GOP sees voter registration gains in Iowa

DES MOINES – Figures released Tuesday showed that Republicans narrowed the gap with Democrats in voter registration numbers in Iowa, a result of last month's primary election.

The GOP had a number of hotly contested primary races, including a three-way contest for governor won by Terry Branstad as well as a handful of U.S. House races.

Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro announced that Iowa Republicans had gained more than 37,000 registered voters between June 1 and July 1, while Democrats lost roughly 10,000 voters during the time period that included the June 8 primary.

“You can't declare a winner or loser from this, but it does tell you that things are moving,” said Mauro, a Democrat and the state's top election official.

Voters must declare themselves a Republican or Democrat to participate in those parties' primary elections.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn said the latest voter registration gains lay the groundwork for GOP victories in the November general election.

“More and more Iowans continue to identify with our Republican leaders who will spur job growth in the private sector, reign in out-of-control state spending, and restore open and honest government in Iowa,” Strawn said in a statement.

Mauro called the changes in party registration over the past month significant, but stressed they need to be looked at in context.

Mauro said nearly all the competitive races were found on the Republican side this year, pointing to the governor's race, three congressional contests and a battle for the GOP nominations for secretary of state and state treasurer.

As of July 1, Democrats still led Republicans in the number of registered voters across the state, 699,972 to 644,838. Voters with no party affiliation were still the largest group of voters in Iowa, totaling 749,441.

Mauro said Democrats' issue will be motivating their people to get to the polls this year.

“We're talking about a volatile economy, unemployment. There's frustration out there. All this leads to people pausing and taking a second look,” Mauro said.

As of July 1, there are over 55,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in Iowa. One month earlier and before the primary, Democrats had an advantage of more than 100,000.

Mauro compared this year to 2002, when Doug Gross, Steve Sukup and Bob Vander Plaats competed in a close GOP primary for governor and Greg Ganske and Bill Salier battled for the GOP nomination Senate. Republicans increased their voter registration advantage by 20,000 in the first six months of that year.

But Mauro pointed out then-governor Tom Vilsack and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, both Democrats, were both re-elected that year despite their party being at a voter registration disadvantage in Iowa.

In 2006, Democrats Chet Culver, Mike Blouin and Ed Fallon competed for their party's nomination for governor. Democrats went from a 6,000 voter registration deficit to a 20,000-voter advantage in the first six months of the year, Mauro said.