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A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
The incumbents with challengers all survived and the favored candidates generally came through in last night’s legislative primaries. Your round up:Senate District 16: High school football has a 50 point rule, but not so for politics. Republican Dave McLaughlin gets the blowout of the night award, for an 88 percent to 12 percent win over Gary Lee Culver, who campaigned little. McLaughlin is a top tier GOP challenger against incumbent Tom Hancock.
Senate District 18: Republican Joe Childers won handily over Karla Sibert, 72 percent to 28 percent, in his bid to fill Mary Lundby’s shoes. This is one of the Democrat’s top pickup chances with Rep. Swati Dandekar.
Senate District 20: Republican Tim Kapucian, the endorsed choice of retiring GOP Sen. John Putney, had a 63 percent to 37 percent win over assistant Tama County attorney Richard Vander Mey, who kept it close in Tama County but lost handily in the rest of the district. Kapucian will face Democrat Randy Braden, the Vinton-Shellsburg superintendent.
Senate District 42: Davenport alderman Shawn Hamerlinck hammered low profile candidate Thomas Black, 87 percent to 13 percent for the Republican nod to face Democratic incumbent Frank Wood, who won a close 2004 race.
Senate District 48: Ruth Smith, a two-time county supervisor candidate, rolled up a big margin in Decatur County to beat Adams County supervisor Kevin Wynn and Matthew Brown of Thayer for the Democratic nomination in Republican Jeff Angelo’s open seat. On the GOP side, Clarke County treasurer Kim Reynolds beat Jim Parker, 62 percent to 38 percent.
House District 10: 2006 Democratic candidate Susan Radke will challenge Republican Dave Deyoe for a second time. Radke won 49 percent in a three way race.
House District 13: An 80 percent blowout over two opponents for Democrat Sharon Steckman in Mason City, where Republican Bill Schickel is retiring. Steckman faces Republican Scott Tornquist, a Mason City council member, in the fall.
House District 16: 2004 state senate candidate John Beard took 55 percent in a four way race for the Democratic nomination in the state’s northeast corner, where Republican Chuck Gipp is retiring. Beard will face Republican Decorah City Council member Randy Schissel.
House District 19: UNI professor Carlin Hageman rolled over Ron Paul supporter Marshall Shoemaker, 78 percent to 22 percent, for the Republican nomination to face Democratic incumbent Bob Kressig, who’s had back-to-back close races.
House District 22: Incumbent Democrat Deborah Berry easily held off a challenge from anti-coal plant activist Don Shatzer, winning with 73 percent.
House District 27: In a relatively close open seat Democratic race in Dubuque, Charles Isenhart beat Francis Giunta, 52 to 42 percent. School board member Adam Mennig trailed with only 7 percent.
House District 41: 2006 Republican candidate Adam Vandall of Newton will challenge Democratic incumbent Paul Bell for a second time, after winning 68 percent over Susan Schmidt.
House District 42: Incumbent Democrat Geri Huser held off a strong primary challenge from Teamster Matt Ballard, 60 percent to 40 percent.
House District 55: Retiring Republican Clarence Hoffman was backing Don Friedrichsen, but Jason Schultz had Steve King, Iowa Right to Life, and Iowans For Tax Relief on his side and won with 59 percent.
House District 59: This open Republican seat had contests in both parties. Chris Hagenow won the Republican nomination with 58 percent over Clive City Council member Susan Murphy. Windsor Heights mayor Jerry Sullivan is the Democratic nominee; despite push-poll calls against him, he whomped Mark Matel with 79 percent.
House District 62: Chris Sanger won the GOP nod handily over Jeremy Walters with 69 percent and faces an uphill battle against Democratic incumbent Bruce Hunter on the south side of Des Moines.
House District 65: Rep. Wayne Ford held on with 54 percent over a strong Democratic challenge from Tyler Reedy, with 39 percent. Charles Hoffman trailed with 7 percent.
House District 69: A decisive 73 percent win for Erik Helland, the so-called “real Republican” in the race to replace GOP retiree Walt Tomenga. Former Hawkeye basketball player Al Lorenzen ran a high profile race but was bashed for being too new to the party.
House District 70: Kevin Koester and economic issues over Jeff Wright and abortion, 73 to 27 for the Republican nomination to replace Carmine Boal. Koester faces Democrat Matt Pfaltzgraf in the fall.
House District 71: Marc Held failed in the only primary challenge to an Republican incumbent, as Rep. Jim Van Engelenhoeven of Pella “held” on with 72 percent.
House District 92: From the outside, this looks like a bit of a surprise: Jerry Kearns of Keokuk takes the Democratic nomination over Tracy Vance of Ft. Madison, 51 percent to 37. It had looked like a second Keokuk candidate, Ron Payne, might have split the vote, but apparently not. Kearns should be a November favorite over Republican Gary Ramaker to replace retiring Democrat Phil Wise.
House District 94: Republican Howard Hubbard over John Bridges by a relatively close 53 percent to 47 percent. Bloomfield Democratic incumbent Kurt Swaim is favored in the fall.
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