DAVENPORT, Iowa — In interviews at a Scott County Republican Party event in early October, local Republican candidates and an county party official expressed confidence that their party’s voters would remain engaged in the upcoming midterm elections. The event took place as Iowa’s governor, Senate and House contests drew attention amid predictions of Democratic gains.
Greg Guy, a Republican candidate for Scott County treasurer, said voters he encounters while canvassing are concerned about gas prices but did not appear eager to support Democrats. Cynthia Mensendick, a Republican seeking an Iowa Senate seat, also said she did not see signs of an impending Democratic wave. She identified the possibility of a Democratic governor as a concern among some Republican voters.
Dillon Fillion, a Republican candidate for the Iowa House, argued that voters face a choice between the parties’ approaches to taxes and government. His comments included partisan characterizations of Democrats. Kurt Whalen, vice chair of the Scott County Republican Party, said he believed Republicans would ultimately support the party despite disagreements over President Donald Trump.
The interviews offer a snapshot of Republican sentiment among people attending one party event, not a measure of statewide voter opinion. The report also says polling showed Democrats gaining momentum in Iowa’s gubernatorial, Senate and congressional contests, while Republicans faced the usual midterm disadvantage as the party in power. Iowa has shifted toward Republicans in recent years, but Scott County includes Democratic-leaning urban areas as well as suburban and rural voters.
The source describes the conversations as taking place in early October, about a month before the midterm election. The candidates’ assessments and predictions remain their own views; the interviews alone do not establish which party is likely to win.
