By Beacon Staff
Local voters went to the polls in force on Tuesday to cast their ballot in Iowa's primary election. The winners will represent their party in November’s general election.
In the race to replace Mike Johnstone as Des Moines County Sheriff, Democrat Kevin Glendening will face Republican George Rinker in November. Glendening, who was running uncontested in the Democratic primary, received 3,383 votes. Rinker received 1,446 votes, followed by Al Waterman with 628 votes, and Drake Fenton with 307 votes.
Five Republicans and one Democrat were on Tuesday's ballot to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, who represents Iowa's 2nd District.
Rita Hart, the sole Democrat in the race, garnered 3,418 votes in Des Moines County and had a district-wide total of 61,855 votes in the unofficial tally.
Marrianette Miller-Meeks received the most votes in the Republican race. She garnered 1,357 votes in Des Moines County and a district-wide total of 21,212 votes. Runner up Bobby Schilling received 879 votes in Des Moines County with a district-wide total of 15,906. Steve Everly, Rick Phillips, and Tim Borchardt received 2,594, 2,250, and 2,171 votes district-wide, respectively.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican, ran uncontested for her senate seat. She received 2,564 votes in Des Moines County and a total of 200,611 votes statewide.
In the Democratic primary to unseat Ernst, Theresa Greenfield received the most votes at 124,327 statewide and 2,205 votes in Des Moines County. Michael Franken received 66,051 votes statewide, followed by Kimberly Graham with 39,457, Eddie Mauro with 29,110 votes, and Cal Woods with. 3,245 votes.
Tim Goodwin was the top vote-getter in the GOP primary to replace retiring Republican state Sen. Tom Greene. Goodwin received 1,872 votes in Des Moines County, according to the unofficial tally. Goodwin received a combined total of 2,812 from Des Moines, Louisa, and Muscatine counties. Matt Rinker received 830 votes in Des Moines County, with a total of 1,136 for the three counties.
Meanwhile, Tom Courtney led the Democratic field with 2,755 votes in the unofficial tally. Courtney received a combined total of 3,527 votes case in Des Moines, Louisa, Muscatine counties. Rex Troute received 482 votes in Des Moines County and a total of 572 for the three counties. Kevin Warth received 474 in Des Moines County but had a higher total than Troute at 767 votes when the other two counties factored in.
State representative for the 87th District Dennis Cohoon, a Democrat, who ran unchallenged in the primary received 2,793 votes. There is no Republican challenger.
State representative for the 88th District, Republican David Kerr, ran uncontested in the primary to retain his seat. He received 2,615 district-wide votes according to Tuesday's unofficial tally. Democratic challenger, Sandy Dockendorff, also running uncontested in the primary, received 1,789 district-wide votes.
Incumbent Des Moines County Supervisors Jim Cary and Bob Beck, both Democrats, ran unopposed for their seats. Cary received 2,961 votes, with Beck receiving 2,905 votes. Nina Covert, the sole Republican running for the board of supervisors, received 1,956 votes.
Photo by Joy Mack
Burlington voters cast ballots Tuesday at Southeastern Community College’s Hall of Sciences building in West Burlington.