Center Point Republican supports Trump because 'he's not afraid to speak his mind'

Trenton Hast, 29, of Center Point said despite growing up with family members who usually voted Democrat, he has always voted Republican. 

Tuesday was his third time voting for Donald Trump in a presidential election, having supported the candidate in 2016 and 2020 as well. 

Hast said his vote is inspired by his Christian beliefs. 

"Trump is a man of God," Hast said. "He's not afraid to speak his mind."

Center Point Democrat votes for women's rights

Mark Thompson, 65, came out to vote Tuesday with the intent to support women's rights. 

The Center Point resident voted for Kamala Harris in the presidential election, and he voted against the retention of David May, a supreme court justice who was part of the majority decision earlier this year to allow an abortion-limiting bill to go into effect. 

Thompson said he's an independent voter and has voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past, but this year he voted mostly Democratic because of his concerns about women's rights.

Voters in Center Point, Iowa came to the polls Tuesday to make their thoughts known on a proposed $20.6 million school bond for the local school district. 

Brenda Wyse, 53, of Center Point, said the bond was one of the main things that drove her to the polls, along with the presidential race.

She declined to share how she voted, but said some of her main concerns when looking at candidates were building the economy and measures that support strong families. 

'We got practice off'

For 20-year-old University of Iowa sophomore Rose Cassioppi -- who came to Iowa last year from Roscoe, Ill. as a member of the inaugrual Hawkeye women's wrestling team -- Tuesday was not just about who she was voting for, but that she was voting.

"Our coach said this was important and we should all vote," Cassioppi said. "So we got practice off, and he was telling us how we didn't get to vote for so long as women, so now that we can, we should go do it."

As to who Cassioppi would be voting for in her first presidential election, she said with a smile, "We'll see."

_{University of Iowa sophomore Rose Cassioppi, 20, of Roscoe, Ill. (Hugo Hughes, for The Gazette)}

Iowa City Republican cites immigration, border security as top concerns

Iowa City resident Barbara Kamber said immigration, border security and abortion restrictions were key issues she considered when casting a ballot Tuesday morning for Republican Donald Trump and Iowa GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

"I want to live in a secure country," Kamber, a registered Republican, said.

She faulted Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration for ending immigration policies started under then-President Trump’s administration, such as a requirement that some asylum-seekers to be sent back to Mexico during preliminary immigration proceedings and halting construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Kamber called Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee running against Trump in Tuesday's election, an "unknown," despite serving as vice president alongside Biden for the last nearly four years. Before that, Harris served in the U.S. Senate and unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. 

"Trump was president for four years, and I know what he's going to do," Kamber said. "I don't know what (Harris) has done for the last three years. She's doing nothing. (Trump) started the (border) wall and he's going to finish it and eliminate sanctuary cities like Iowa City."

She said she voted for Miller-Meeks over the two-term incumbent's position on abortion.

Miller-Meeks’ supported federal legislation that states life begins at fertilization and would criminalize abortion, but would not allow the woman having the procedure to be prosecuted. It has no exceptions for rape, incest or the woman’s life, and does not spell out protections for fertility treatments. Miller-Meeks cosponsored the bill in the 2021-2022 Congress, but not in the current Congress.

During a televised debate with Democratic challenger Christina Bohanna hosted by Iowa PBS, Miller-Meeks said she is “pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.” She previously told The Gazette she believes a consensus could be built around a federal law that would ban abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. But during the debate, she said she does not “see federal legislation coming down the road any time soon.”

Down to the wire decision

When Samuel Holub, 18, rolled up to Petersen Residence Hall on the University of Iowa campus wanting to vote Tuesday morning, he wasn't yet registered. But a woman standing outside with voter information gave him instructions.

"I will be registered," Holub said. "I was going to vote with my mom, but that didn't happen."

The UI freshman from Cedar Rapids said he's been following the candidates and issues and is excited to participate in what he views as a significant election. But -- just minutes before casting his ballot -- Holub said he hadn't yet decided on who would get his support. 

"I'll be making that decision on the ballot," he said -- citing some of the issues that might sway him. 

"I really do not like the Israel-Palestine conflict," he said. "I'm very, very against that. I'm very pro-labor laws, so I'd say I lean with Kamala in that sense. But I don't like some of the other things that she agrees with, at least on social issues...

