ELECTION 2024 -- Gearhart elected, Klimesh reelected in Iowa Senate, House races

      ELKADER – Spillville Republican Mike Klimesh was reelected to the Iowa Senate and Strawberry Point Republican Jason Gearhart was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives during Tuesday’s general election.

      Klimesh defeated Elkader Democrat Brian Bruening 64.6 percent to 35.3 percent and will serve a second term in the State Senate. His margin over Bruening in Clayton County was 67.7 percent to  32.3 percent.

      Gearhart defeated Lansing Independent and MFL MarMac vocal music teacher Ian Zahren by a 67.1 to 32.0 percent margin district-wide. Gearhart and held a 63.5 percent to 36.3 percent margin in Claytpm County.

      Three candidates won uncontested Clayton County races, with incumbent auditor Jennifer Garms, a Democrat, garnering 97.9 percent of the vote, incumbent supervisor Ray Peterson, a Republican taking 98 percent of the vote and Brent Ostrander, a Republican, being elected sheriff with 97.6 percent of the vote.

      Clayton County voters also supported Donald Trump in the race for president by a 66.5 percent to 32.1 percent margin over Kamala Harris and Ashley Hinson over Sarah Corkery in the race for U.S. Congressional Iowa District 2 by a 69.9 percent to 28.9 percent margin.

      Absentee voters made up a large percentage of ballots cast, with the County Auditor’s office reporting 2,891 absentee votes cast, representing 23.2 percent of the county’s 12,441 registered voters.

      All results are preliminary and unofficial. Official results will be released once they are canvassed by the Clayton County Board of Supervisors next week.