INDEPENDENCE -- Two veteran Republican lawmakers fell out of favor with a majority of voters after campaigns featuring heated advertisements from challengers and strong support from outside their respective districts.

Rep. Dan Rasmussen of Independence lost to Democrat Gene Ficken, also of Independence, by more than 600 votes in House District 23. And Sen. Mark Zieman of Postville lost to Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco in Senate District 8.

Both Democrat challengers were buoyed by heavy advertising support from the Iowa Democratic Party and donations from outside organizations, including labor unions.

The unofficial tally Tuesday was 7,494 votes for Ficken and 6,743 votes for Rasmussen. Democrats targeted that seat as a way to increase their majority in the House, where they held a 53-47 advantage.

Ficken received thousands of dollars in donations from labor unions and $200,000 in in-kind donations from state Democrats. Rasmussen received $25,000 in advertising support from the Republican Party of Iowa.

A glitch with the absentee ballots at the Buchanan County Auditor's Office delayed tabulation of results until early this morning.

Wilhelm beat Zieman in Senate District 8 after a seesaw battle, with an unofficial tally of 14,659 votes to 13,705. The district covers Allamakee, Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

The district became competitive at the last minute after state Democrats pumped $108,000 in in-kind donations for a campaign advertising blitz for Wilhelm. Zieman had more than $35,000 in advertising support from the Republican Party of Iowa and state political action committees.

Zieman was elected in 2000. He replaced his father, Lyle Zieman, who served two terms in the Senate.

Democrats had a 30-20 advantage over Republicans in the Senate before the election.

The Iowa GOP was able to hold Senate District 20 covering Tama, Grundy and Benton counties. The seat was vacant after Republican John Putney of Gladbrook retired.

Tim Kapucian of Keystone beat Randy Braden, superintendent of Vinton-Shellsburg School District, by 52 to 47 percent. The unofficial tally was 15,534 votes for Kapucian to 13,847 for Braden.

"I got big shoes to fill following John Putney," Kapucian said.

Democrats claimed the Senate District 22 seat, which was occupied by Larry McKibben, a Republican from Marshalltown. McKibben retired this year. Steve Sodders, a Democrat from Alden, beat Jarret Heil, a Republican from Eldora, by 14,720 to 11,791 votes.

They also took House District 16, a seat formerly held by Rep. Chuck Gipp, the Republican Majority Whip. Democrat John Beard of Decorah beat Randy Schissel, also of Decorah, 5,526 votes to 4,849.

Here's a recap of other races in the area:

Iowa Senate

District 12: Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington, beat challenger Rebecca Wearmouth, a Republican from Independence, 8,746 to 4,811

Iowa House

District 15: Rep. Brian Quirk, D-New Hampton, won re-election over challenger Dan Lensing, who was nominated by petition, 9,028 to 3,094.

District 17: First-term Rep. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, beat Democratic challenger Cayla Baresel of Waverly, 9,762 to 5,055.

District 18: First-term Rep. Andrew Wenthe, R-Hawkeye, beat Republican Austin Lorenzen of Denver, 7,836 to 6,162.

District 24: Democrat Roger Thomas of Elkader faced no challenger. He was re-elected with 10,451 votes.

District 39: Rep. Dawn Pettengill, a Republican from Mount Auburn, beat Terry Hertle, a Democrat from Vinton, in Pettengill's first challenge after switching political parties last year. She defeated Hertle, 8,270 to 6,869.

District 40: Incumbent Rep. Lance Horbach, R-Tama, beat Tama Mayor Chris Bearden, a Democrat, 8,888 to 5,753, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Contact Josh Nelson at

(319) 291-1565 or

josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.