Calhoun County selects Riley as sheriff, Feenstra upsets King

When ballots are cast, the voters of Calhoun County are spoken. At the end of the day, voters determined who would go on to serve in various positions within Calhoun County and who would go on to the General Election on Nov. 3.

Of those who ran for office or re-election in the Primary Election, held throughout The Graphic-Advocate area and beyond on Tuesday, Sheriff’s Deputy Pat Riley is now en route towards the position of Calhoun County Sheriff and the northern half of the county decided on a newcomer to take over for a departing Mike Cooper on the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors. Several familiar faces also retained their positions in the primary, as well.

The Tuesday night results are considered unofficial, until the county supervisors conclude their canvassing. Following canvassing, the Calhoun County Auditor will make the results official.

In a close race for the District 1 County Supervisor position, Scott Becker got the nod over Gary Birkey in the Republican primary. The differential, according to the unofficial results reported to Iowa Secretary of State, was by a margin of 88 votes.

District 1 spans the precinct of half of the Lincoln Township, alongside the Sherman, Butler and Williams Townships. The communities included in the district include Manson, Pomeroy and Jolley.

Carl Legore went uncontested in the District 3 spot on the Board of Supervisors, while Robin Batz will continue to serve as County Auditor.

Riley’s hard work of posting signs and drumming up support throughout the county had paid off, winning the Republican primary for County Sheriff.

The Democratic Party didn't possess any official candidates in the local primaries. Should there be no challengers, the Republican nominees could run uncontested in the General Election.

As far as the contested District 4 Congressional seat is concerned, challenger and Iowa State Senator Randy Feenstra defeated incumbent Steve King. Bret Richards took third, followed by Jeremy Taylor and Steven Reeder.

Feenstra, based out of Hull, will represent the Republicans on the November ballot, facing off against Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten in the General Election. Scholten went uncontested on the blue side of the primary.

Despite his loss, King did win out in Calhoun County over a crowded field of candidates.

Senator Joni Ernst kept their position, as Democrat Theresa Greenfield beat out the likes of Michael Franken, Kimberly Graham, Eddie Mauro and Cal Woods. Greenfield will go on to challenge Ernst in the race for November.

Rockwell City’s Mike Sexton went uncontested, in his quest to remain District 10’s State Representative.