Record voter turnout in Iowa Primaries

Bill Bonewitz inserts his ballot into the machine with some help from Karlene Cochran at the North Tama Activities Center in Traer.

Iowans showed up both figuratively and literally for what Secretary of State Paul Pate reported was a record turnout. More than 487,000 ballots were cast. The previous high was 449,490 in 1994.

Poll workers in Tama County said that they hadn’t had a ton of foot traffic on Tuesday with Iowans given the option to vote absentee due to the coronavirus.

Christina Blackcloud of Tama was declared the winner over John Anderson also of Tama for the Democratic nomination for Iowa House District 72. Blackcloud will face incumbent Dean Fisher (R-Montour) in November. The 72nd District includes all of Tama County , the southern and western portions of Marshal County and the southeastern part of Black Hawk County including LaPorte City.

Blackcloud received 1,523 votes district wide, with Anderson picking up 497. Fisher, who ran unopposed received 2,006 votes. County wide Blackcloud had 995 votes, Anderson 276 and Fisher 1,096.

In the Republican race for the 2nd District supervisor nomination, William Faircloth, rural Toledo, received 285, outsing Roger Wacha (Toledo) who received 179 votes. Faircloth will challenge incumbent Kendall Jordan (D-Toledo) who was unopposed. Jordan received 430 votes.

For the 36th District State Senator seat, Jeff Edler (R-State Center) received a total of 3,538 votes running unopposed. He will face democratic nominee Dave Degner (Traer) in November. Degner who also ran unopposed received 3,746 total votes. County wide Edler received 1,099 while Degner had 1,201.

The 36th Senate district covers all of Tama and Marshall counties and also portion of southeastern Black Hawk County.

Jeffrey Schrock of Toledo will challenge incumbent Dennis Kucera (R-Traer) for Tama County Sheriff. Both ran unopposed.

Kucera received 1,110 votes and Schrock garnered 1,139.

Incumbent Auditor Laura Kopsa (D-Tama) received 1,259 votes and incumbent 3rd District Supervisor Dan Anderson (D-rural Tama) had 424 votes.

Tama County Democrat voters joined with state-wide voters in favoring Theresa Greenfield to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in November.

Republican voters in Tama County favored Ashley Hinson to challenge Democrat 1st District U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer in the General Election.