# 2014 Iowa gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 2014 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014. Republican incumbent Terry Branstad ran for reelection to a sixth overall and second consecutive four-year term. Branstad went on to win a historic sixth term as governor by defeating Democratic challenger and State Senator Jack Hatch, and on December 14, 2015, he became the longest-serving governor in American history. He won 59.1% of the popular vote to Hatch's 37.3%, and carried every county in the state except Johnson, home to Iowa City and the University of Iowa.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Terry Branstad, incumbent Governor
* Tom Hoefling, political activist and America's Party and American Independent Party nominee for president in 2012

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad | Tom Hoefling | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 15–19, 2014 | 303 | ± 3.3% | 66% | 12% | 22% |
| Loras College | April 7–8, 2014 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 80% | 4% | 14% |
| Suffolk University | April 3–8, 2014 | 224 | ± 6.6% | 70% | 9% | 21% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 20–23, 2014 | 283 | ± 5.8% | 70% | 11% | 18% |

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Terry Branstad (incumbent) | 129,712 | 83.00 |
| | Republican | Tom Hoefling | 26,284 | 16.82 |
| | Republican | Write-In | 279 | 0.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 156,275 | 100 |

## Democratic primary

Narcisse was disqualified from appearing on the ballot in the Democratic primary following a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court that upheld a lower court decision that held that Narcisse had not submitted enough valid signatures to be placed on the ballot for the primary election. Narcisse continued his campaign and declared his intention to run for the nomination as a write-in candidate. When he was unsuccessful, he announced that he would be running in the general election as the nominee of the Iowa Party.

### Candidates
#### Declared

* Jack Hatch, state senator
* Jonathan Narcisse, former member of the Des Moines School Board and Iowa Party nominee for governor in 2010

#### Withdrew

* Paul Dahl, bus driver, retail sales associate, former librarian and candidate for Iowa's 5th congressional district in 1994
* Tyler Olson, state representative and former chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party

#### Declined

* Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines
* Chet Culver, former governor
* Jeff Danielson, state senator
* Michael Fitzgerald, state treasurer
* Michael Gronstal, majority leader of the Iowa Senate and chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
* Fred Hubbell, insurance executive
* Pam Jochum, president of the Iowa Senate
* Bob Krause, former state representative, nominee for state treasurer in 1978, candidate for Mayor of Waterloo in 1982 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
* Janet Petersen, state senator
* Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture and former governor

### Endorsements

* Ako Abdul-Samad, state representative
* Marti Anderson, state representative
* Dennis Black, state senator
* Leonard Boswell, former U.S. Representative
* Joe Bolkcom, state senator
* Thomas G. Courtney, state senator
* Preston Daniels, former mayor of Des Moines
* Dick Dearden, state senator
* John Forbes, state representative
* Ruth Ann Gaines, state representative
* Fred Hubbell, insurance executive
* Bruce Hunter, state representative
* Bob Krause, former state representative, nominee for state treasurer in 1978, candidate for Mayor of Waterloo in 1982 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
* Matt McCoy, state senator
* Steve Sodders, state senator
* Joe Seng, state senator
* Rich Taylor, state senator
* Frank Wood, state representative
Individuals
* Bruce Bearinger, state representative
* Dennis Cohoon, state representative
* Jeff Danielson, state senator
* David Dawson, state representative
* Nancy Dunkel, state representative
* Bob Dvorsky, state senator
* Sue Dvorsky, former chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party
* Chris Hall, state representative
* Rob Hogg, state senator
* Wally Horn, state senator
* David Jacoby, state representative
* Jerry Kearns, state representative
* Dan Kelley, state representative
* Liz Mathis, state senator
* Helen Miller, state representative
* Dan Muhlbauer, state representative
* Jo Oldson, state representative
* Rick Olson, state representative
* Scott Ourth, state representative
* Janet Petersen, state senator
* Todd Prichard, state representative
* Joe Riding, state representative
* Patti Ruff, state representative
* Kirsten Running-Marquardt, state representative
* Brian Schoenjahn, state senator
* Art Staed, state representative
* Sharon S. Steckman, state representative
* Sally Stutsman, state representative
* Todd Taylor, state representative
* Roger Thomas, state representative
* Mary Wolfe, state representative
Organizations
* American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61
* Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 110

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Hatch | 60,404 | 99.26 |
| | Democratic | Write-in | 448 | 0.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,852 | 100 |

