Phil Miller wins special election for Iowa House seat

On Tuesday, August 8 voters in Iowa House District 82 went to the polls. The district, which includes communities in Jefferson, Davis and Van Buren counties, elected Democrat Phil Miller to serve out the remaining term of the late Curt Hanson. Miller, a veterinarian and school board president from Fairfield, received 4,020 votes (53.8%). His closest opponent was Republican Travis Moulton who received 3,324 votes (44.4%). Also on the ballot were Libertarian Joshua Miller who received 71 votes and the Constitutional Party nominee Edward Hee III who received 58 votes. Both major parties fought hard for this seat as the voter registration totals of the district are fairly even. The result of the race does not change the balance of power in the Iowa House where the Republicans continue to hold a 59-41 seat advantage over Democrats.