DES MOINES, Iowa – Tens of thousands of students cast ballots in Secretary of State’s Paul Pate’s Iowa Youth Straw Poll this week. They voted for their preferred candidates in the U.S. Presidential race, along with Iowa’s U.S. Senate and U.S. House races. More than 225 schools and 31,000 students participated.
President Donald Trump won the presidential race 55 percent to 32 percent over former Vice President Joe Biden. Kayne West came in third at 9 percent.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst defeated Theresa Greenfield in the U.S. Senate race, 53 percent to 38 percent.
Some Youth Straw Poll participants will be eligible to participate in next week’s general election.
“This is a fun, hands-on learning experience that hopefully will create a lifelong interest in civics and elections for these students,” Pate said. “My thanks to everyone who participated and the teachers and school leaders across the state for organizing this event.”
Iowa’s four U.S. Congressional races were also polled, with Republicans leading in all four districts. State Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, is ahead of U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, 54 percent to 46 percent in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Republican State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads former State Senator Rita Hart, D-Wheatland, 53 percent to 47 percent in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. Former U.S. Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, holds a narrow lead over incumbent U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, 48 percent to 46 percent in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. State Senator Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, leads Democrat J.D. Scholten 67 percent to 32 percent in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.
The 2016 Iowa Youth Straw Poll showed Donald Trump defeating Hillary Clinton by ten points and reflected the winner of actual election results in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race and in every Iowa U.S. House race. Conversely, the 2018 Iowa Youth Straw Poll reflected the winner of the gubernatorial race and reflected the winner of only one of Iowa’s U.S. House races (Iowa’s 4th Congressional District). The results are unscientific.
The Iowa Youth Straw Poll is open to students of every grade level and youth civic organizations. Vote totals are available by clicking here. More results are expected to come in, but the vast majority have been reported.