A general election was held in the U.S. state of Iowa on November 4, 2014. All of Iowa's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, all four of Iowa's seats in the United States House of Representatives, 25 (half) of the seats in the Iowa Senate, and all 100 seats in the Iowa House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on June 3, 2014.
Governor and lieutenant governor
Incumbent Republican Governor Terry Branstad ran for re-election to a second consecutive and sixth overall term as governor.
He was challenged in the Republican primary by Tom Hoefling, a political activist and the America's Party and American Independent Party nominee for President in 2012.
State Senator Jack Hatch ran for the Democrats.
In Iowa, nominees for lieutenant governor are chosen at party conventions. They then run on a ticket with the gubernatorial nominee. Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds is running for re-election to a second term in office.
Attorney General
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller, who has served in the position since 1995, and previously from 1979 to 1991, ran for re-election to a sixth consecutive and ninth overall term in office.
Attorney and lobbyist, and future Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, Adam Gregg ran for the Republican Party.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TomMiller (D) AdamGregg (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 1,265 ± 2.8% 55% 36% — 10%Iowa PollIowa Poll October 28–31, 2014 701 ± 3.7% 50% 39% 2% 9%Suffolk University October 11–14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 55% 31% — 14%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 25–28, 2014 1,192 ± 2.8% 53% 33% — 14%Suffolk August 23–26, 2014 500 ± 4% 48% 28% — 24%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 22–24, 2014 915 ± 3.2% 55% 31% — 14%
Secretary of State
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Matt Schultz, who had served in the position since 2011, did not run for re-election to a second term in office. He instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Iowa's 3rd congressional district.
Former Republican secretary of state Paul Pate defeated Democratic political consultant and former gubernatorial aide Brad Anderson in the general election.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror PaulPate (R) BradAnderson (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 1,265 ± 2.8% 38% 44% 6%Spencer Highland (NIP) 3%, Jake Porter (L) 3% 13%Iowa Poll October 28–31, 2014 701 ± 3.7% 44% 41% 3% 12%Loras CollegeLoras College October 21–24, 2014 1,121 ± 2.93% 39% 40% 1% 20%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 20–21, 2014 964 ± 3% 38% 42% — 19%Suffolk University October 11–14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 33% 32% 4%Spencer Highland (NIP) 2%, Jake Porter (L) 1% 32%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 29–30, 2014 522 ± 4% 40% 40% — 21%Public Policy Polling September 25–28, 2014 1,192 ± 2.8% 36% 33% 6% 25%Suffolk August 23–26, 2014 500 ± 4% 31% 31% 4%Spencer Highland (NIP) 3%, Jake Porter (L) 1% 33%Public Policy Polling August 22–24, 2014 915 ± 3.2% 35% 34% 7%Spencer Highland (NIP) 5%, Jake Porter (L) 2% 24%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing July 17–18, 2014 1,179 ± 3% 38% 38% — 24%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 15–19, 2014 914 ± 3.3% 32% 34% — 34%
Treasurer
Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, who served in the position since 1983, ran for re-election to a ninth term in office.
The Republican nominee was Sam Clovis, a radio host who finished second in the Senate primary, before being nominated as the Republican candidate for treasurer.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MichaelFitzgerald (D) SamClovis (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 1,265 ± 2.8% 48% 38% 5%Keith Laube (L) 8%Loras College October 21–24, 2014 1,121 ± 2.93% 47% 35% 1% 17%Gravis Marketing October 20–21, 2014 964 ± 3% 46% 33% — 21%Suffolk University October 11–14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 47% 32% 3% 19%Gravis Marketing September 29–30, 2014 522 ± 4% 48% 32% — 20%Public Policy Polling September 25–28, 2014 1,192 ± 2.8% 47% 35% 5% 13%Suffolk August 23–26, 2014 500 ± 4% 41% 28% 2% 29%Public Policy Polling August 22–24, 2014 915 ± 3.2% 47% 33% 5% 16%Gravis Marketing July 17–18, 2014 1,179 ± 3% 50% 34% — 17%
Auditor
Incumbent Republican State Auditor Mary Mosiman, who was appointed to the position in 2013 after incumbent state auditor David A. Vaudt resigned, ran for election to a first full term in office.
Attorney and former Des Moines School Board member Jon Neiderbach ran for the Democrats.
Secretary of Agriculture
Incumbent Republican Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, who had served in the position since 2007, ran for re-election to a third term in office.
Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Sherrie Taha ran for the Democrats.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BillNorthey (R) SherrieTaha (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2014 1,265 ± 2.8% 51% 33% 5%Levi Benning (NIP) 10%Loras College October 21–24, 2014 1,121 ± 2.93% 49% 29% 2% 20%Suffolk University October 11–14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 52% 30% 2% 16%Public Policy Polling September 25–28, 2014 1,192 ± 2.8% 49% 29% 6% 15%Suffolk August 23–26, 2014 500 ± 4% 41% 28% 2% 29%Public Policy Polling August 22–24, 2014 915 ± 3.2% 46% 28% 6% 19%
United States Senate
Incumbent Democratic senator Tom Harkin is retired rather than run for re-election to a sixth term in office.
U.S. Representative Bruce Braley was the only Democratic to file to run and thus the de facto nominee.
Five Republicans filed to run: radio host Sam Clovis, State Senator Joni Ernst, former CEO of Reliant Energy Mark Jacobs, businessman Scott Schaben and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and nominee for Treasurer of Iowa in 2002 Matthew Whitaker.
United States House of Representatives
All of Iowa's four seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014 and were contested.
Iowa General Assembly
The 25 odd-numbered Iowa Senate seats were up for election in 2014, as were all 100 Iowa House seats. As of the primary filing deadline for the two major parties, there were 11 Senate seats and 58 House seats that only have candidates from one party, though several of these seats had contested primaries. These numbers are from the primary election candidate listing, so do not take into account candidates nominated by third parties, candidates nominated by petition, or candidates nominated by a major party after the primary. Such candidates file during the general election filing period, which runs from July 28 – August 15, 2014.
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