1:03 AM: Republicans win big margin in Iowa House
Republicans not only took control of the Iowa House tonight, but did so in dramatic style as Republicans say they won at least 59 seats, while Democrats count themselves with between 39 and 42 seats.
"They had a pretty big night," said House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque. "We took a bath tonight, there's no question about that."
Murphy said he already called House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, to congratulate him. Talk between the two leaders about the transition of power will begin Wednesday.
"We did everything we thought we could do to preserve the majority," Murphy said. "The undecideds, obviously most voted against us ... We'll live to fight another day. Tonight, we have to give Republicans credit. They got control of the Iowa House."
Murphy speculated that health care reform could have played a role in Democrats losing control. But he said he has no regrets about anything he's done in the campaign, in his 21 years as a legislator and seven years as a leader.
"There might be individual things that people might be upset about but that's part of the process," he said. "I feel very happy about the opportunity I've had as minority leader and speaker."
Here's a look at where Republicans gained seats:
Republicans say they started the night with 26 incumbents without opponents, and won all 13 incumbents with challengers.
Twelve challengers defeated Democratic incumbents:
HD 9 -- Iverson (beat Bailey)
HD 20 -- Rogers (beat Kelley)
HD 23 -- Rasmussen (beat Ficken)
HD 25 -- Moore (beat Schueller)
HD 31 -- Hein (beat Zirkelbach)
HD 42 -- Pearson (beat Huser)
HD 48 -- Baltimore (beat D. Olson)
HD 75 -- Vander Linden (beat Palmer)
HD 80 -- Lofgren (beat Reichert)
HD 89 -- Klein (beat Marek)
HD 95 -- Fry (beat Reasoner)
HD 100 -- Brandenburg (beat Shomshor)
Meanwhile, eight Republicans won open seats:
HD 1 -- Taylor (was previously a D seat)
HD 8 -- Shaw (was previously a D seat)
HD 14 -- Byrnes (was previously a D seat)
HD 54 -- Jorgensen (previously a R seat)
HD 73 -- Garrett (previously a R seat)
HD 74 -- Massie (previously a R seat)
HD 84 -- Paustian (was previously D seat)
HD 99 -- Hanusa (previously a R seat)
Republicans did lose one open seat, House District 51, previously held by Rep. Rod Roberts, R-Carroll, who ran for governor.
"That's 59 seats," said House Republican spokeswoman Josie Klingaman. "We're still waiting for approximately two to three races which we will not know the answers to tonight."
-- By Lynn Campbell
Labels: 2010_election
