RED STATE OF MIND

GOP incumbents get re-elected, Feenstra takes Iowa District 4

Within the state of Iowa, there were more than 1.6 million registered voters, who submitted their ballots through the mail or by visiting the polls. Of those 2.2 million voters, Calhoun County saw nearly 5,300 voters place their ballots.

Overall, Calhoun County had nearly 78 percent of its registered voters take part in the 2020 general election. As the dust of Election Day settled on the state, district and country, the north central portion of Iowa – which includes Calhoun County – is still colored in Republican Party red.

On Election Day, which started on Tuesday and pushed into Wednesday morning, the GOP saw President Donald Trump claim the 29th State, as U.S. Senator Joni Ernst won re-election. Iowa’s 4th Congressional District selected former Iowa State Senator Randy Feenstra and, in the 10th District of the Iowa House of Representatives, Calhoun County resident Mike Sexton was re-elected.

The results were released by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, but are unofficial.

While the rest of the nation waited on whether Trump would stay in the Oval Office for another four years or Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden could capture the most important position in the land, Iowa remained as red as it did in 2016.

Trump took Calhoun County with more than 70.16 percent, compared to Biden’s 28.95 percent. Two-thirds of the votes cast for Trump were conducted on Election Day. Trump won Iowa with 53 percent, compared to Biden’s 45 percent.

Of all 99 counties in Iowa, Trump carried all but Black Hawk, Johnson, Linn, Polk, Scott and Story counties.

Ernst outlasted businesswoman Theresa Greenfield in one of the most expensive contests in the country, reeling in 51 percent of the popular vote. Greenfield pulled in 45 percent in the election.

Ernst (R – Red Oak) carried Calhoun County, besting Greenfield (D – Des Moines) with nearly 68 percent of ballots cast.

Feenstra (R – Hull), who upset Steve King in the primaries earlier this year, claimed a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives by defeating J.D. Scholten (D – Sioux City). Feenstra cruised past Scholten with 68 percent of the vote.

In Calhoun County, Feenstra delivered nearly 69 percent of the vote.

Mike Sexton (R – Rockwell City) remained District 10’s representative in the Iowa House, easing past challenger Carmella Schultes (D – Rolfe). Sexton took Calhoun County and the district in a proverbial landslide, racking up 75 percent of the vote district-wise, and nearly 74 percent in his home county.

On the local level, primary winner Scott Becker will officially represent District 1 of the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors. Carl Legore (Calhoun County Supervisor, District 3), Pat Riley (Calhoun County Sheriff) and Robin Batz (Auditor) were unchallenged in their general election races.

The most interesting race belonged to the Extension Council, where voters had to pick four candidates out of a field of five. The four who were voted onto the council were Darcy Murley, Tonya Reynolds, Randy Waller and Mary Lauver.