Miller-Meeks fends off Republican challenger

MARENGO — Voter turnout was just over 12% Tuesday in Iowa County and 13% in Benton County for Tuesday’s primary election.

Fewer than 7% of registered voters turned out in Poweshiek County which had only one contested race, the race for the Democrat nominee for State Representative in District 53.

Federal races

Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks, of Ottumwa, took almost 60% of votes Tuesday against challenger David Pautsch, of Davenport, in the race for U.S. House District 1.

Miller-Meeks received 16,446 votes to Pautsch’s 12,926.

Miller-Meeks will face Democrat Christina Bohannan, of Iowa City, in November. Bohannan ran unopposed in Tuesday’s election.

In U.S. House District 2, Republican Ashley Hinson, of Marion, and Democrat Sarah Corkery, of Cedar Falls, both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.

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State races

Judd Lawler, of Oxford, defeated Adam Grier, of Williamsburg in the Republican race for State Representative District 91, garnering 1,435 votes to Grier’s 378.

Democrat Jay Gorsh ran unopposed on the Democrat side.

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In State House District 53, Tommy Hexter, of Grinnell, defeated the other two Democrats in the primary to earn a spot on the ballot in November’s general election.

Hexter garnered 486 votes to Jennifer Wrage’s 276 and John Anderson’s 63.

Hexter will face Republican Dean Fisher, of Mountour, in the general election. Fisher was unopposed in the primaries.

In State House District 84, Republican Thomas Gerhold, of Atkins, and Libertarian Ashley Meredith, of Vinton, each ran unopposed.

Republican Charlie McClintock, of Alburnett was unopposed in State Senate District 42, and Republican Dawn Driscoll, of Williamsburg, and Democrat Ed Chabal, of Washington, were unopposed in State Senate District 46.

Iowa County

Seth Meyer and Abigail Maas won the Republican primary for Iowa County Board of Supervisors with 638 and 601 votes respectively.

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Maas and Alan Schumacher, are the incumbents for the expiring terms. Schumacher finished third with 553 votes, missing a spot on the ballot in the November general election.

Former supervisor John Gahring received 417 votes, and Doug Simms, 321.

Iowa County Auditor Brandy Enochson and Sheriff Rob Rotter ran unopposed in the primaries.

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Benton County

Benton County Sheriff Ronald J. Tippett won the Republican primary for County Supervisor District 1 with 926 votes.

Lance Lillibridge garnered 792 votes and Kellie Van Ree, 422.

Tippett is retiring as sheriff at the end of the year.

In the race for Tippett’s replacement, David Upah, of Atkins, took nearly 75% of the votes on the Republican ballot, defeating Ted Paxton, of Vinton, 1,618 to 529.

Bruce Volz, of Norway, took 64% of the primary votes in the race for County Supervisor for District 3. He defeated incumbent Gary Bierschenk, of Blairstown, 1,285 votes to 713.

Incumbent Benton County Auditor Hayley Rippel was unopposed in the primary.

Poweshiek County

Republican Jacki Bolen and Democrat Diana Dawley were unopposed in the Board of Supervisors primary races.

Incumbent County Auditor Missy Eilander was unopposed on the Republican ballot as was incumbent Loora Wyckoff.

Republican Matthew Maschmann ran unopposed for sheriff on the Republican ballot.