IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democrats in Iowa are seeking to regain some power in Tuesday’s midterms after back-to-back elections that have seen the traditionally centrist state take a sharp turn to the right.
Republicans, meanwhile, are hoping to fend off challengers to maintain control of the governor’s office, the Legislature and the congressional delegation. GOP incumbents also hold three of Iowa’s four seats in the U.S. House, along with the secretary of state, the state auditor and the agriculture secretary.
GOVERNOR
The marquee race features Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democrat Fred Hubbell, who have been engaged in a competitive and expensive campaign.
Reynolds, the longtime lieutenant governor who was elevated to governor last year, is seeking a full four-year term as Iowa’s first female chief executive. Reynolds has told voters that Iowa is moving in the right direction and frequently touts its “No. 1 state” ranking by U.S. News and World Report.
Hubbell, a businessman and philanthropist from one of the state’s most prominent families, has sunk millions of his own money into his first run for public office. Hubbell argues that the state has gone too far to the right and is underfunding public education and mismanaging programs like Medicaid.
CONGRESSIONAL RACES
Iowa voters will decide the outcome of two of the most competitive congressional races in the nation, which could impact partisan control of the House.
In northeastern Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, Democratic state Rep. Abby Finkenauer is looking to oust Rep. Rod Blum, a Republican.
Finkenauer would become one of the youngest women in Congress if elected at age 29. Blum, a businessman and strong supporter of President Donald Trump, is seeking to overcome a House ethics investigation into one of his companies to win a third term.
In Iowa’s 3rd District, GOP Rep. David Young is also fighting for a third term. The former aide to Sen. Chuck Grassley has been locked in a tight race against Democrat Cindy Axne, a former state government official who has run on health care and agricultural issues.
Rep. Steve King is asking voters in conservative northwestern Iowa’s 4th District to give him his ninth term in Congress, despite his reputation for making inflammatory remarks about race and supporting far-right political movements. Democrat J.D. Scholten has been running an aggressive campaign, seeking an upset that appears unlikely but would reverberate nationally.
STATEWIDE RACES
Three other statewide races featuring GOP incumbents and relatively young Democratic challengers have been fiercely contested.
Deidre DeJear, 32, a former campaign organizer for President Barack Obama, looks to become the first black woman elected to statewide office in Iowa. She is challenging Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate, who championed the new voter identification law. DeJear argues the law disenfranchises many voters, while Pate says that it ensures election integrity.
In the auditor’s race, incumbent Mary Mosiman is hoping to get past a well-funded challenge by Democrat Rob Sand, a 36-year-old former prosecutor who argues that Mosiman has gone too easy on government corruption. Mosiman has argued that Sand isn’t qualified for the position because he’s not a certified public accountant.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig is seeking a full four-year term after his appointment in March. Naig, a Republican, has received backing from the Iowa Farm Bureau. He is running against Democrat Tim Gannon, a farmer and former USDA official.
LEGISLATURE
Voters gave Republicans large majorities in the 2016 election, and GOP lawmakers responded by approving laws that eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public workers, expanded gun rights, cut taxes and enacted the nation’s most restrictive abortion ban.
The Legislature also passed a requirement that voters show identification at the polls, but those without one Tuesday can cast ballots by signing an oath attesting to their identities.
Democrats will try to reduce the Republican majority, with the GOP holding 29 of 50 seats in the Senate and 58 of 100 House seats.

A traffic stop just before 1-a.m. today (Tuesday) on a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner, resulted in the arrest of a woman from Corning. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports Michelle Dixon was pulled over in Corning, near the intersection of 6th and Grove Streets. Upon further investigation, Dixon was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and cited for Open Container. Her bond was set at $1,300.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of driving recklessly has been given three years of probation in an all-terrain vehicle crash in northwest Iowa that killed his passenger. O’Brien County court records say 28-year-old Garrett Crowl also was given a deferred judgment at his hearing Monday in Primghar. A deferred judgment allows his conviction to be removed from court records if he completes his probation terms. Crowl had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors lowered the charge from vehicular homicide when driving while intoxicated.

Investigators say Crowl was driving the ATV recklessly while under the influence of marijuana on July 30, 2016, when he lost control of it in a recreation area near Sheldon and crashed into a tree. His passenger, 25-year-old Shaleah Donavon, died.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democrats in Iowa seek to regain some power in Tuesday’s midterms after back-to-back elections that have seen the traditionally centrist state take a sharp turn to the right. But Republicans are hoping to fend off challengers in several elections to maintain their control of the governor’s office, the Legislature and the congressional delegation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The general election Tuesday pits a sitting Republican governor who takes credit for a healthy economy with low unemployment against a wealthy Democratic challenger who insists Iowans need better health care and a government that works for everyone. Given Iowa’s tendency to support incumbents, Gov. Kim Reynolds believed she’d have an advantage when she rose to the office from lieutenant governor. Polls, however, have indicated Reynolds has struggled to pull ahead of businessman Fred Hubbell.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A single mother from the small Iowa community of Redfield has claimed her share of a nearly $700 million Powerball prize. Iowa Lottery officials confirmed Monday that Lerynne West was one of two winners of a $688 million jackpot drawn Oct. 27. She’ll share the prize with someone who bought the other winning ticket in New York City. West opted for the cash option, which will pay her an immediate $198.1 million, minus taxes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Major party candidates for Iowa governor are making one last quick tour of the state to rally support in an extremely tight race. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds will fly around the state holding rallies at eight airports before ending with a final stop alongside controversial U.S. Rep. Steve King. Democrat Fred Hubbell and his running mate state Sen. Rita Hart have seven stops planned as they continue to drive around the state before ending their day at an election rally in Des Moines.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, late Monday night, said in his latest report, that three people have been arrested on warrants, and one was cited for Theft.

34-year old Bruce Adam Blanchard, of Stuart, was arrested Oct. 30th on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Blanchard was released the following day, on his own recognizance.

On Nov. 2nd, 23-year old Jared Russell Uhl, of Pleasant Hill, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Complete Jail Time on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. Uhl completed his sentence, and was released the following day.

Also arrested Nov. 2nd, was 35-year old Joseph Lee Reynolds, of Stuart, who was taken into custody on Adair County warrants for Possession of Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, Trafficking in stolen weapons/1st offense, Theft in the 3rd degree, and driving while license denied or revoked. Reynolds was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 18-year old Joel William Blazek, of Greenfield, was cited Nov. 3rd by Greenfield Police, for Theft in the 5th Degree, after he allegedly stole a bicycle that did not belong to him. The bicycle was near the library in Greenfield when it was taken. Blazek was released after receiving the citation.