Control of the Iowa House still remained largely undecided at 11:30 p.m. with one vote, 50 votes and 99 votes separating candidates in some legislative races. At least one Democratic incumbent had been upset.

Iowa House Democratic leaders decided to forego the celebration at the Hotel Fort Des Moines and were instead in the office crunching numbers. Spokesman Dean Fihr said they did not have a good sense on the big picture yet on whether Democrats retained control of the Iowa House.

"It's going to be a late night," he said.

Democratic Rep. Elesha Gayman of Davenport, a freshman who initially won her election to House District 84 by a very narrow margin, was defeated tonight by Republican Ross Paustian of Walcott, a fifth-generation crop and livestock farmer. The vote was 54 to 46 percent.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Jamie Van Fossen of Davenport, the former House Ways and Means chairman who is seeking his eighth term to House District 81, was tied with Democrat Phyllis Thede of Bettendorf. Both had 50 percent of the vote -- Van Fossen with 3,944 votes and Thede with 3,945 votes with nine out of 10 precincts reporting.

Other results from the Associated Press show:

-- Democrat Gretchen Lawyer was ahead of Republican Nick Wagner in the competitive open race to replace state Rep. Swati Dandekar in House District 36. But only 50 votes separated them and only 7 out of 16 precincts had reported.

-- Republican Rep. Dan Rasmussen of Independence, who is seeking his fourth term in House District 23, was ahead of Democratic challenger Gene Ficken of Independence by just 99 votes with 20 out of 21 precincts reporting.

-- Republican Rep. Tami Wiencek of Waterloo fended off a challenge from Democrat Kerry Burt, 54 to 46 percent, in House District 21.

-- Democratic Rep. Art Staed of Cedar Rapids, who is serving his first term in House District 37, was ahead of Renee Schulte of Cedar Rapids, 54 to 46 percent, but only 5 out of 11 precincts had reported.

-- Democratic Rep. Eric Palmer of Oskaloosa appeared to be ahead in the rematch against former House assistant Republican leader Danny Carroll of Grinnell, 57 to 43 percent, but only 7 out of 14 precincts were in.

-- Democratic Rep. Paul Shomshor of Council Bluffs won re-election over his Republican opponent Scott Belt, 52 to 48 percent, in House District 100.

-- Democratic Rep. McKinley Bailey held off a challenge by Republican Jamie Johnson in House District 9, 55 to 45 percent.

-- Democrat Sharon Steckman, a retired teacher, defeated Republican City Councilman Scott Tornquist for an open House seat, 57 to 43 percent in House District 13. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Bill Schickel, who's retiring.

Meanwhile, Iowa Republicans had abandoned the party at the downtown Marriott by about 11 p.m. Iowa Democrats also left the party at the Hotel Fort Des Moines shortly after Barack Obama gave his victory speech.

Labels: 2008_election