## General election
### Candidates

* Terry Branstad (Republican), incumbent governor
   * Running mate: Kim Reynolds, incumbent lieutenant governor
* Jack Hatch (Democratic), state senator
   * Running mate: Monica Vernon, Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman
* Jim Hennager (New Independent Party), administrator, former city councillor and Reform Party nominee for governor in 1998
   * Running mate: Mary Krieg
* Lee Hieb (Libertarian), orthopedic surgeon
   * Running mate: Ryan Ketelsen, businessman
* Jonathan Narcisse (Iowa Party), former member of the Des Moines School Board and nominee for governor in 2010
   * Running mate: Michael Richards, semi-retired businessman

### Debates

* Complete video of debate, September 20, 2014 - C-SPAN

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Jack Hatch (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–3, 2014 | 1,265 | ± 2.8% | 51% | 40% | 5% | 5% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–3, 2014 | 1,265 | ± 2.8% | 54% | 43% | — | 4% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 28–November 2, 2014 | 778 | ± 3.5% | 52% | 41% | 2% | 6% |
| Iowa Poll | October 28–31, 2014 | 701 | ± 3.7% | 59% | 35% | 2% | 4% |
| YouGov | October 25–31, 2014 | 1,112 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 35% | 4% | 13% |
| Fox News | October 28–30, 2014 | 911 | ± 3% | 53% | 36% | 5% | 6% |
| Reuters/Ipsos | October 23–29, 2014 | 1,129 | ± 3.3% | 57% | 34% | 4% | 5% |
| Quinnipiac | October 22–27, 2014 | 817 | ± 3.4% | 56% | 37% | 2% | 5% |
| Loras College | October 21–24, 2014 | 1,121 | ± 2.93% | 55% | 34% | 2% | 9% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | October 16–23, 2014 | 2,322 | ± 3% | 50% | 37% | 0% | 13% |
| NBC News/Marist | October 18–22, 2014 | 772 LV | ± 3.5% | 59% | 36% | 2% | 4% |
| NBC News/Marist | October 18–22, 2014 | 1,052 RV | ± 3% | 58% | 34% | 2% | 6% |
| Gravis Marketing | October 20–21, 2014 | 964 | ± 3% | 53% | 43% | — | 4% |
| Monmouth University | October 18–21, 2014 | 423 | ± 4.8% | 58% | 37% | 3% | 2% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 15–21, 2014 | 964 | ± 3.2% | 55% | 37% | 2% | 5% |
| Suffolk University | October 11–14, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 54% | 37% | 3% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 8–13, 2014 | 967 | ± 3.2% | 54% | 39% | 1% | 6% |
| The Iowa Poll | October 3–8, 2014 | 1,000 | ± 3.1% | 54% | 39% | — | 4% |
| Magellan | October 3, 2014 | 1,299 | ± 2.8% | 55% | 39% | — | 7% |
| NBC News/Marist | September 27–October 1, 2014 | 778 LV | ± 3.5% | 58% | 36% | 1% | 5% |
| NBC News/Marist | September 27–October 1, 2014 | 1,093 RV | ± 3% | 58% | 35% | 1% | 6% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 2,359 | ± 2% | 52% | 39% | 0% | 9% |
| Gravis Marketing | September 29–30, 2014 | 522 | ± 4% | 51% | 43% | — | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 25–28, 2014 | 1,192 | ± 2.8% | 50% | 36% | 4% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 25–28, 2014 | 1,192 | ± 2.8% | 52% | 38% | — | 10% |
| Iowa Poll | September 21–24, 2014 | 546 | ± 4.2% | 48% | 34% | 6% | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 17–18, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 46% | 40% | 3% | 10% |
| FOX News | September 14–16, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 50% | 37% | 4% | 8% |
| Quinnipiac | September 10–15, 2014 | 1,167 | ± 2.9% | 60% | 37% | 1% | 3% |
| Loras College | September 2–5, 2014 | 1,200 | ± 2.82% | 56% | 34% | — | 11% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | August 18–September 2, 2014 | 1,764 | ± 3% | 51% | 38% | 1% | 10% |
| Suffolk | August 23–26, 2014 | 500 | ± 4% | 47% | 35% | 2% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 22–24, 2014 | 915 | ± 3.2% | 48% | 35% | 5% | 12% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 22–24, 2014 | 915 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 37% | — | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 11–12, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 52% | 35% | 6% | 7% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | July 5–24, 2014 | 2,044 | ± 2.7% | 51% | 40% | 1% | 8% |
| Gravis Marketing | July 17–18, 2014 | 1,179 | ± 3% | 50% | 42% | — | 9% |
| NBC News/Marist | July 7–13, 2014 | 1,599 | ± 2.5% | 53% | 38% | 1% | 9% |
| Quinnipiac | June 12–16, 2014 | 1,277 | ± 2.7% | 47% | 38% | 1% | 14% |
| Vox Populi Polling | June 4–5, 2014 | 665 | ± 3.8% | 51% | 40% | — | 9% |
| Loras College | June 4–5, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 52% | 38% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 4–5, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 49% | 40% | 2% | 8% |
| Global Strategy Group | May 13–15, 2014 | 602 | ± 4% | 47% | 40% | — | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 15–19, 2014 | 914 | ± 3.3% | 48% | 40% | — | 12% |
| Victory Enterprises | April 30–May 1, 2014 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 48% | 33% | — | 20% |
| Hickman Analytics | April 24–30 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 40% | — | 10% |
| Vox Populi Polling | April 22–24, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 43% | — | 12% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 19–20, 2014 | 677 | ± 3.8% | 43% | 38% | — | 19% |
| Suffolk University | April 3–8, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 42% | 32% | 2% | 24% |
| Quinnipiac | March 5–10, 2014 | 1,411 | ± 2.6% | 46% | 35% | 1% | 17% |
| Selzer & Co. | February 23–26, 2014 | 703 | ± 3.7% | 44% | 29% | — | 27% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 20–23, 2014 | 869 | ± 3.3% | 48% | 36% | — | 15% |
| Quinnipiac | December 10–15, 2013 | 1,617 | ± 2.4% | 49% | 33% | 1% | 17% |
| Selzer & Co. | December 8–11, 2013 | 325 | ± ?% | 52% | 29% | 8% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 47% | 35% | — | 18% |
| Selzer & Co. | June 2–5, 2013 | 591 | ± 4% | 55% | 27% | 9% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 48% | 33% | — | 19% |
} With Branstad
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Bruce Braley (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 47% | 41% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 3–6, 2012 | 1,181 | ± 2.85% | 44% | 40% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Chet Culver (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 47% | 42% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 50% | 40% | — | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 3–6, 2012 | 1,181 | ± 2.85% | 44% | 42% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Michael Gronstal (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 50% | 36% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Bob Krause (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | December 10–15, 2013 | 1,617 | ± 2.4% | 49% | 31% | 1% | 19% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Dave Loebsack (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 48% | 38% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Tyler Olson (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | December 10–15, 2013 | 1,617 | ± 2.4% | 50% | 32% | 1% | 17% |
| Selzer & Co. | December 8–11, 2013 | 325 | ± ?% | 51% | 28% | 8% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 47% | 33% | — | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 47% | 31% | — | 22% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Terry Branstad (R) | Tom Vilsack (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 1–3, 2013 | 846 | ± % | 47% | 46% | — | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 3–6, 2012 | 1,181 | ± 2.85% | 43% | 46% | — | 11% |
With Hoefling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Hoefling (R) | Jack Hatch (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 15–19, 2014 | 914 | ± 3.3% | 30% | 37% | — | 33% |
| Suffolk University | April 3–8, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 23% | 35% | 3% | 39% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 20–23, 2014 | 869 | ± 3.3% | 30% | 34% | — | 36% |
With Reynolds
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kim Reynolds (R) | Chet Culver (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 38% | 42% | — | 20% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kim Reynolds (R) | Michael Gronstal (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 37% | 37% | — | 26% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kim Reynolds (R) | Jack Hatch (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 36% | 33% | — | 30% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kim Reynolds (R) | Tyler Olson (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–7, 2013 | 668 | ± 3.8% | 36% | 32% | — | 32% |

