2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

The 2010 House elections in Iowa occurred on November 2, 2010, and elected the members of the State of Iowa's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Iowa has five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census.

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

← 2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) 2012 →

All 5 Iowa seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 3 2
Seats won 3 2
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 479,874 597,414
Percentage 43.3% 53.9%
Swing Decrease 7.95% Increase 6.78%

These elections were held concurrently with the United States Senate elections of 2010 (including one in Iowa), the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections. All five of Iowa's incumbent representatives were re-elected.

Despite losing the popular vote, Democrats won a majority of congressional districts in Iowa, the last time they would do so until 2018. Iowa also became one of three states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2010, the other states being New Jersey and North Carolina.

Overview

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United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2010[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Republican 597,414 53.9% 2 2 0
Democratic 479,874 43.3% 3 3 0
Libertarian 8,443 0.76% 0 0 0
Independent 20,860 1.88% 0 0 0
Totals 1,106,591 100.00% 5 5

By district

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Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa by district:[2]

District Republican Democratic Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 100,219 47.52% 104,428 49.51% 6,255 2.97% 210,902 100% Democratic Hold
District 2 104,319 45.92% 115,839 50.99% 7,017 3.09% 227,175 100% Democratic Hold
District 3 111,925 46.49% 122,147 50.73% 6,684 2.78% 240,756 100% Democratic Hold
District 4 152,588 65.62% 74,300 31.95% 5,631 2.42% 232,519 100% Republican Hold
District 5 128,363 65.75% 63,160 32.35% 3,716 1.90% 195,239 100% Republican Hold
Total 597,414 53.99% 479,874 43.36% 29,303 2.65% 1,106,591 100%

District 1

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Campaign

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In this liberal-leaning district based in northeastern Iowa, incumbent Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley ran for a third term against Republican attorney Ben Lange, Libertarian Rob Petsche, and independent candidate Jason Faulkner. Though Braley was overwhelmingly re-elected to his second term two years prior, the anti-Democratic mood in the country contributed to the Congressman experiencing a tough fight for re-election. The race attracted the attention of both national party organizations, and thousands of dollars were reserved for airtime by the DCCC and the NRCC. Though Braley emerged victorious on election day, it was by a slim 4,000 vote and two percent margin, which was the thinnest margin of victory out of the entire Iowa congressional delegation.

Polling

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Poll Source Dates Administered Bruce Braley (D) Ben Lange (R) Undecided
Voter/Consumer Research[3] August 31-September 3, 2010 50% 39% -

Results

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Iowa's 1st congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Braley (inc.) 104,428 49.51
Republican Ben Lange 100,219 47.52
Libertarian Rob J. Petsche 4,087 1.94
Independent Jason A. Faulkner 2,092 0.99
Write-ins 76 0.04
Total votes 210,902 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

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Campaign

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In a rematch from 2008, incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack faced Republican challenger Mariannette Miller-Meeks when he ran for a third term in this southeastern Iowa-based district, the most liberal of the congressional districts in the state. Polling indicated that the race would be close, and both parties’ congressional campaign committees spent on television advertisements, but ultimately, Congressman Loebsack defeated Miller-Meeks by a 10,000 vote, five percent margin.

Polling

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Poll Source Dates Administered David Loebsack (D) Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) Gary Sicard (L) Undecided
Tarrance Group[4] October 18–19, 2010 44% 45% 1% 11%
Tarrance Group[5] September 13–14, 2010 41% 40% 6% 13%
Voter/Consumer Research[6] August 31-September 3, 2010 47% 39% - -
Susquehanna Polling and Research[7] June 23–25, 2010 46% 41% - -

Results

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Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Loebsack (inc.) 115,839 50.99
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 104,319 45.92
Libertarian Gary Sicard 4,356 1.92
Constitution Jon Tack 2,463 1.08
Write-ins 198 0.09
Total votes 227,175 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

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Campaign

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell ran for an eighth term in this marginally liberal district that includes parts of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls metropolitan area, metro Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. Congressman Boswell, who has faced difficult elections every year, faced Republican State Senator Brad Zaun in the general election. Though early polling indicated that Boswell was in trouble, he managed to turn the tide and edged out Zaun by a four percent margin.

Polling

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Poll Source Dates Administered Leonard Boswell (D) Brad Zaun (R) Undecided
The Hill/ANGA[8] October 19–21, 2010 49% 37% 11%
Anzalone Liszt Research[9] October 2–5, 2010 47% 38% -
Bennett, Petts and Normington[10] October 3–4, 2010 49% 41% -
Voter/Consumer Research[11] August 31-September 3, 2010 48% 39% 8%
American Action Forum[12] August 16–18, 2010 41% 51% 8%
Victory Enterprises[13] August 4–5, 2010 38% 45% -
Victory Enterprises[14] June 17, 2010 32% 41% -

Results

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Iowa's 3rd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Leonard Boswell (inc.) 122,147 50.73
Republican Brad Zaun 111,925 46.49
Socialist Workers Rebecca Williamson 6,258 2.60
Write-ins 426 0.18
Total votes 240,756 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

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Campaign

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Though Republican Congressman Tom Latham represents a centrist district, he has never had much trouble winning re-election since he was first elected in 1994. This year, Congressman Latham faced the Democratic nominee, Bill Maske, a school superintendent, and independent candidate Dan Lensing. Latham was never in peril of losing his seat and managed to crush Maske and Lensing to win a ninth term in Congress.

Results

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Iowa's 4th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Latham (inc.) 152,588 65.62
Democratic Bill Maske 74,300 31.95
Independent Dan Lensing 5,499 2.36
Write-ins 132 0.07
Total votes 232,519 100.00
Republican hold

District 5

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Campaign

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Congressman Steve King, a Republican, represents the most conservative district in Iowa, which is rooted in the staunchly conservative areas of western Iowa. King is an outspoken conservative seeking his fifth term in Congress, and he faced Democrat Matthew Campbell in the general election. Though Democrats had high hopes for Campbell's campaign, he was ultimately not able to beat back the conservative tendencies of the district and lost to King in a landslide.

Results

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Iowa's 5th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve King (inc.) 128,363 65.75
Democratic Matthew Campbell 63,160 32.35
Independent Martin James Monroe 3,622 1.86
Write-ins 94 0.05
Total votes 195,239 100.00
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  2. ^ Haas, Karen L. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  3. ^ Voter/Consumer Research
  4. ^ Tarrance Group Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Tarrance Group Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Voter/Consumer Research
  7. ^ Susquehanna Polling and Research
  8. ^ The Hill/ANGA
  9. ^ Anzalone Liszt Research
  10. ^ Bennett, Petts and Normington
  11. ^ Voter/Consumer Research
  12. ^ American Action Forum
  13. ^ Victory Enterprises
  14. ^ Victory Enterprises
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