By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
Democrats won Iowa’s U-S Senate seat, three of Iowa’s four seats in the U.S. House and the governor’s race in this year’s election.
Josh Turek flipped Iowa’s open senate seat into the Democrats’ column, defeating Republican Ashley Hinson. “Together, we have made history,” Turek said, to cheers from supporters.
Rob Sand is the first Democrat in 20 years to be elected governor. Sand first thanked the Republicans and independents who voted for him. “To Iowa Democrats, you’ve had a hard few years here in Iowa,” Sand said and the crowd gathered in the State Historical Museum laughed before he continued: “But balanced government has been restored.”
Sand pledged to work across party lines when the Republican-led legislature convenes next year. “Because of all of us coming together in January, no Iowan has to fear their government anymore,” Sand said.
And Sand promised to represent Iowans who voted for his Republican opponent Zach Lahn. “You are going to see me out and about. I hope that you stop me and I hope you introduce yourself and I hope you kindly tell me why you didn’t vote for me. I hope you also keep an open mind because you’re going to get to know me over the next four years and maybe you’ll feel differently the next time,” Sand said, as the crowd cheered his reference to a campaign for re-election in 2030.
Lahn told his supporters the nation is at a crossroads. “The fight right now — I’m just saying this — the fight is just beginning right now,” it is only just begining right now,” Lahn said during remarks at the Iowa GOP’s Election Night gathering.
Lahn ended by saying he’d see his supporters again in four years. “Tonight, we are going to see this as the beginning of a movement, a real movement that has legs, that says that corporate interests, lobbyists, career politicians, that we are putting them on notice tonight because the movement is just beginning here and now,” Lahn said. “It’s beginning here with you.”
Turek, celebrating his victory with supporters in Des Moines, noted it’s been 18 years since Iowans elected a Democrat to the U-S Senate. “Iowa, we have done it!” Turek said. “…Together Iowa, we have proven that the impossible was possible.”
Unofficial results indicate Turek finished 3.7T ahead of Hinson in one of the country’s most expensive U.S. Senate races. Turek said he intends to be a senator for all Iowans, regardless of party.”Here’s my promise to each and every one of you: in the United States Senate, I will fight to end this war in Iran,” Turek said, to extended cheers.
Hinson spoke to supporters in Cedar Rapids last night. “Never underestimate a mom on a mission. Never count her out,” Hinson said. “The fight for common sense is far from over.”
Hinson, who’s won three terms in the U-S House, will return to Washington Monday to cast votes on things like a spending plan to keep the government operating. “A campaign is behind us and the work of serving the people of Iowa remains ahead,” Hinson said. “It is time to put politics aside, dial down the rhetoric and start solving problems for Iowa’s families and Iowa’s farmers.”
