Jon Jacobsen Wins GOP Nomination In Special Election

Jon Jacobsen, the GOP nominee for the special election for House in Pottawattamie County

TREYNOR-Jon Jacobsen of Treynor won the Republican nomination for the special election on June 27th in Pottawattamie County.  The special election is to replace former state Representative Greg Forristall, who passed away a few weeks ago.  A nominating convention was held on Tuesday in Treynor to select the Republican nominee.

Candidates included Jon Jacobsen, the Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at Security National Bank and talk radio host, and Carol Forristall, the widow of Representative Forristall and a retired teacher.  Jacobsen was chosen by the delegates with a vote of 77-22%.

Jacobsen is favored to win the special election, with May registration totals in HD 22 showing 10,428 Republicans 4,682 Democrats, 95 Libertarians, and 6,921 No Party voters, according to the Secretary of State’s website.  With a 3-2 Republican registration advantage, the Democrat Party has ignored this rural portion of Pottawattamie County in the past.  However, with a nine seat deficit in the House, Democrats are likely to do anything they can for a pick-up.  They nominated Ray Stevens at their convention this evening.

The Libertarian Party, now an official party in Iowa, is expected to nominate Bryan Jack Holder at their nominating convention on Wednesday in Council Bluffs.

MacKenzie Dreeszen is a legislative assistant in the Iowa House and a political consultant specializing in fundraising.