Published: November 05, 2008 09:52 am      

Incumbents retain congressional seats

DES MOINES — Iowa’s congressmen are headed back to Washington.

Reps. Bruce Braley, David Loebsack, Leonard Boswell, Tom Latham and Steve King all easily won re-election on Tuesday. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Braley defeated Republican state Rep. David Hartsuch in Iowa’s 1st District.

In the 2nd District, Loebsack coasted past a challenge from Mariannette Miller-Meeks, 57 percent to 39 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

Loebsack, a Democrat, said he felt invigorated and was looking forward to returning to Congress.

“I feel very buoyant,” he said. “At the same time we have at once tremendous opportunities and tremendous responsibilities. I’m looking forward to getting down to business.”

Miller-Meeks, Loebsack’s Republican opponent, is an Ottumwa ophthalmologist.

In Iowa’s 3rd District, Boswell won a seventh term by beating GOP opponent Kim Schmett, 57 percent to 42 percent with 91 percent of precincts reporting.

Schmett, a former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Greg Ganske, had raised significantly less money than his opponent.

In the 4th District, Republican Latham defeated challenger Becky Greenwald, 60 percent to 40 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting.

Latham had aggressively sought to link Greenwald with the $700 billion congressional bailout package, which he voted against and she supported. Greenwald ran a vigorous campaign, and the race was a longshot target for national Democrats. Greenwald’s ran low on funds as the campaign closed. King beat a challenge from Democrat Rob Hubler in the 5th District. He was ahead 61 percent to 36 percent with 92 percent of precincts reporting.

King said he would return to Washington prepared to play the role of obstructionist in the face of a Democratic-dominated Washington.

“My task now is to go out there and articulate a real solid vision for the pillars of American exceptionalism, how to re-establish them and take this country up another level,” King said. “I will often be in the role of an obstructor. We will see Nancy Pelosi unleashed and I don’t think Americans understand what that means.”