DES MOINES, Iowa – Republican candidates won all six races in Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s State Fair Straw Poll. Conducted on iPads at the Secretary of State’s booth inside the Varied Industries Building, the poll gauged fairgoers’ support for candidates in Iowa’s U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Governor’s races. It was held throughout the State Fair, August 11-21. More than 2,600 individuals cast votes.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was the favorite choice in the U.S. Senate race, garnering 59 percent of the votes cast. Admiral Michael Franken, his Democratic challenger, picked up 34 percent.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds won the straw poll in the Governor’s race, with 57 percent of the vote. Her 1,507 votes were the most of any candidate in any race. Deidre DeJear, her Democratic challenger, was second with 30 percent and Libertarian Rick Stewart placed third at nine percent.
“I want to thank the thousands of Iowans who visited our booth over the past 11 days and everyone who cast their vote in the Straw Poll,” Pate said. “This was a fun way to get people interested in the upcoming election, and to encourage civic engagement. I hope every eligible Iowan casts a vote in the November general election.”
Secretary Pate also polled Iowa’s four U.S. House races. In the First Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, won with 61 percent of the vote compared to her Democratic challenger State Rep. Christina Bohannan, D-Iowa City, with 32 percent. In Iowa’s Second Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, garnered 60 percent of votes cast. While State Senator Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, picked up 32 percent.
In Iowa’s Third Congressional District, State Senator Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, won the Straw Poll with 58 percent of the vote compared to U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, who earned 39 percent of the vote. In the Fourth Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, outdistanced the field with 63 percent, His Democratic challenger Ryan Melton placed second at 23 percent and Bryan Jack Holder (Liberty Caucus) was third at 10 percent.
The State Fair Straw Poll also included this question: ‘What is your favorite part of the Iowa State Fair?’ Fair Food was the top choice, at 35 percent. People Watching placed second at 24 percent and Livestock/Agriculture came in third at 17 percent.
Full results are available on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, sos.iowa.gov. As a straw poll the results are nonscientific and intended for entertainment purposes, and to encourage voter participation.
