DES MOINES, Iowa – Republican Adrian Dickey, a businessman from Packwood, defeated Democrat Mary Stewart, a retired educator from Ottumwa, in a special election in Iowa Senate District 41. Mariannette Miller-Meeks vacated the seat after she won her election in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
The district makes up parts of Wapello and Jefferson counties and all of Davis and Van Buren counties.
Iowa Senate Republicans hold this seat to retain the 32 to 18 majority they enjoyed before Miller-Meeks’ resignation.
The unofficial results for the entire district:
- Dickey – 5,040
- Stewart – 4,074
Stewart prevailed in Jefferson County, topping Dickey by 409 votes. Dickey won Wapello County by 76 votes, Davis County by 569 votes, and Van Buren County by 732 votes.
Dickey told The Iowa Torch after his nomination by a special nominating convention that if elected, he wants to build on the conservative principles that the Iowa Senate Republicans have implemented over the last few years, being in the majority.
Dickey is the president of Dickey Transport; he joined his family’s business, starting with washing trucks and sweeping floors. He serves on the Iowa Motor Truck Association board and has been a volunteer firefighter for over 29 years. He is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfield and has two children.
During his speech at the special nomination convention, Dickey said he wants to raise the tax credit for volunteer firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement from $100 to $1000.
Dickey also highlighted his support for the Constitution, including religious liberty. He supports constitutional carry. Dickey wants to see Iowa’s 99 percent spending cap added to the Iowa Constitution. He also advocated term limits, pledging to serve no more than two terms.
Congresswoman Miller-Meeks congratulated Dickey for winning the seat she once held.
“I congratulate Senator-elect Adrian Dickey on his election to serve the people of southeast Iowa in the state Senate. I know he will work hard to represent them and to be their voice in Des Moines,” she said.
