News : GOP sweep: Republicans win all county offices; State House incumbents re-elected

It was a "Red" Tuesday in Benton County, as the Republicans saw the election of four new office-holders and wins for every person with an R beside their name on the county ballots. The new Sheriff (Ron Tippett), Auditor (Hayley Rippel), and supervisors (Richard Primmer and Gary Biershenk) are all Republicans. Republican incumbents Dawn Pettengill in Iowa House District 75 and Tim Kapucian (Senate District 38) also won. Primmer defeated incumbent Supervisor Terry Hertle by a margin of 7,329 to 5,788; Bierschenk defeated Joan Flecksing, 8,338 to 4,571. Rippel defeated challenger Vicky Schwenker by a 8,725-4,244 vote. She will replace retiring Auditor Jill Marlow. Ron Tippett defeated independent candidate Vince Snyder by a 9,008 to 3,370 total. Benton County helped Pettengill defeat challenger Paula Denison by a margin of 9017 to 4195; House District 38 also includes Iowa County. Kapucian defeated Dennis Mathahs among Benton County voters by a margin of 8662 to 3837. "I am disappointed I didn't win, but I am glad that I had an opportunity to talk about so many important issues with so many passionate Iowans through the course of this campaign,"� said Mathahs. "Senator Kapucian and I waged a spirited and issues-first campaign, and I wish him all the best. The 38th district must have a strong voice at the Capitol, and I hope to help the Senator anyway I can." Benton County also went for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton by a large margin: 8,226 to 4,672.The county also joined Iowa in supporting Senator Chuck Grassley over challenger Patty Judge 9,344 to 3,804 and Rep. Rod Blum over Monica Verno, 8387 to 4994. Blum and Grassley both won re-election on Tuesday. "It has been an honor to run as the Democratic nominee for Congress in northeast Iowa," said Vernon, who visited Vinton on Saturyda. "I have met so many people who are just looking for a fair shot at a better tomorrow, and I remain committed to building an economy here in Iowa that is fairer for middle class families. I congratulate Congressman Blum on a hard-fought campaign and know we will both work to bring our state and country together as we look towards the future." Click the link here to see the results; the Benton County Supervisors will make them official during the upcoming election canvass:unofficialresults2016.