Stephen Gruber-MillerDes Moines Register
A Des Moines pastor, an Urbandale City Council member, a Moms for Liberty leader and a former Ankeny School Board president were among the candidates to win primaries Tuesday for open Iowa House seats in the Des Moines metro.
Meanwhile, a handful of Democratic and Republican incumbents held off primary challengers in Tuesday's contests, which determined the candidates for Iowa House and Senate who will be on November's general election ballot.
Republicans currently hold 64 seats in the Iowa House to Democrats' 36. And the GOP has a supermajority of 34 seats in the Iowa Senate, where Democrats have 16 members.
A host of other metro area legislators and candidates won primaries in uncontested races.
See the full statewide results here.
More: 2024 Iowa primary election results
Here's what happened in the competitive primaries around the Des Moines metro.
House District 34: Rob Johnson wins 4-way Democratic primary
Where: Des Moines, including the Drake, River Bend, Oak Park, Prospect Park, Cheatom Park and King Irving neighborhoods.
Pastor and community activist Rob Johnson won the nomination in Des Moines-based House District 34, defeating three other Democrats in a four-way race.
The seat is open after Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad's decision to retire this year. Abdul-Samad endorsed Johnson.
Johnson received 43% of the vote, while teacher Samy El-Baroudi received 40%, retired labor leader John R. Campbell Jr. received 14% and small business owner Dudley Muhammad received 3%, according to unofficial results from the Polk County Auditor's Office.
In a statement, Johnson said he was humbled and honored by the results of the election and thanked his supporters.
"Tonight we take a brief break, but tomorrow our focus turns to November," he said in the statement. "We believe that Iowa House District 34 will change the future of this state. We believe that if we are able to reach every voter in this district we will keep public money in public schools, we will protect reproductive freedoms, we will fully fund mental healthcare and we will bring back balance to our state government."
Johnson will face Republican Danielle Duggan in November. Duggan was uncontested for her party's nomination.
House District 22: Samantha Fett defeats Garrett Gobble in GOP primary
Where: Norwalk, Carlisle, Cumming and Martensdale.
Samantha Fett, a former Carlisle School Board member and chapter leader for Moms for Liberty, defeated former state Rep. Garrett Gobble in the Republican primary in this Warren County House district.
She won with 55.5% of the vote to Gobble's 44.5%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
She will face Democrat Rory D. Taylor in November’s general election. Taylor was uncontested for the Democratic nomination.
House District 28: David Young defeats Chad Brewbaker in GOP primary
Where: West Des Moines, Van Meter and Adel.
State Rep. David Young, R-Van Meter, defeated Republican challenger Chad Brewbaker in the Republican primary in this Dallas County district.
Young received 89% of the vote to Brewbaker’s 11%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Young is seeking a second term in the Iowa House after first being elected in 2022. He previously served two terms in Congress.
Democrat Laura Snider was uncontested for her party's nomination and will face Young in the November general election.
House District 35: Angela Kay Schreader beats Daniel Schmude in GOP primary
Where: Des Moines, including the Beaverdale, Lower Beaver, Merle Hay and Waveland Park neighborhoods.
Construction project manager Angela Kay Schreader has won the Republican primary in Des Moines-based House District 35, defeating software engineer Daniel Schmude.
Schreader received 61% of the vote to Schmude’s 39%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
She will face Rep. Sean Bagniewski, D-Des Moines, who is seeking a second term this fall. Libertarian David G. Green will also be on the November ballot.
House District 41: Ryan Weldon defeats Matthew Smith in Republican primary
Where: Northern Ankeny.
Former Ankeny School Board President Ryan Weldon has defeated retired banker Matthew Smith in the Republican primary in this Ankeny-based Iowa House district.
Weldon took 62% of the vote to Smith’s 38%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
He will take on Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, in November. Buck is seeking a second term after winning election in 2022. She did not face a primary opponent.
House District 44: Larry McBurney defeats Jason Menke in Democratic primary
Where: Urbandale and parts of Des Moines.
Urbandale City Council member Larry McBurney won the Democratic primary in this Iowa House district, defeating Urbandale School Board member Jason Menke.
McBurney received 65% of the vote, while Menke received 35%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
The seat is open after Rep. John Forbes, D-Urbandale, decided to retire from the Iowa Legislature and run for Polk County Supervisor.
McBurney will face Libertarian Jake Heard in November. Heard was uncontested in his primary. No Republicans are currently on the ballot.
Senate District 16: Claire Celsi defeats Democratic primary challenger Julie Lasche Brown
Where: West Des Moines, Windsor Heights and Clive.
Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, has defeated Democratic primary challenger Julie Lasche Brown and is on track to win a third term in the Iowa Senate this fall, with no Republican candidate on the ballot.
Celsi won with about 81% of the vote to Lasche Brown’s 19%, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email atsgrubermil@registermedia.comor by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at@sgrubermiller.