### Results

2014 Iowa gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Terry Branstad (incumbent) / Kim Reynolds (incumbent) | 666,032 | 58.99% | +6.18% |
| | Democratic | Jack Hatch / Monica Vernon | 420,787 | 37.27% | −5.94% |
| | Libertarian | Lee Deakins Hieb / Tim Watson | 20,321 | 1.80% | +0.52% |
| | Independent | Jim Hennager / Mary Margaret Krieg | 10,582 | 0.94% | N/A |
| | Iowa | Jonathan R. Narcisse / Michael L. Richards | 10,240 | 0.91% | −0.95% |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 1,095 | 0.09% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,129,057 | 100.00% | n/a |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Black Hawk (largest city: Waterloo)
* Des Moines (largest city: Burlington)
* Dubuque (largest city: Dubuque)
* Floyd (largest city: Charles City)
* Jefferson (largest city: Fairfield)
* Lee (largest city: Fort Madison)
* Linn (Largest city: Cedar Rapids)
* Story (Largest city: Ames)

#### By congressional district

Branstad won all four congressional districts, including one held by a Democrat.
| District | Branstad | Hatch | Representative |
| 1st | 55.95% | 40.98% | Rod Blum |
| 2nd | 56.66% | 39.85% | Dave Loebsack |
| 3rd | 56.55% | 38.79% | David Young |
| 4th | 67.25% | 29.39% | Steve King |