2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

In Iowa, midterm elections for the state's five congressional seats took place November 7, 2006. Each race was contested, pitting the winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries conducted June 6.

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

← 2004 November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07) 2008 →

All 5 Iowa seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 1 4
Seats won 3 2
Seat change Increase2 Decrease2
Popular vote 492,937 522,388
Percentage 47.72% 50.57%

The Democratic party won three of the five seats up for grabs. In the 2nd district, 30-year incumbent Jim Leach, a Republican, was unseated by newcomer Dave Loebsack, a Democrat.[1]

The winners served from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2009.

Overview

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United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2006[2]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/−
Republican 522,388 50.57% 2 −2
Democratic 492,937 47.72% 3 +2
Independents 17,656 1.71% 0
Totals 1,032,981 100.00% 5

District 1

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2006 Iowa's 1st congressional district election
 
← 2004
2008 →
     
Nominee Bruce Braley Mike Whalen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 114,322 89,729
Percentage 55.1% 43.3%

 
County results
Braley:      50–60%
Whalen:      50–60%

U.S. Representatives before election

Jim Nussle
Republican

Elected U.S. Representatives

Bruce Braley
Democratic

 

Regarded as one of the more hotly contested races in the nation, Republican nominee Mike Whalen of Bettendorf, the operator of the Heart of America Restaurants and Inns (HOARI) chain, took on Democratic candidate Bruce Braley, an attorney from Waterloo. The seat had been vacated when incumbent Jim Nussle announced his run for Iowa governor.

In the Democratic primary, Braley defeated Rick Dickinson, Bill Gluba and Denny Heath. Whalen got the GOP nod over Bill Dix and Brian Kennedy.

Following an election that was peppered with negative attack ads from both sides, Braley defeated Whalen by a solid margin.

Braley's victory meant that, for the first time since 1976, a Democrat would be serving the district.[3]

Endorsements

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Individuals
Iowa's 1st congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Braley 114,322 55.10
Republican Mike Whalen 89,729 43.25
Pirate James F. Hill 2,201 1.06
Independent Albert W. Schoeman 1,226 0.59
Total votes 207,478 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

District 2

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2006 Iowa's 2nd congressional district election
 
← 2004 November 7th, 2006 2008 →
     
Nominee Dave Loebsack Jim Leach
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 107,683 101,707
Percentage 51.4% 48.6%

 
County results
Loebsack:     50–60%
Leach:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election

Jim Leach
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Dave Loebsack
Democratic

 

When the Iowa Secretary of State's office posted its list of primary candidates online in March, there was no Democratic candidate.[5] However, Dave Loebsack of Mount Vernon, a political science professor at Cornell College, received write-in votes in the June 6 primary to become the Democratic nominee.[6] Incumbent Jim Leach was the sole GOP candidate in the primary.

The campaign eventually heated up,[7] as Loebsack was hoping to ride what he viewed as voter discontent with the Bush administration. Leach supporters continued to point to his strong integrity and status as one of the most liberal Republicans in the House.

On election night, Loebsack stunned many political observers by defeating Leach by a thin margin.[8] Leach's defeat made him the most senior House member to lose re-election in 2006 and the most senior member to lose re-election since 42-year incumbent Jack Brooks lost to Steve Stockman in the 1994 Republican Revolution.

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack 107,683 51.43
Republican Jim Leach (incumbent) 101,707 48.57
Total votes 209,390 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

District 3

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2006 Iowa's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 2004 November 7th, 2006 2008 →
     
Nominee Leonard Boswell Jeff Lamberti
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 115,769 103,722
Percentage 51.9% 46.5%

 
County results
Boswell:      40–50%      50–60%
Lamberti:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election

Leonard Boswell
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Leonard Boswell
Democratic

 

Five-term incumbent Leonard Boswell, a Democrat from Des Moines, took on Republican challenger Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny, a two-term state senator from the 35th District and the GOP's Senate leader. Both candidates were uncontested in the June 6 primary.

Like in the first congressional district, the third district race was characterized by negative attack advertising and attention from national committees seeking to elect their candidate of choice.

Boswell ultimately took advantage of the strong Democratic wave sweeping across the country and defeated Lamberti to win a sixth term.

Endorsements

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Individuals
Iowa's 3rd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Leonard Boswell (incumbent) 115,769 51.90
Republican Jeff Lamberti 103,722 46.50
Socialist Workers Helen Meyers 3,591 1.61
Total votes 223,082 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

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2006 Iowa's 4th congressional district election
 
← 2004
2008 →
     
Nominee Tom Latham Selden Spencer
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 121,650 90,982
Percentage 57.2% 42.8%

 
County results
Latham:      50–60%      60–70%
Spencer:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

Tom Latham
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Tom Latham
Republican

 

Seven-term Republican incumbent Tom Latham of Alexander faced Democratic nominee Selden Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley. Both candidates were unopposed in the June 6 primary. Although quiet by comparison to other races in Iowa, the Iraq War was a major point of contention between the candidates.[10]

Though some political analysts[who?] expected the race to be a tough one, Latham defeated Spencer by a solid margin to win a seventh term.

Endorsements

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Selden Spencer (D)
Individuals
Iowa's 4th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Latham (incumbent) 121,650 57.21
Democratic Selden E. Spencer 90,982 42.79
Total votes 212,632 100.00
Republican hold

District 5

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2006 Iowa's 5th congressional district election
 
← 2004 November 7th, 2006 2008 →
     
Nominee Steve King Joyce Schulte
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 105,580 64,181
Percentage 58.5% 35.6%

 
County results
King:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Schulte:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election

Steve King
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Steve King
Republican

 

Republican Steve King of Kiron, a two-term incumbent, faced Democratic nominee Joyce Schulte of Creston. Schulte had defeated Robert Chambers in the June 6 primary, while King was unopposed.

In the November 7 election, King defeated Schulte in a small landslide to win another term.

Iowa's 5th congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve King (incumbent) 105,580 58.53
Democratic Joyce Schulte 64,181 35.58
Independent Roy Nielsen 8,159 4.52
Independent Cheryl L. Brodersen 2,479 1.37
Total votes 180,399 100.00
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ McWilliams, Mike (November 8, 2006). "Loebsack ousts Leach: Challenger ousts 30-year incumbent". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved November 8, 2006. [dead link]
  2. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  3. ^ Tibbetts, Ed (November 7, 2006). "Braley win caps 2-year quest". Quad-City Times. Retrieved November 8, 2006.
  4. ^ "Bruce Braley (IA-01) | WesPAC". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ Jordan, Erin (September 30, 2006). "Loebsack-Leach race warms up". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2006.
  8. ^ McWilliams, Mike (November 8, 2006). "Loebsack ousts Leach: Challenger ousts 30-year incumbent". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved November 8, 2006. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Leonard Boswell (IA-03) | WesPAC". Archived from the original on September 22, 2006.
  10. ^ "Braley rides party's wave, says Bush was 'major issue'". Des Moines Register. November 8, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2006.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Dr. Selden Spencer (IA-04) | WesPAC". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.

See also

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