After the Iowa Primary, the Iowa Democratic Party cut their statewide voter registration deficit to the Republican Party of Iowa by almost 46 percent in the month of June. Republicans lead by 24,438 down from a 45,141 voter registration lead in June.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s July 2018 registration numbers show:
Statewide
- Republicans – 642,828 (+3477)
- Democrats – 618,388 (+24,190)
- Libertarians – 11,150 (+1,021)
- No Party – 694,741 (-23,249)
Comparatively, in the previous two election cycles that favored Republicans, they had 34,137 voter registration advantage in July of 2016 and in July of 2014, they held a 16,192 voter registration advantage over Democrats.
Conversely, in election cycles that favored Democrats, the party had a 16,710 voter registration edge over Republicans in July of 2006 and a 90,223 voter registration edge in July of 2008.
This year, Democrats had contested primaries for Governor, Iowa Secretary of State, three Congressional districts and for numerous state legislative races. Republicans only had 19 contested primaries overall with Secretary of Agriculture being the only statewide primary that was decided by the state convention delegates since no candidate reached 35 percent in a five-way primary.
Iowa Democrats saw their largest gains in the 3rd Congressional District followed by the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Congressional Districts.
Iowa 3rd Congressional District
Democrats saw a 9,175 voter registration swing in June with Republicans still holding a 61 voter registration advantage which is hardly an advantage at all.
- Republicans – 169,269 (-125)
- Democrats – 169,208 (+9,050)
- Libertarians – 3,613 (+255)
- No Party – 161,798 (-7659)
Congressman David Young (R-Iowa) is seeking his third term faces a challenge from the Democrat nominee Cindy Axne.
The previous two election cycles Congressman Young had a voter registration advantage of slightly over 11,000 in July in both 2014 and 2016.
Iowa 1st Congressional District
Democrats grew their voter registration advantage by 5,761 in June and now lead Republicans by 23,824.
- Democrats – 162,719 (+6118)
- Republicans – 139,888 (+357)
- Libertarians – 2,742 (+286)
- No Party – 185,774 (-5,273)
Congressman Rod Blum (R-Iowa) who is running for a third term faces a challenge from State Representative Abby Finkenauer (D-Dubuque).
Voter registration deficits are not new to Congressman Blum. In July of 2014, the year he was first elected, he faced a deficit of 24,544. In July of 2016, he faced a deficit of 22,021.
Unlike the Iowa 3rd Congressional District, the primary for the Democratic nomination was not close.
Iowa 2nd Congressional District
Democrats saw a gain of 4,051 in voter registrations in June and now have a 23,279 registered voter advantage over Republicans in the 2nd District.
- Democrats – 166,676 (+5359)
- Republicans – 143,397 (+1308)
- Libertarians – 2,569 (+229)
- No Party – 177,432 (-5360)
Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), running for a 7th term, faces another challenge from Christopher Peters who is the Republican nominee this cycle.
In 2014, Congressman Loebsack held a 26,708 voter registration advantage in July. In 2016, when he also faced Peters he had a 24,373 voter registration advantage.
Iowa 4th Congressional District
Democrats slightly cut into the Republican voter registration lead in June, but Republicans still hold an overwhelming 70,487 voter registration advantage in the district and have a larger advantage in July compared to the previous two cycles.
- Republicans – 190,272 (+1938)
- Democrats – 119,785 (+3656)
- Libertarians – 2,228 (+251)
- No Party – 169,740 (-4,859)
Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa), who is running for his 11th term in Congress, is challenged by J.D. Scholten who won a three-way Democratic primary to secure his party’s nomination. Congressman King has enjoyed large advantages in the past. In July of 2014, he enjoyed a 56,417 advantage and in July of 2016, 69,383 registered voter advantage.