From my first election I could vote in (2010 midterms) to 2014, I marked the "Straight Ticket Republican" box in Iowa, but I will just list the major candidates:
2010 (IA-1)
POTUS: N/A
Senate:
Chuck Grassley (R) over
Roxanne Conlin (D)House:
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) over
Dave Loebsack (D)Governor:
Terry Branstad (R) over
Chet Culver (D)Record: 2-1, with my Miller-Meeks vote being a loser in Iowa
2012 (IA-1)
POTUS:
Mitt Romney (R) over
Barack Obama (D)Senate: N/A
House:
John Archer (R) over
Dave Loebsack (D)Governor: N/A
Record: 0-2, with my Romney and Archer votes being losers in Iowa
2014 (IA-1)
POTUS: N/A
Senate:
Joni Ernst (R) over
Bruce Braley (D)House:
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) over
Dave Loebsack (D)Governor:
Terry Branstad (R) over
Jack Hatch (D)Record: 2-1, with my Miller-Meeks vote once again being a loser in Iowa
2016 (IA-1)
POTUS:
Hillary Clinton (D) over
Donald Trump (R)Senate:
Chuck Grassley (R) over
Patty Judge (D)House:
Christopher Peters (R) over
Dave Loebsack (D)Governor: N/A
Record: 1-2, with my Clinton and Peters (whom I know, and he's a wonderful guy!) votes being losers in Iowa
2018 (IA-1)
POTUS: N/A
Senate: N/A
House:
Christopher Peters (R) over
Dave Loebsack (D)Governor:
Kim Reynolds (R) over
Fred Hubbell (D)Record: 1-1, with my ever-naive Peters vote being a loser again in Iowa
Overall, I am 6-7 in my voting success, lol. Being in Iowa City's district with a very popular Loebsack (whom my mother taught with for years and said is a fantastic man ... though she voted against him every time!) doomed me to always lose that race, it seems.
As for 2020, I haven't decided if I will vote yet. I now live in the hilariously shaped IL-7, represented by Danny K. Davis. However, because I am in an MBA program full-time, I can still identify as a student and vote in Iowa, which I will do if I vote at all, as I can see zero point in voting from my new location in Chicago. If I do vote in Iowa, this is how I am leaning:
2020 (IA-1, Absentee)
POTUS: Abstain
Senate:
Joni Ernst (R) over
Theresa Greenfield (D)House:
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) over
Rita Hart (D)Governor: N/A
A couple of thoughts on 2020
- I think for the good of the nation and the GOP, Donald Trump needs to be removed from office this November. However, I also think a vote for Joe Biden is not really a vote for Joe Biden ... the guy is barely there. Kamala Harris as POTUS doesn't excite me, and while I would overall prefer her losing to a GOP challenger in 2024 vs. Donald Trump having four more years, I will not help elect Biden/her directly. I don't really care if that makes sense to anyone else.
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks is actually a very impressive person, and she comes across as a reasonable conservative ... gal cannot catch a break! Loebsack finally retires and she's stuck in a terrible environment to have an R next to your name.
- I likely won't bother voting. I know that is like the biggest taboo on Atlas, but I have become quite disillusioned.
