2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

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2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa
Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
  2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) 2012  

All 5 Iowa seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election32
Seats won32
Seat changeSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Popular vote479,874597,414
Percentage43.3%53.9%
SwingDecrease2.svg 7.95%Increase2.svg 6.78%

2010IAUSHouse.svg
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa results map by county.svg

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.

Contents

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, which they have only done once since- in 2018. As a result, Iowa became one of four 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, Illinois, and North Carolina.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2010 [1]
PartyVotesPercentageSeats BeforeSeats After+/–
Republican 597,41453.9%220
Democratic 479,87443.3%330
Libertarian 8,4430.76%000
Independent 20,8601.88%000
Totals1,106,591100.00%55

By district

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

District Republican Democratic OthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 100,21947.52%104,42849.51%6,2552.97%210,902100%Democratic Hold
District 2 104,31945.92%115,83950.99%7,0173.09%227,175100%Democratic Hold
District 3 111,92546.49%122,14750.73%6,6842.78%240,756100%Democratic Hold
District 4 152,58865.62%74,30031.95%5,6312.42%232,519100%Republican Hold
District 5 128,36365.75%63,16032.35%3,7161.90%195,239100%Republican Hold
Total597,41453.99%479,87443.36%29,3032.65%1,106,591100%

District 1

United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 1 map.png

Campaign

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

Poll SourceDates AdministeredBruce Braley (D)Ben Lange (R)Undecided
Voter/Consumer Research [3] August 31-September 3, 201050%39%-

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [5] Likely DNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Likely DNovember 1, 2010
RCP [7] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [8] Likely DOctober 28, 2010
New York Times [9] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [9] Safe DNovember 1, 2010

Results

Iowa's 1st congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bruce Braley (inc.) 104,428 49.51
Republican Ben Lange100,21947.52
Libertarian Rob J. Petsche4,0871.94
Independent Jason A. Faulkner2,0920.99
Write-ins760.04
Total votes210,902 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 2 map.png

Campaign

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

Poll SourceDates AdministeredDavid Loebsack (D)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)Gary Sicard (L)Undecided
Tarrance Group [10] October 18–19, 201044%45%1%11%
Tarrance Group [11] September 13–14, 201041%40%6%13%
Voter/Consumer Research [12] August 31-September 3, 201047%39%--
Susquehanna Polling and Research [13] June 23–25, 201046%41%--

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [5] Likely DNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Likely DNovember 1, 2010
RCP [7] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [8] Lean DOctober 28, 2010
New York Times [9] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [9] Likely DNovember 1, 2010

Results

Iowa's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Loebsack (inc.) 115,839 50.99
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks 104,31945.92
Libertarian Gary Sicard4,3561.92
Constitution Jon Tack2,4631.08
Write-ins1980.09
Total votes227,175 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 3 map.png

Campaign

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

Poll SourceDates AdministeredLeonard Boswell (D)Brad Zaun (R)Undecided
The Hill/ANGA [14] October 19–21, 201049%37%11%
Anzalone Liszt Research [15] October 2–5, 201047%38%-
Bennett, Petts and Normington [16] October 3–4, 201049%41%-
Voter/Consumer Research [17] August 31-September 3, 201048%39%8%
American Action Forum [18] August 16–18, 201041%51%8%
Victory Enterprises [19] August 4–5, 201038%45%-
Victory Enterprises [20] June 17, 201032%41%-

Debate

2006 Iowa's 3rd congressional district debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Leonard Boswell Brad Zaun
1Iowa Politics.com
KCCI
Lynne Campbell
Kevin Cooney
C-SPAN PP

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [5] Likely DNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
RCP [7] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [8] Lean DOctober 28, 2010
New York Times [9] Lean DNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [9] Likely DNovember 1, 2010

Results

Iowa's 3rd congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Leonard Boswell (inc.) 122,147 50.73
Republican Brad Zaun 111,92546.49
Socialist Workers Rebecca Williamson6,2582.60
Write-ins4260.18
Total votes240,756 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 4 map.png

Campaign

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.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
RCP [7] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [8] Safe ROctober 28, 2010
New York Times [9] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [9] Safe RNovember 1, 2010

Results

Iowa's 4th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Latham (inc.) 152,588 65.62
Democratic Bill Maske74,30031.95
Independent Dan Lensing5,4992.36
Write-ins1320.07
Total votes232,519 100.00
Republican hold

District 5

United States House of Representatives, Iowa District 5 map.png

Campaign

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.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
RCP [7] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [8] Safe ROctober 28, 2010
New York Times [9] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [9] Safe RNovember 1, 2010

Results

Iowa's 5th congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Steve King (inc.) 128,363 65.75
Democratic Matthew Campbell63,16032.35
Independent Martin James Monroe3,6221.86
Write-ins940.05
Total votes195,239 100.00
Republican hold

References

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Cook Political Report – Charts – 2010 House Competitive Races". The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Rothenberg Political Report (November 1, 2010). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Crystal Ball, as of November 1,2010
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 RealClearPolitics, as of November 1,2010
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "2010 House Ratings Chart". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "House Race Ratings". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  10. Tarrance Group Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Tarrance Group Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Voter/Consumer Research
  13. Susquehanna Polling and Research
  14. The Hill/ANGA
  15. Anzalone Liszt Research
  16. Bennett, Petts and Normington
  17. Voter/Consumer Research
  18. American Action Forum
  19. Victory Enterprises
  20. Victory Enterprises