Registered Democrats and Republicans voted Tuesday in a primary to chose candidates for the Nov. 3 general election. There was an emphasis on voting by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that seemed to appeal to voters. Turnout was significantly more than in the 2018 primary. A total of 850 Republicans voted this time, compared to 472 in 2018. Democrat turnout was also better, with 663 ballots cast in this primary compared to 477 in 2018.
Greene County Republicans want to see Congressman Steve King returned to his Fourth District seat. The often-time controversial 9-term Representative received 366 votes from Greene County Republicans. Randy Feenstra was the choice of 255 voters. Bret Richards got 130 votes, Jeremy Taylor got 43 votes, and Steven Reeder got 37 votes.
J.D. Scholten ran unopposed as the Democratic candidate for the Fourth District seat.
Democrats selected a candidate to run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Joni Ernst. Theresa Greenfield received 312 votes, with Michael Franken receiving 222, Kimberly Graham receiving 58, Eddie J. Mauro receiving 53 and Cal Woods receiving five votes.
Ernst’s was the only name on the Republican ballot.
There is not an incumbent running for the Iowa Senate District 24 seat; longtime Republican senator Jerry Behn is not seeking re-election. In a close race, Jesse Green received 234 votes, Chad Behn received 212 votes, Todd Rasmussen received 207 votes, and Joshua D. Dyer received 131 votes.
Greene County Democrats favored Cynthia Oppedal Paschen by a wide margin over Keith D. Puntenney to run for the seat. Paschen received 380 votes to Puntenney’s 179 votes.
Click here for complete Greene County primary results.
