The COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t keep Iowa voters from either going to the polls or turning in an absentee ballot, which were sent by mail statewide prior to the June 2 primary.
As results were coming in June 2, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said the following on Twitter: “We have surpassed the all-time turnout record for a June primary, with more than 487,000 ballots cast and more still coming in. The previous high in Iowa was 449,490 in 1994. My hats off to Iowa voters, poll workers and county auditors. Awesome job!”
Theresa Greenfield won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to challenge Republican incumbent Joni Ernst in November. Greenfield received 47.8 percent of the vote, with Michael Franken the nearest challenger with 25 percent.
In U.S. House District 2, which includes Cedar and Muscatine counties, Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the Republican primary with 47.7 percent of the vote. The nearest challenger was Bobby Schilling, receiving 36.5 percent. November will mark the fourth time Miller-Meeks has run for the congressional seat. Her challenger will be Democrat Rita Hart as incumbent Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa City) announced he was not going to seek re-election.
Muscatine County results
State Senate District 44—Tim Goodwin won the Republican primary over Matthew Rinker 68.5 to 31 percent. Tom Courtney won the Democratic primary with nearly 70 percent of the vote. His nearest challenger was Kevin Warth (23 percent).
State Senate District 46—Republican incumbent Mark Lofgren will face Democrat Chris Brase. Both ran unopposed in the primary.
State House District 73—Republican incumbent Bobby Kaufmann will face Democrat Lonny Pulkrabek. Both ran unopposed in the primary.
State House District 88—Republican incumbent David Kerr will face Democrat Sandy Dockendorff. Each ran unopposed in the primary.
State House District 91—Republican Mark Cisneros will face Democrat Kelcey Bracket. Republican incumbent Gary Carlson is not running for re-election.
Board of Supervisors—Republican incumbents Scott Sauer and Nathan Mather each ran unopposed and is each seeking re-election. Democratic challengers in November will be Ed Askew, who ran unopposed, and Michelle Servadio Elias, who defeated Henry Marquard in a primary 57 to 43 percent.
County Auditor—Tibe Vander Linden won the Republican primary 74 to 25 percent over Mary Mason-Wheeler. Vander Linden will face Democrat Brandy Harfst in the general election. Auditor Leslie Soule is not seeking re-election.
County Sheriff—In the Republican primary, Quinn Riess defeated Kenny Hora 54 to 45 percent. Riess will face Democrat Michael Channon in the general election. Incumbent C.J. Ryan is not seeking re-election.
Cedar County results
State House District 73—Republican incumbent Bobby Kaufmann will face Democrat Lonny Pulkrabek. Both ran unopposed in the primary.
Board of Supervisors—Republicans Jeff Kaufmann (34 percent), Steve Agne (26 percent) and John Bell (26 percent) won the primary over Michael Horihan (14 percent). There was only one Democrat on the ballot — Larry Hodgden — who will face Kaufmann, Agne and Bell in the general election with three open seats on the line.
County Auditor—Republican Auditor Cari Dauber ran unopposed and will not have a Democratic challenger in November.
County Sheriff—Republican incumbent Warren Wethington defeated Matt Bowers 80 to 20 percent in the primary. Wethington will not have a Democratic challenger in November.