Democratic leaders said after 1 a.m. that they've picked up at least one seat in the Iowa House and now have a 54-44 advantage, with the potential of retaining two Sioux City seats that they said are still too close to call until the Woodbury County auditor completes counting absentee ballots on Wednesday morning.

A call to House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, was not returned.

Meanwhile, at least two Democratic incumbents and three Republican incumbents were defeated:

* State Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, the once-prominent chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was defeated by Democrat Phyllis Thede by 1,761 votes -- 56 to 44 percent. The race was tied until absentee ballots were counted.

* State. Rep. Dan Rasmussen, R-Independence, was defeated by Democrat Gene Ficken of Independence, 53 to 47 percent.

* State Rep. Tami Wiencek, R-Waterloo, the former TV anchor, was defeated by former University of Iowa football player Kerry Burt by 147 votes. This seat was reclaimed by Democrats; it was formerly held by longtime legislator Don Shoultz.

* Freshman state Rep. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, was defeated by Republican Renee Schulte by just 47 votes in House District 37.

* Rep. Mark Davitt, D-Indianola, was defeated by 169 votes by Republican Ken Sorenson in House District 74.

While AP results initially showed that Democratic Rep. Elesha Gayman of Davenport was defeated, a final tally with absentee votes showed she won by 796 votes against Republican Ross Paustian of Walcott in House District 84, a margin of 52.5 to 47.5 percent.

"We are humbled by the victories Iowans have given us tonight," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines. "These have been hard-fought races and our congratulations and thanks go out to all who participated. It is clear from the results that Iowans want us to continue to focus on the bread-and-butter issues that really matter in their lives and we will do so in a bipartisan and fiscally responsible manner."

House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said middle-class families in Iowa will benefit the most from the wins made by House Democrats tonight. "Iowans can trust us to keep the state's fiscal house in order with a balanced budget and strong reserves while providing more economic security for Iowans through good-paying jobs, a world class education, expanded renewable energy and affordable health care," he said.

The races that Democrats say are still too close to call are in House District 1, where incumbent Rep. Wes Whitead, D-Sioux City, was tied at 50 percent with Republican challenger Jeremy Taylor. Whitead was six votes ahead before the final tally of absentee ballots.

House Democrats were also calling the race between incumbent Rep. Roger Wendt, D-Sioux City, and Republican challenger Rick Bertrand in House District 2 too close to call. Wendt was 191 votes ahead of Bertrand, 51 to 49 percent, before absentee ballots.

In other close races, Republican Nick Wagner defeated Democrat Gretchen Lawyer, 55.5 to 44.5 percent, in the competitive open race to replace state Rep. Swati Dandekar in House District 36. Democratic Rep. Eric Palmer of Oskaloosa won in his rematch against former House assistant Republican leader Danny Carroll of Grinnell, 54 to 46 percent.

With this new House tally, it appears that at least five incumbents in the House (three Republicans, two Democrats) and three in the Senate (one Republican, two Democrats) have been unseated. That number could change with Woodbury County's final tally Wednesday morning, and with possible recounts.

Labels: 2008_election