"I'm in a spot where I don't like any of the candidates." 

_{University of Iowa freshman Samuel Holub, 18, of Cedar Rapids (Hugo Hughes, for The Gazette)}

Hiawatha voter looks for candidate who will bring the country together

This election, 64-year-old Monthe Brown, of Hiawatha, looked for a candidate who would unify the country. Additionally, Brown cited women's rights and the economy as key issues that influenced her vote. 

Brown, who is retired, voted for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Hiawatha Community Center on Tuesday.

"She vows to bring the country together," Brown said. "There's been so much separation and I don't like the ugliness."

Former President Donald Trump was convicted in New York earlier this year of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Brown said she was troubled by this.

"Why is that felons can't vote, but felons can run? That's my issue," Brown said. "Where's the accountability? That's showing there's a very staunch difference in the way things are run in this country and that's not fair."

Iowa City Democrat votes blue due to concerns about Trump's 'draconian' policies and self-control

Forty-two-year-old Iowa City resident Clare Rose is a lifelong Democrat who supported the party's candidates up and down the ballot. She voted Tuesday morning at the Iowa City Community School District’s offices in Iowa City.

Rose said she voted for Vice President Kamala Harris out of concerns about Donald Trump's views on abortion rights, conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the former president's impulsive tendencies and perceived lack of self-control.

"I don't know that there's much that doesn't concern me (about Trump)," Rose said. "Honestly, I think his policies are pretty draconian and awful. I think he himself doesn't have enough self-control to actually do things in a way that would actually make the world not actively worse. And then I think he's surrounding himself with people that are just going to encourage that kind of behavior. So I'm just very, very, very concerned with what would happen to the country if he were to be elected."

Rose said she would have voted for Democratic President Joe Biden "with enthusiasm," had he not bowed out of the race, but said Harris brings more enthusiasm and a broader coalition of voters into the party.

She said she's drawn to Harris' positive closing message, vowing to be a president for all Americans by inviting those who disagree with her to the table and calling on voters to "turn the page on a decade of politics driven by fear and division." Harris in closing days has also highlighted a series of economic and health-care proposals designed to appeal to Democrats and independent voters and focus on how she would govern compared with Trump.

"I mean, it's a good message, and I think it probably strikes home for people," Rose said.

While she doesn't believe the president has substantial control over guiding the U.S. economy, "I do have more faith in (Harris') ability to handle things that come along and to make the changes that she would need to help the people who need help, as opposed to a Donald Trump presidency where I don't have any faith at all that he would do anything to help anybody."

She added as a mother with children she believes Iowa has gone too far in restricting abortion and women's freedom to make their own health care decisions.

"It really freaks me out," Rose said.

'Go vote, please'

All morning, University of Iowa freshman Sophia Vernon, 18, of Ames, was texting with friends about the first election in which they can participate. 

"One of my friends -- I'm about to meet her actually, to go vote together -- she's really excited," Vernon said. "She's been texting all of her friends, being like, 'Go vote, please,' and posting all over. We're both really excited."  

Vernon said she's a Kamala Harris backer.

"She supports everybody that I support and all of the issues that I support," Vernon said. "And Donald Trump is crazy."

Vernon said she also planned to vote for Christina Bohannan for Iowa's 1st Congressional District and for the Johnson County Conservation ballot initiative -- but was most interested in the presidential race, including recent polling showing Harris gains in Iowa.

"That gives me hope," she said.

_{University of Iowa freshman Sophia Vernon, 18, of Ames (Hugo Hughes, for The Gazette)}

19-year-old Hiawatha resident voted 'faith first'

Trevor Scott is a 19-year-old Kirkwood student from Hiawatha who told The Gazette he voted with his Catholic values. 

"Today, I didn't bring a specific party. I just tried to bring my faith to the polls."

Scott said that he felt like Vice President Kamala Harris didn't align with his views on abortion.

Scott voted for former President Donald Trump at the Hiawatha Community Center Tuesday morning. "I don't believe in everything he stands for, but I like his policies and I like how he led the country through 2016 and 2020." Scott said. "I think we need that strength back in the [Oval] Office."

Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May is the sole Iowa Supreme Court justice up for retention in the 2024 election. Justice May was a part of the 4-3 majority that allowed the state's 6-week abortion ban to take effect. Scott cited his personal abortion views as the reason why he voted to retain Justice May.

Hiawatha voter: 'This is the most important vote of my lifetime'

71-year-old Brenda Denkeli, of Hiawatha, is a lifelong Democrat and voted for Vice President Kamala Harris. She said this was the most important vote of her lifetime and said it meant "everything" to be able to vote for a woman for President of the United States.

The Gazette spoke with Denkeli, who is retired, after she voted at the Hiawatha Community Center Tuesday morning.

"I am voting to restore abortion rights, to eventually dump Trump in the trash where he belongs, and to get a woman president for the first time in my lifetime," Denkeli said. 

She believes that former President Donald Trump has proven himself to be "a thief and a con man".

Abortion was a key issue for Denkeli. She believes that abortion is a woman's decision and that nobody else should have a say. 

"That's something that they have discussed...sometimes they've talked to their doctors and other people who are dear friends of theirs." Denkeli said. "And they have to be able to make a choice that's good for what they stand for and what type of life they want to live."

Iowa City voter backs Bohannan in an effort to give Harris administration 'the most supportive situation'

Damien Ihrig, a curator at the University of Iowa’s Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, said he was motivated to vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Christina Bohannan, the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, citing their commitment to women's healthcare and abortion rights.

Ihrig, 52, voted Tuesday morning at the Iowa City Community School District’s offices in Iowa City.

"(Harris) seems to support women's health care and the right of abortion and things like that. So that's just something that is very important to me," Ihrig said.

He also expressed fear over Republican former President Donald Trump's perceived autocratic tendencies and economic policies.

"Even if you just remove sort of the bizarre nature of some of his behaviors and comments and things like that, when he speaks of anything of substance, these are things that just are about power and money and really just establishing his own power and money," Ihrig said. "And so that's not really someone I want leading our federal government, especially since we have so much evidence from his previous presidency of the kinds of things that he's interested in -- stripping away power from the federal government to protect its citizens."

He also highlighted the disparate views between Trump and Harris on how to grow the economy and tax liability for individuals and corporations "and how are they held accountable for paying what their fair share when it comes to taxes and things like that to support the to support the services that we all use."

Ihrig said he backed Bohannan in the hopes of flipping control of Congress and creating "the most supportive situation for Kamala Harris going into her presidency."

"And, you know, having a Congress that can support her would definitely be an advantage," Ihrig said.

Breakfast decision

It wasn't until breakfast this morning with his buddies that University of Iowa freshman Will Errington, 18, decided how he would vote in his first-ever election.

"I will be voting for Donald Trump," Errington, of Mount Vernon, told The Gazette before entering the polling place in Petersen Residence Hall on the UI campus just before 11 a.m.

"I voted for Donald Trump as well," his friend and fellow UI freshman Tyler Stout, 18, of Altoona, said -- having voted weeks ago back home.  

_{University of Iowa freshman Tyler Stout, 18, of Altoona (Hugo Hughes, for The Gazette)}

Although Stout said he's known which candidate would get his support for a while, Errington remained among the coveted undecideds until just hours before voting.

"During breakfast when we all talked," Errington said with a laugh to the question of when he decided. 

Now on the same candidate page, Errington and Stout said they planned to stay up late Tuesday for updates on the historic election -- in which they're finally getting to participate.

"I'm gonna be watching the results all night," Stout said.

_{University of Iowa freshman Will Errington, 18, of Mount Vernon (Hugo Hughes, for The Gazette)}

Hiawatha voter looked for candidates who will defend human rights

24-year-old Kyra Hill, of Hiawatha, said that campaign text messages were effective—but not in the way one might expect.

"At the end of the day, I care about who is going to defend me and my rights as a citizen, not who's going to flash their image everywhere and be more concerned about making money," Hill said. "I will say one thing that's influenced me is the amount of texts I got to donate money before the ballot [was] up for the Republican party and that tells me what they're concerned about." 

Hill voted for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Hiawatha Community Center Tuesday morning.

"Our basic human rights are on the ballot this year. We've seen legal precedents that have stood for years overturned in the blink of an eye and I'm not about to stand by and watch more things get taken away from me," Hill said. "I mean, I believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that should not change just because I don't believe in someone else's religion."

