Dieken, Evans cruise to primary victories
Republicans win party's nomination for statehouse
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NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
A voter fills out his ballot Tuesday morning during the primary election at the Hartley Community Center.
Two local Republicans earned decisive victories in Tuesday's primary election.
Zach Dieken, of rural Granville, and Lynn Evans, of Aurelia, won their party's nomination in Iowa House District 5 and Iowa Senate District 3, respectively. They move on to the November election and face almost certain victory, as no Democrats are running for either seat.
Evans, a former superintendent at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn and Alta-Aurelia, defeated challenger Anthony LaBruna with 64.7 percent of the vote. He won majorities in every county in District 3, which includes all of Osceola, O'Brien and Buena Vista counties, as well as parts of Cherokee and Clay counties.
"The outpouring of support over the past seven months has been very humbling and greatly appreciated," Evans wrote in a post on his campaign's Facebook page. "Tonight is not an end, but marks the start of the next phase of the race through Nov. 8."
Dieken, an Iowa State Trooper, also won handily with 55.8 percent of the vote. He edged current Rep. Dennis Bush, of Cherokee, and Tom Kuiper, of Sibley, who received 24.2 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Dieken won every county in the district except Osceola. House District 5 includes all of Osceola and O'Brien counties and parts of Cherokee and Buena Vista counties.
Lynn Evans
In Iowa Senate District 5, which includes the City of Everly, current Republican state Sen. Dave Rowley, of Spirit Lake, beat David Dow, of Emmetsburg, with 64.5 percent of the vote. Clay County's Republican ballot featured the only contested local-level race, which was for board of supervisors. Winners were Barry Anderson, Allen Batschelet and Courtney DeLoss, all of whom out-tallied Shane Breidinger, Tim Hamrick, Paul Kassel and Doug Small for the three open seats.
There were no contested races on the local level in O'Brien County. Incumbents Dennis Vanden Hull and Dan Friedrichsen won the Republican Party's nomination for supervisor, as did incumbent county Treasurer Missy Hattermann and incumbent Recorder Susan Smith. Newcomer Katie Morgan also won the GOP's nod in the uncontested county attorney's race.
