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Historic Facts and Figures: General
Elections, Non-Presidential Year
General elections in non-presidential years are often called
gubernatorial elections or "off-year" elections. However,
there are actually more contests on the ballot than in presidential
years. All statewide offices have been on the non-presidential year
ballot for four year terms since 1974, when terms were lengthened from the
previous two year term.
Changes in recent years include:
- 1970: Last election for Constable and Justice of the Peace
- 1974: Four year terms for statewide elected officials begin
- 1978: Board of Supervisors expands to five members
- 1986: Last separate election for Lieutenant Governor
- 1990: First election with Governor/Lieutenant Governor elected as team
- 2002: Library Trustees no longer on ballot
- 2006: Township officials elected on non-partisan basis
Turnout
The 2006 general election set a new turnout record for non-presidential
general elections.
Turnout and Major Contests, 1978-2006
Contests listed include top two candidates, with
winner listed first. For more information, see election
returns.
|
Date
(link to results) |
Registered |
Voters |
Turnout |
US Senate |
Governor |
US
Representative |
|
11/7/2006 |
79,141 |
44,292 |
55.97% |
none |
Culver-Nussle (open seat) |
Loebsack-Leach |
|
11/5/2002 |
74,256 |
38,900 |
52.39% |
Harkin-Ganske |
Vilsack-Gross |
Leach-Thomas |
|
11/3/1998 |
62,297 |
34,201 |
54.90% |
Grassley-Osterberg |
Vilsack-Lightfoot
(open seat) |
Leach-Rush |
|
11/8/1994 |
62,189 |
34,441 |
55.38% |
none |
Branstad-Campbell |
Leach-Winekauf |
|
11/6/1990 |
63,185 |
32,885 |
52.05% |
Harkin-Tauke |
Branstad-Avenson |
Nagle
(unopposed) |
|
11/4/1986 |
55,428 |
26,680 |
48.13% |
Grassley-Roehrick |
Branstad-Junkins |
Nagle-McIntee
(open seat) |
|
11/2/1982 |
48,345 |
33,509 |
69.31% |
none |
Branstad-Conlin
(open seat) |
Evans-Cutler |
|
11/7/1978 |
51,773 |
23,516 |
45.42% |
Jepsen-Clark |
Ray-Fitzgerald |
Leach-Myers |
Highest Vote
Totals for Candidates
In 2006 County Treasurer Tom Kriz (D) set a new record for most votes in an off-year
election, with 34,352 votes in an unopposed race. Kriz had the previous
unopposed record, with 29,587 votes in 2002.
Governor Chet Culver set a new record in 2006 for opposed candidates,
winning 30,083 votes. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller (D)
had the previous record with
25,865 votes in 2002.
Close Elections
The closest race in any general election in Johnson County was the 1978
contest for the Board of Supervisors. Democrat Dennis Langenberg
defeated Republican John Dane by 11 votes out of 23,516 voters (0.04%).
|
1978 County Board of Supervisors - 4 Year Term
(2 to be elected)
|
|
 Harold M. Donnelly (Dem)
|
12,585
|
53.52%
|
|
Dennis J. Langenberg
(Dem)
|
10,889
|
46.30%
|
|
H. John Dane Jr. (Rep)
|
10,878
|
46.26%
|
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scattered write in
|
21
|
Most Candidates
Six candidates for governor appeared on the 1994 ballot.
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