Iowa State Auditor Rob, who announced his candidacy for governor last year, was declared the winner of Iowa’s gubernatorial election on Tuesday night.
Sand, a Democrat, will be the first Democratic governor in Iowa since 2006, the last time the seat was open. During his victory speech in Des Moines, Sand said his victory is “about returning to our proud and long-standing Iowa tradition of balanced government. That we do our best work when we are forced to work together…Come January, we will be forced to work together,” he smiled as the crowd cheered and applauded.
Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson to win the open seat in the United States Senate, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by a Democrat since 2008 when Tom Harkin was reelected to Congress’ upper chamber.
Democrats Christina Bohannon, Lindsay James, and Sarah Trone Garriott won their respective United State Representative races. After making up Iowa’s entire congressional delegation, only Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and newly elected Chris McGowan remain for the GOP.
In the State Senate, Republican Jeff Kulmatycki (13,311 votes) beat Brenda Case (8,080) to win the seat in District 13. And Republican Barb Kniff McCulla (18,036) deafeated Democrat Zachary Mecham (10,497) to win District 19.
Area Iowa House races saw Republican incumbents Hans Wilz (District 25), Austin Harris (District 26), and Jeff Shipley (District 87) win reelection. Other Iowa House winners included Brooke Boden (District 21) and Sam Wengryn (District 24).
Finally, Iowa voters approved an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would require a two-thirds majority vote from the legislature to increase the individual income tax or corporate tax rate.
