Do you wish you had a way to get across to people that every election matters? that every vote matters? that you should never, never, never sit out an election? Let me tell you how 1,065 voters saved Iowa.
In 2014, 25 of the 50 state senate seats were up for election. Twelve seats had only one major party candidate running, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans (something that needs to be fixed, but that’s a different diary). Let's look at one of the remaining thirteen races.
Note: Incumbent Sandra Greiner (R) did not run for re-election. District 39 was an open seat.
Democratic Party, June 3 Democratic primary
- Richard Gilmore: 338
- Kevin Kinney: 1,162 Approved
Republican Party, June 3 GOP primary:
- Bob Anderson: 947
- Michael D. Moore: 1,231 Approved
- Royce W. Phillips: 515
November 4, General election candidates:
- Democratic Party Kevin Kinney: 12,371
- Republican Party Michael D. Moore: 11,306
Because those 1,065 voters turned out, Democrats held onto the majority of the Iowa Senate. Because the Democrats held onto the Senate, Governor Branstad and the Iowa House were not able to ram through irrational tax cuts, restrictions on voting, limits on abortion access, or a variety of ills (Branstad did some harm on his own, of course).
Because those voters turned out, Iowa didn’t turn into Kansas.
Every vote matters.