Bohannan casts her ballot in Iowa City

 

 

Democratic nominee for Iowa's 1st congressional district Christina Bohannan fills out her ballot at the Iowa City Community School District’s offices in Iowa City on Tuesday (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Christina Bohannan, the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, cast her ballot this morning at the Iowa City Community School District’s offices in Iowa City.

Bohannan expressed optimism about the momentum and energy of her campaign, and said voters are seeking a candidate who can cross party lines, protect women’s reproductive freedom, reduce costs for working families and stand up to special interests.

Bohannan is running in a rematch against Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The Southeast Iowa U.S. House seat is among a handful of tightly contested races across the country (along with Central Iowa's 3rd Congressional District) that Democrats hope to flip and Republicans hope to secure in their fight to retain their slim 4-seat majority.

Democrat @BohannanIowa expressed optimism about the momentum & energy of her campaign after voting in Iowa City; said voters are seeking a candidate who can cross party lines, protect women’s reproductive freedom, reduce costs for working families & stand up to special interests. pic.twitter.com/elUZy03Iyk

— Tom Barton (@tjbarton83) November 5, 2024

When will the Election Day rain stop? 

In January, when Iowans gathered for the caucuses, weather was one of the big stories. Areas of Eastern Iowa had seen seven to 15 inches of snow in the days before the caucuses, and blizzard conditions were forecast with a low reaching minus 40 degrees.

So how's Election Day looking? Wet. According to the National Weather Service, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Cedar Rapids had recorded nearly a quarter of an inch of rain. But the temperature is hanging in the low 60s, so it's not intolerable to be outside, as long as you're under a cover. 

The National Weather Service reports rain in Cedar Rapids is supposed to end around 4 p.m. today., and the temperature will fall to 55 degrees by 5.

If you're headed out to vote today, don't forget your umbrella.

Cedar Rapids couple votes blue, saying the country 'needs a change'

Angie and Scott Donels of Cedar Rapids, voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Tuesday at the Ladd Library. 

"We need a change," said Angie Donels, 50. "We need to protect the rights of women for our daughters and our future granddaughters." 

Both Donels said they won't go back to the "hatred" they have witnessed in prior elections. 

"We don't like the way Trump might be leading us down this road with the way he speaks about the future," Scott Donels, 61, said. "It just seems like it's going to be scary." 

Both Scott and Angie Donels voted for Trump the first time, but said they "learned their lesson" since. 

"He's all show," Angie Donels said.

"Trump is all about himself, not for the people," Scott Donels agreed. 

Voting kicks off in tiny Conroy in Iowa County

Nick Rohlman, one of The Gazette's photojournalists, was up early this morning so he could be in Conroy -- an unincorporated town in Iowa County -- when polls opened at 7 a.m. Check out his photos of voting at Hilton Township Hall.

Poll worker Jon Harvey places a sign offering curbside voting assistance on the sidewalk as polls open outside of Hilton Township Hall in Conroy, Iowa on Tuesday. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Rain not affecting turnout in Hiawatha

Lois Kabela-Coates, election chairperson at Hiawath's precincts 2 and 3, which are voting at the Hiawatha Community Center, said that they've had 375 voters as of 10:10 a.m. She said they were very busy when the polls opened this morning and since then, there's been a steady stream of people coming in. It's a wet day in Hiawatha but that hasn't affected turnout.

Cedar Rapids Democrat supports Harris because 'everything [Trump] says is a lie'

Doug Ogle, a 53-year-old Cedar Rapids resident, said he is a Democrat "across the board." 

Ogle, who voted at the Ladd Library in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday morning, said he was not only casting his vote for current Vice President Kamala Harris but also against former President Donald Trump. 

"Everything [Trump] says is a lie. ... I don't believe in anything he says or anything he does, but I do believe in what the Democrats want to do," Ogle said. "He wants to take us back 20 years, take away women's rights and put in tariffs. It's very simple." 

Ogle consistently votes blue but said Trump has made it easier to vote for Democrats. He added that he also voted blue for all Congressional races. 

"We need to keep investing in our country," Ogle said, citing tax and water quality issues as examples. 

