2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa explained

Election Name:2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa
Country:Iowa
Flag Image:Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa
Next Year:2012
Seats For Election:All 5 Iowa seats to the United States House of Representatives
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election1:3
Seats1:3
Popular Vote1:479,874
Percentage1:43.3%
Swing1: 7.95%
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Last Election2:2
Seats2:2
Popular Vote2:597,414
Percentage2:53.9%
Swing2: 6.78%

The 2010 House elections in Iowa occurred on November 2, 2010, and elected the members of the State of Iowa's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Iowa has five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census.

These elections were held concurrently with the United States Senate elections of 2010 (including one in Iowa), the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections. All five of Iowa's incumbent representatives were re-elected.

Despite losing the popular vote, Democrats won a majority of congressional districts in Iowa, the last time they would do so until 2018. Iowa also became one of three states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2010, the other states being New Jersey and North Carolina.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2010[1]
PartyVotesPercentageSeats BeforeSeats After+/–
Republican597,41453.9%220
Democratic479,87443.3%330
Libertarian8,4430.76%000
Independent20,8601.88%000
Totals1,106,591100.00%55

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa by district:[2]

scope=col rowspan=3Districtscope=col colspan=2Republicanscope=col colspan=2Democraticscope=col colspan=2Othersscope=col colspan=2Totalscope=col rowspan=3Result
scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"!scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"!scope=col colspan=2!scope=col colspan=2
scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"%
100,219 47.52% 104,428 49.51% 6,255 2.97% 210,902 100% Democratic Hold
104,319 45.92% 115,839 50.99% 7,017 3.09% 227,175 100% Democratic Hold
111,925 46.49% 122,147 50.73% 6,684 2.78% 240,756 100% Democratic Hold
152,588 65.62% 74,300 31.95% 5,631 2.42% 232,519 100% Republican Hold
128,363 65.75% 63,160 32.35% 3,716 1.90% 195,239 100% Republican Hold
Total 597,414 53.99% 479,874 43.36% 29,303 2.65% 1,106,591 100%

District 1

See also: Iowa's 1st congressional district.

Campaign

In this liberal-leaning district based in northeastern Iowa, incumbent Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley ran for a third term against Republican attorney Ben Lange, Libertarian Rob Petsche, and independent candidate Jason Faulkner. Though Braley was overwhelmingly re-elected to his second term two years prior, the anti-Democratic mood in the country contributed to the Congressman experiencing a tough fight for re-election. The race attracted the attention of both national party organizations, and thousands of dollars were reserved for airtime by the DCCC and the NRCC. Though Braley emerged victorious on election day, it was by a slim 4,000 vote and two percent margin, which was the thinnest margin of victory out of the entire Iowa congressional delegation.

Polling

width='180'Poll Sourcewidth='180'Dates Administeredwidth='130'Bruce Braley (D)width='120'Ben Lange (R)width='120'Undecided
Voter/Consumer Research[3] August 31-September 3, 2010 align=center50%39%-

Results

District 2

See also: Iowa's 2nd congressional district.

Campaign

In a rematch from 2008, incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack faced Republican challenger Mariannette Miller-Meeks when he ran for a third term in this southeastern Iowa-based district, the most liberal of the congressional districts in the state. Polling indicated that the race would be close, and both parties’ congressional campaign committees spent on television advertisements, but ultimately, Congressman Loebsack defeated Miller-Meeks by a 10,000 vote, five percent margin.

Polling

width='140'Poll Sourcewidth='140'Dates Administeredwidth='130'David Loebsack (D)width='120'Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)width='120'Gary Sicard (L)width='120'Undecided
Tarrance Group[4] October 18–19, 201044% align=center45%1%11%
Tarrance Group[5] September 13–14, 2010 align=center41%40%6%13%
Voter/Consumer Research[6] August 31-September 3, 2010 align=center47%39%--
Susquehanna Polling and Research[7] June 23–25, 2010 align=center46%41%--

Results

District 3

See also: Iowa's 3rd congressional district.

Campaign

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell ran for an eighth term in this marginally liberal district that includes parts of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area, metro Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. Congressman Boswell, who has faced difficult elections every year, faced Republican State Senator Brad Zaun in the general election. Though early polling indicated that Boswell was in trouble, he managed to turn the tide and edged out Zaun by a four percent margin.

Polling

width='170'Poll Sourcewidth='180'Dates Administeredwidth='130'Leonard Boswell (D)width='120'Brad Zaun (R)width='120'Undecided
The Hill/ANGA[8] October 19–21, 2010 align=center49%37%11%
Anzalone Liszt Research[9] October 2–5, 2010 align=center47%38%-
Bennett, Petts and Normington[10] October 3–4, 2010 align=center49%41%-
Voter/Consumer Research[11] August 31-September 3, 2010 align=center48%39%8%
American Action Forum[12] August 16–18, 201041% align=center51%8%
Victory Enterprises[13] August 4–5, 201038% align=center45%-
Victory Enterprises[14] June 17, 201032% align=center41%-

Results

District 4

See also: Iowa's 4th congressional district.

Campaign

Though Republican Congressman Tom Latham represents a centrist district, he has never had much trouble winning re-election since he was first elected in 1994. This year, Congressman Latham faced the Democratic nominee, Bill Maske, a school superintendent, and independent candidate Dan Lensing. Latham was never in peril of losing his seat and managed to crush Maske and Lensing to win a ninth term in Congress.

Results

District 5

See also: Iowa's 5th congressional district.

Campaign

Congressman Steve King, a Republican, represents the most conservative district in Iowa, which is rooted in the staunchly conservative areas of western Iowa. King is an outspoken conservative seeking his fifth term in Congress, and he faced Democrat Matthew Campbell in the general election. Though Democrats had high hopes for Campbell's campaign, he was ultimately not able to beat back the conservative tendencies of the district and lost to King in a landslide.

Results

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.
  2. Web site: Haas. Karen L.. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. November 12, 2019. June 3, 2011.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913124606/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/09/boswell-leads-zaun-in-new-poll.html Voter/Consumer Research
  4. http://mariannettemillermeeks.com/download/PollingMemo2.pdf Tarrance Group
  5. http://mariannettemillermeeks.com/download/PollingMemo2.pdf Tarrance Group
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913124606/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/09/boswell-leads-zaun-in-new-poll.html Voter/Consumer Research
  7. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/IAPoll.htm#1st Susquehanna Polling and Research
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20101210220205/http://thehill.com/house-polls/thehill-poll-week-4/125987-district-by-district-iowa The Hill/ANGA
  9. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/IAPoll.htm Anzalone Liszt Research
  10. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/IAPoll.htm Bennett, Petts and Normington
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913124606/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/09/boswell-leads-zaun-in-new-poll.html Voter/Consumer Research
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20130518234701/http://americanactionforum.org/files/IA%2003%20Toplines.pdf American Action Forum
  13. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/IAPoll.htm#1st Victory Enterprises
  14. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/IAPoll.htm#1st Victory Enterprises