Republican wins special election for Iowa State House seat 55%-44% over the Democrat. Republicans control both House and Senate in Iowa-Sioux City Journal, 1/17/18

2152R-1712D, 55%-44%, all precincts reporting

1/17/18, "Bossman wins special election for Woodbury County legislative seat," Sioux City Journal. Bret Hayworth

"Winning in his second try in less than two years for the Iowa House District 6 seat, Jacob Bossman will join the Iowa Legislature for essentially a one-year term.

Bossman, a Republican from Sioux City, defeated Rita DeJong, the Democratic candidate from Sioux City. The vote total reported after the close of polls at 9 p.m. Tuesday was 2,152 for Bossman and 1,712 for DeJong. 

"I think it was just the hard work of myself and the campaign. I didn't take anything for granted and was out working this morning," Bossman said of his victory on Tuesday night, 20 minutes after polls closed. 

The special election was the first test of the state's new voter ID law. Woodbury County poll workers were trained on the new photo-ID requirement and were well versed for implementing it, said Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill. 

Besides requiring ID and signature verification at the polls, the law also ended straight-party voting and shortened the period for early voting from 40 to 29 days. 

With the Bossman win, Republicans moved to hold 59 of 100 seats in Iowa House. They also control the Iowa Senate, now two weeks into the legislative session that will run for 100 days to late April. 

House District 6, which covers Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff, Bronson and Salix, leans favorably for Republicans. There are 7,778 voters registered as Republicans, 5,013 as Democrats and 6,617 as no party, according to election data as of Jan. 1.

"The Republicans turned out," Bossman said. 

Bossman, 37, is regional director for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. Bossman during the campaign said he would support "sound budgeting practices and hold the line on reckless spending," as a way to avoid tapping emergency state budget funds during a tight financial year. Bossman also pointed to the need for a "simple, fair tax code that will make our economy more competitive with neighboring states." 

DeJong , 64, is a retired educator from the Sioux City Community School District. It was her first run for elective office. DeJong campaigned on the need to increase spending on education and to boost ways to access affordable healthcare. 

Bossman said his understanding is that final election results will be certified by the Secretary of State's Office on Monday, and he could be sworn in as soon as Jan. 23. 

Bossman lost a bid for Iowa House District 6 in 2016, losing the Republican Party primary to Jim Carlin. After one year in the Iowa House, Carlin shifted to the state's other chamber, winning an open Senate District 3 seat in a Dec. 12 special election. The outcome set up the need for another quick special election with the Legislature entering its second week of the new session."

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