-41%.
  • Renee Schulte (R) (website)
• Outlook: Hogg is a two-term state legislator who is well known in this district. Schulte is a first time candidate.

District 21

• Incumbent: Dennis Black (D) (website) Won 56-44%.
• Challenger: Tim Morgan (R)

District 23

• Incumbent: Herman Quirmbach (D) Won 57-43%.
• Challenger: Linda Livingston (R) (website)

District 25

• Incumbent: Daryl Beall (D) (website) Won 67-33%.
• Challenger: Tom Sooter (R)

District 27

• Incumbent: Ron Wieck (R)
• Challenger: None.

District 29

• Incumbent: Nancy Boettger (R)
• Challenger: None.

District 31

• Incumbent: Matt McCoy (D) (website) Won 66-34%.
• Challenger: Nicholas G. Van Patten (R)
• Outlook: McCoy easily defeated Randa in the primary.

District 33

• Incumbent: Jack Hatch (D) (website)
• Challenger: None.

District 35

• Incumbent: Jeff Lamberti (R) - running for U.S. House, Open Seat
• Challengers:
  • Merle O. Johnson (D) (website) - former mayor of Ankeny
  • Larry L. Noble (R) (website) - retired State Trooper. Won 52-48%.

District 37

• Incumbent: Doug Shull (R) - leaving to run for State House District 74, Open Seat
• Challengers:
  • Staci Appel (D) (website) Won 52-48%
  • Julian B. Garrett(R)
• Outlook: Shull won this seat by 2% in 2002, and it is trending Democratic. He is seeking a smaller State House district because he wants more time with his family.

District 39

• Incumbent: Joe Bolkcom (D) (website) Won 78-22%.
• Challenger: Jay Christensen-Szalanski (I) (website)

District 41

• Incumbent: Maggie Tinsman (R) lost primary
• Challengers:
  • David Hartsuch (R) Won 51-49%.
  • Phyllis Thede (D)
• Outlook: Hartsuch defeated Tinsman in the primary.

District 43

• Incumbent: Dr. Joe Seng (D)
• Challenger: None.

District 45

• Incumbent: David Miller (R)
• Challenger: Becky Schmitz (D) (website) Won by 161 votes.

District 47

• Incumbent: Keith Kreiman (D) (website) Won with 64-33-3%.
• Challengers:
  • Keith Caviness (R)
  • Max Hulen (I)

District 49

• Incumbent: Hubert Houser (R)
• Challenger: None.

Related Articles

• Iowa State House elections, 2006

External Links

• 50 State(House) Strategy: Iowa - good overview
• Elections results - DesMoines Register, November 8, 2006.