What's up in Bettendorf?

[CornField]

There were two GOP primaries last night -- Senate Dist. 41 and House District 82 -- both out of Bettendorf where the incumbent was defeated.

Senate: Maggie Tinsman was defeated (barely) by David Hartsuch.

House: Joe Huttler was defeated (soundly) by Linda Miller.

In both of these races, the GOP candidate will have no Democratic opposition. What's up with that?

[DU9598]

1. Unacceptable

Hopefully the convention can nominate someone???

[Bluzmann57]

2. Bettendorf is HIGHLY republican

It is considered the town which is the reddest in the Quad Cities region. There is quite a bit of money there and the population consequently is mostly repub. But not everyone out there has a lot of money. It's just that the republican attitude pervades the city.

[rurallib]

3. Bluzman - isn't the guy who defeated Tinsman a real regressive?

Don't follow your area much, just heard someone say that Tinsman was at least somewhat moderate while this guy is almost reactionary. Did I hear wrong?

[iowasocialist]

4. Maggie Tinsman

The candidate who defeated Maggie Tinsman is bought and paid for by the Christian right-wing.

I have heard some who think that Maggie has been thinking in the past about turning Democrat.

What a slap that would be back at the GOP "Christian" extremists, if she now declared herself a Dem and ran as a Dem in the race (there is none now).

She is supportive of us LGBT folks...

[Broke Dad]

5. Maggie Tinsman is a fiercely independent Republican and . . .

A true public servant.

Make no mistake, Maggie is Republican to the core. She can throw a repub punch as good as any politician, but, as I told her in 2002, she is one of the few Republicans serving in the Iowa Legislature with a HEART and a BRAIN. The right wing ran against her the last couple of times because she evaluates each issue and bill on its on merits. They want mindless drones (like Jim Hahn) who raise their hand on command. She lead the fight this year to outlaw trafficking in human beings. The Iowa Senate will miss her intelligence and her work ethic. Democrats will miss her bipartisanship on human service issues.

So much for the Republican "big tent." Bettendorf throws away qualified women public servants all the time. (Don't forget former Mayor Ann Hutchinson).

God Bless you Maggie!

[newyawker99]

7. Hi iowasocialist!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[iowasocialist]

8. Thanks!

Thank you for the warm welcome!

[Bluzmann57]

6. Nope, you heard right

This guy is way closer to the neocons than Tinsman. She actually listened to her constituents and attempted to follow through on some things. She is also pro-choice where Hartsuch isn't. I don't really expect Hartsuch to serve too long, although I don't live in Bettendorf and have no intention to. He may be more than a one termer, but I doubt it.