11:29 PM: Senate Dems react to their losses
Two key Senate Democrats have issued statements reacting to their losses.
Sen. Becky Schmitz, D-Fairfield, running for her first re-election bid, lost to retired veteran legislator Sandy Greiner in Iowa Senate District 45.
“It was a tough race,” said Schmitz. “We focused on the issues that I believe matter to Senate District 45 residents such as bringing good-paying jobs, restoring education funding for our K-12 schools and protecting our tax dollars. But the sweeping, anti-incumbent tidal wave this year was too much to overcome.”
Sen. Staci Appel, D-Ackworth, lost to Rep. Kent Sorenson, R-Indianola, in her first re-election bid to the Iowa Senate.
“I’m proud of the work I did over the past four years,” said Appel. “I’ve enjoyed serving the communities of District 37 in the Iowa Senate very much, focusing on bringing good-paying jobs, education funding and initiatives to keep our kids and our communities safe. I’ll keep serving my community in whatever way I can and I want to thank my supporters and everyone who voted for participating in the political process and making their voices heard tonight.”
Appel was first elected to the Senate in 2006. District 37 encompasses Madison, Warren and southeast Dallas County. Prior to Appel’s election, Senate District 37 was represented by a Republican for nearly a decade.
-- By Lynn Campbell
Labels: 2010_election
