Ames Election Results 2012: GOP King Wins 4th District, But Story County Democrats Prevail

While Steve King, R-Kiron, won the 4th District Congressional race, Tuesday, Story County's incumbent Democrats kept their seats, according to unofficial returns from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office and the Story County Auditor's Office.

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Election Guide 2012

Iowa Elections Results 2012

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LIVE 2012 ELECTION RESULTS

     Race      

Democratic Candidates

Results

Republican Candidates

Results

U.S. President, Iowa Results

Obama-Biden *

Romney-Ryan

U.S. President, National Results

Obama-Biden *

Romney-Ryan

U.S. Congress, District 4 Story County Results

Christie Vilsack 

25,926

Steve King

18,397

Iowa Judicial Retention, David Wiggins

Retain

23,803

Remove

13,589

Iowa House District 46

*Lisa Heddens

8,764

Stephen Quist

5,178

Iowa House District 45

*Beth Wessel-Kroschell

8,606

Dane Nealson

5,054

Iowa House District 48

Becky Perkovich

1,338

Robert Bacon

1,730

Story County Supervisor

*Wayne Clinton

26,172

Lauris Olson

9,970

Story County Auditor

*Lucy Martin

25,036

Ty Radford Stewart

16,955

Story County Sheriff

*Paul Fitzgerald

33,230

* Incumbent

In 2008, about 64 percent of Story County's registered voters participated in the General Election, with 57 percent of voters choosing President Barack Obama and 41 percent voting for Sen. John McCain. 

A summary of the 2012 general elections in Story County follows below:

Vilsack v. King: Ames Democrat Christie Vilsack and Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron, have waged a heated race in their campaign for Iowa's new U.S. Congressional District 4. Vilsack, Iowa's former first lady, hopes to make history by becoming the first Iowa woman to represent the state in higher office.

King, R-Kiron, a Catholic conservative who calls himself a full-spectrum Constitutional conservative, has represented western Iowa for the past decade. Vilsack is the first formidable opponent King has seen since he took office in 2003 and the first candidate he has ever debated.

Recent polls suggest that Vilsack and King are neck-and-neck for the race. The candidates have raised a combined $6 million, according to the Sioux City Journal. The dollar amount breaks a Congressional fundraising records in Iowa.

In other races: 

• Incumbent Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat, beat Republican Dane Nealson for the district 45 seat in the in Iowa House of Representatives. Wessel-Kroeschell was first elected to her position in 2004. She is an Ames native, a former high school English teacher and has worked extensively for non-profits. Nealson, a West Liberty native, moved to Ames in 2008 to continue his studies at Iowa State University. Eric Cooper, an independent, is also on the ballot.

• Incumbent Democrat Lisa Heddens will fended off Republican Stephen Quist for Iowa District 46. Heddens, an Iowa State University graduate, was first elected to her position in 2002. Quist who has blogged for Patch, grew up in Davenport and moved to Ames to attend Iowa State University.

• Democrat Lucy Martin Story County Auditor is being challenged by Republican Ty Radford Stewart. Martin was appointed to her seat after the previous auditor left and managed to keep it. Mary Mosiman, the former auditor, was appointed as Iowa Secretary of State Deputy of Elections in December 2010. 

• Democrat Wayne Clinton, Story County Supervisor, beat Independent Lauris Olson, a journalist with 72 percent of the vote.

• Ames resident Jerry Litzel and his running mate, Jim Litzel, are on the ballot for president. They received 85 votes in Story County, according to unofficial returns.

• And on the edge of Ames, Becky Perkovich lost to defeat former GOP Senator Robert Bacon for the new Iowa House District 48. Bacon received 56 percent of the vote in Story County.

Uncontested races include:

• Paul Fitzgerald for Story County Sheriff.

See Also: 

Election Guide 2012

Iowa Elections Results 2012

Find Your Polling Place