ELECTION 2024 -- Gearhart elected, Klimesh reelected in Iowa Senate, House races

      WAUKON – Spillville Republican Mike Klimesh was reelected to the Iowa Senate and Strawberry Point Republican Jason Gearhart was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives during Tuesday’s general election.

      Klimesh defeated Elkader Democrat Brian Bruening 64.6 percent to 35.3 percent and will serve a second term in the State Senate. His margin over Bruening in Allamakee County was 66.8 percent to  33.1 percent.

      Gearhart defeated Lansing Independent Ian Zahren by a 67.1 to 32.0 percent margin district-wide and held a 66.9 percent to 32.8 percent margin in Allamakee County.

      A pair of candidates for Allamakee County positions won uncontested races. Auditor Denise Beyer won reelection with 99.5 percent of the vote while Supervisor Tom Clark won his first term in office with 99.1 percent of the vote. County Sheriff Clark Mellick was reelected with 98.7 percent support and Nicki Smedsrud was elected to fill the final two years of the County Treasurer term with 99.5 percent support. All were running unopposed.

      Allamakee County voters also supported Donald Trump in the race for president by a 66.4 percent to 32.1 percent margin over Kamala Harris and Ashley Hinson over Sarah Corkery in the race for U.S. Congressional Iowa District 2 by a 68.3 percent to 29.7 percent margin.

      Absentee voters made up a large percentage of ballots cast, with the County Auditor’s office reporting 3,442 absentee votes cast, representing 34.2 percent of the county’s 10,056 registered voters.

      All results are preliminary and unofficial. Official results will be released once they are canvassed by the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors next week.

unty Board of Supervisors next week.