NRCC MEMO: IOWA PRIMARY RESULTS

TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: JUNE 8, 2010
SUBJECT: IOWA PRIMARY RESULTS

Iowa may be where Barack Obama scored his first victory of the 2008 campaign, but with voters fed up with higher unemployment and skyrocketing deficits, the President may be at risk of losing a staunch legislative ally from the Hawkeye State this fall: Rep. Leonard Boswell.

Challengers:

IA-03 (Rep. Leonard Boswell, D)

In a year in which many senior Democrats opted to retire, Leonard Boswell chose to stay and defend his indefensible record. That decision was certainly a gamble in what has become a toxic political environment for his party. Having supported the failed stimulus package, the National Energy Tax and a government takeover of healthcare, Boswell hasn’t been afraid to take positions that easily offend middle class voters in this true swing district.

Republican nominee Brad Zaun currently serves in the Iowa State Senate. Prior to serving at the State Capital, Zaun was Mayor of Urbandale. As a young adult, Zaun attended school while working for his father’s John Deere dealership. Zaun later opened his own hardware store, Trustworthy Hardware which he ran for 18 years. Having won a crowded Republican primary despite being outspent, Zaun has proven that he’ll be a worthy opponent for Boswell.

History: In 2004 George W. Bush beat John Kerry by 267 votes in this district. Barack Obama carried this district with 54% of the vote in 2008.

Geography: Iowa’s Third Congressional District is centered around Des Moines, the state capital of Iowa, and is the most urban of the state’s five districts.

Incumbents:

Neither Rep. Latham nor Rep. King face serious opposition this November.

Statewide Roundup:

The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in South Dakota. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the South Dakota Secretary of State.

DISTRICT NAME, RAW VOTE, %__
*indicates incumbent

IA-01 (GOP primary)
54.8% precincts reporting
Lange 57.9%*
Johnson 21.4%
Budde 10.7%
La Coste 10%

IA-02 (GOP primary)
83.8% precincts reporting
Miller-Meeks 50.4%*
Rathje 22.3%
Gettemy 14.2%
Reed 13.1%

IA-03 (GOP primary)
76.6% precincts reporting
Zaun 46.2%*
Gibbons 26.2%
Funk 19.9%
Rees 4.4%