Ogle said Harris's age and experience working in "the different levels of government" are pluses. 

With immigration and issues around border control, Ogle said he is hopeful that Harris and other Democrats will start to do better. 

"They've started to turn the corner on that," Ogle said. "But that is still important to work out." 

Updated my absentee ballot tables with this morning's numbers.#IA01 has most early votes cast by far.
Ds have banked about 11K more votes than Rs in #IA01, about 4K more in #IA02, 7K more in #IA03.
Rs have cast >30K more ballots in #IA04. https://t.co/EnyBtBp3o4

— Bleeding Heartland (@LauraRBelin) November 5, 2024

Voters need to bring a valid photo ID to the polls and proof of residence if their current address does not appear on their photo ID. The ID must include an expiration date. pic.twitter.com/gfno2sKiVc

— Zachary Oren Smith (@ZacharyOS) November 5, 2024

It's General Election day and polls are officially OPEN! Iowans have until 8:00 pm to be in line at the polls to cast their vote. If you are in line by 8:00 pm, stay in line, you will be able to fill out and submit a ballot. Make your voice heard today, Iowans. pic.twitter.com/QsK0NYH5WY

— Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (@IowaSOS) November 5, 2024

Iowa: polls are open! Time to head out and make your voice heard today! #BeAVoter and learn more at https://t.co/jxBlwEjO3t. pic.twitter.com/rzvWV03n7o

— Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (@IowaSOS) November 5, 2024

Elections forecaster changes 1st Congressional District prediction

Some news to share as Election Day gets rolling. Last night, the national elections forecaster Sabato's Crystal Ball shifted Iowa's 1st Congressional District to "leans Democratic." 

Longtime Republican cites immigration, inflation as issues that inspired his vote

Jim Stratton, a retired resident of Cedar Rapids, said that immigration and inflation are key issues he considered when casting his ballot. Voting at CR23 (Northwest Recreation Center) went smoothly for Stratton, "It couldn't get any easier." 

He told The Gazette he has been a Republican all his life and will stay that way.

"Donald Trump's been misrepresented, and I think he should be President."

Cedar Rapids' voter backs Trump for a return to 'normalcy,' citing concerns on wars, inflation and immigration

Bil Hofmeister, an IT worker in Cedar Rapids, always votes on Election Day. "I laughed at somebody yesterday saying, 'Get there early!' like I've never stood in line for more than 10 minutes," Hofmeister said there was a line at CR23 (Northwest Recreation Center), but when he got inside, the process went quickly. 

Hofmeister said the Presidential race brought him out to vote but added, "We need the down ballots as well because they support the upper ballot." 

He said that immigration, inflation, and foreign wars were some of the issues that brought him out to vote for former President Donald Trump. Hofmeister has children in the military.

"I'm against all the wars. He ended all the wars, I mean he was pulling us out of wars, he didn't start any new wars." Hofmeister said. "I want somebody who is going to put us back to where we can be proud of our country... we can restore everybody else's view of us, and we can go back to actually doing what we always did before instead of all this trans stuff, all the wars, the bombing, the illegal immigration. I just want to get it back to whatever normalcy is. This doesn't feel like normalcy."

Cedar Rapids voters Mike and Tina Spading prioritize economy, fair taxes, and border control in election day votes

Walking into the Ladd Library early on Tuesday morning, Mike and Tina Spading of Cedar Rapids cast their votes with the economy in mind. 

Mike Spading, a 56-year-old Cedar Rapids resident, said the economy and strengthening the middle class were key factors in deciding who to vote for. 

"I want to see an equal tax across the board," Mike Spading said. "No matter what, if you fall into upper, middle, lower [class], it's 20 percent for everyone. If we keep doing it the way it is it's just going to allow the rich to get richer, make the middle class hurt and the poorer get obsolete." 

Aside from the economy and tax issues, Mike Spading said there was a lot that brought him out. Being a union member, he said he felt a responsibility to vote. 
 

Tina Spading, 58, said the economy is also at the top of her list, along with border control issues. 

"We need to help our own first," Tina Spading said. 

Line forms as people wait for polls to open at Cedar Rapids' Northwest Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids

Good morning from CR23, aka the Northwest Recreation Center. A short line of about 20 people is waiting to get in when polls open at 7 a.m.