12:11 AM: GOP makes gains, but state Senate control still uncertain
Control of the Iowa Senate is depending upon two races that have not yet been decided.
Republicans have picked up five seats and are now at 23, said Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton. Democrats have had a 32-18 advantage for the past two years.
"We've had some excellent wins," McKinley said. "We have five in the bank, a net pickup which we're ecstatic with."
Among the pickups was one in Senate District 1, where Republican Rick Bertrand has apparently defeated Democrat Rick Mullin in the seat left open by Sen. Steve Warnstadt, D-Sioux City.
"We feel very, very good about it," McKinley said. "The Senate Republicans have not picked up seats since 1998. This is first time in 12 years we've actually won seats."
McKinley said he was still waiting on absentee ballots and a precinct in Wayne County to be counted for Republican Mark Chelgren, who is challenging Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, in Senate District 47. "He's down 180 votes," McKinley said. "It's a Republican county."
Another race that appears to be headed for a recount. Republican Andrew Naeve is up against Tod Bowman in Senate District 13. McKinley said there's a dispute about whether Naeve won or loss; it appears he's down 25 votes.
Meanwhile, Republicans may have declared that they've regained control of the Iowa House, but Democrats aren't willing to acknowledge defeat just yet.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, said before midnight that they were still getting results in and he expected to have a more complete picture around 12:30 a.m.
-- By Lynn Campbell
Labels: 2010_election
