Possible recount and veteran lawmaker falls short

It looks like the District 19 three-way Republican House primary is headed for a recount. According to the unofficial results, incumbent Representative Kent Peterson of Salem was the top vote-getter with 1,881 followed by Jessica Bahmuller of Alexandria with 1,741 votes and incumbent Representative Marty Overweg  of New Holland with 1,720. That’s well within the guidelines for a recount.

In a strongly contested District 21 Republican Senate primary newcomer Erin Tobin of Winner defeated veteran State Representative Lee Qualm of Platte by a count of 2,155 to 1,366 votes. Qualm was term-limited in the State House and was seeking the District 21 Senate seat. Tobin now faces Democrat Dan Kerner Anderson of Burke in the November general election.