Webster City-After months and weeks of endless campaigning, the 2026 mid-term election across Hamilton County came to an end Tuesday night. Hamilton County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Kim Schaa reported there were 5,971 votes cast across the county in the Tuesday election. Even though Democrat Josh Turek was the state winner for the U.S. Senate race to succeed Joni Ernst, Hamilton County voters chose his Republican opponent Ashley Hinson. The unofficial returns were Hinson with 3,215 votes and Turek garnered 2,416 votes. Libertarian candidate Thomas Laehn received 197 votes. Republican Chris McGowan received 3,394 votes for the Fourth U.S. Congressional seat Tuesday night while his Democratic candidate Dave Dawson had 2,332 votes yesterday. McGowan went on to win the seat as he will succeed Republican Randy Feenstra of Hull. Feenstra was a Republican candidate for Governor earlier this year but lost out to Zach Lahn. Lahn was the winner in Hamilton County Tuesday as he and Lieutenant Governor Derek Wulf received 3,102 votes last night. Democratic candidate Rob Sand and his Lieutenant Governor candidate Dave Muhlbauer had 2,827 votes. Sand was the statewide winner for Governor as he will succeed Kim Reynolds in January.
Beau Klaver will become the new Iowa House District 55 representative come January succeeding Shannon Latham who decided not to seek re-election. Klaver won in all four counties Tuesday over his Democratic challenger Cynthia Oppedal Paschen. The Hamilton County results unofficially were Klaver with 3,902 votes and Opppedal Paschen with 1,942 votes.
In other races for Iowa state offices, Republican candidate Paul Pate won Hamilton County for Secretary of State with 3,699 votes and his Democratic challenger Ryan Peterman with 2,144. For Iowa State Auditor, Republican Chris Counoyer received 3,444 votes while Democrat Taylor Wettach has 2,353 votes. The State Treasurer race had Republican candidate Roby Smith with 3,406 votes and Democrat John Norwood with 2,367 votes. In the Ag Secretary race, Hamilton County voters selected Republican incumbent Mike Naig with 3,784 votes and Democrat Chris Jones with 2,038. The race for Iowa Attorney General went to Democrat Nate Willems. Willems received 2,405 votes last night however Republican incumbent Brenna Bird had 3,408 votes from Hamilton County.
There was no contest for Hamilton County Third District Supervisor Rick Young, Treasurer Matt Matteson and Recorder Kim Anderson as they were all unopposed. Hamilton County will have a new County Attorney come January with Bridget Chambers as she ran unopposed. Chambers will succeed current attorney Patrick Chambers who decided not to seek re-election.
The canvas of Tuesday’s election will be held soon by the Hamilton County Superviors.