Good Night For Women in Iowa

Good Night For Women in Iowa

Iowa has two chances, one from each party, to break the Iowa-Mississippi jinx and send the state's first woman to Congress.

Becky Greenwald had a strong Democratic primary win in the 4th Congressional District, while in the night's closest big race,Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the Republican nomination in the 2nd District.

Greenwald and Miller-Meeks led what was, by and large, a good night for female candidates.

In open Senate District 48, women will gain a seat. With contested primaries in both parties, Ruth Smith won the Democratic nomination and Kim Reynold won on the Republican side.

Women challengers won several other contested legislative contests. Sharon Steckman won a blowout in a three-way primary in Mason City's House District 13, while Susan Radke in District 10 also won a three candidate race.

Two female Democratic incumbents with primary challengers -- Deborah Berry of Waterloo and Geri Huser of Altoona -- both won renomination.

Women who lost races included Clive City Council member Susan Murphy, who lost a strongly contested GOP primary in House District 59, and Susan Murphy in Newton's House District 41, where Democrat Paul Bell is favored anyway in the fall.

Republican Karla Sibert in Senate District 18, who was trying to replace Mary Lundby, also lost. The district may well stay female but change party, if Democrat Swati Dandekar successfully makes the move from House to Senate.

House District 70 will switch from female to male; Republican Carmine Boal is retiring and two men are running to replace her.