2023 Local Election Recap

The 2023 City-School Elections have concluded across the state of Iowa and within The Partnership's 11-county region. These elections encompassed a variety of positions and decisions, including city positions, school board members, community college positions and county public measures.

As an organization, The Partnership remains committed to elevating civility and bipartisanship in elections. While often framed with a partisan stance on issues, local offices in Iowa remain nonpartisan. Candidates are elected without a political party next to their name, encouraging voters to seek out information on current issues and to substantively engage with campaign platforms to find common-ground solutions.

Notably, The Partnership celebrates the result of Polk County voters’ overwhelming support to authorize up to $350 million in bonds for the Des Moines International Airport Terminal Project with a vote margin of 80% to 20%. Read what this support will mean for the project.

Statewide, a total of 366,488 ballots were cast out of the 2,197,105 registered voters, resulting in a voter turnout of 16.68%.

2023 Election Results

To access the election results* for each county in The Partnership's 11-county region, click on the respective links below:

• Adair County (12.82% voter turnout)
• Dallas County (20.86% voter turnout)
• Guthrie County (15.74% voter turnout)
• Jasper County (22.39% voter turnout)
• Madison County (21.78% voter turnout)
• Mahaska County (13.98% voter turnout)
• Marion County (28.18% voter turnout)
• Marshall County (13.62% voter turnout)
• Polk County (24.20% voter turnout)
• Poweshiek County (24.63% voter turnout)
• Warren County (16.44% voter turnout)

*Election results are unofficial until results are certified. Some communities may hold runoff elections in the coming weeks. Click here statewide results and additional information.

These elections provided an opportunity for voters to actively participate in shaping their local communities and region.

The Partnership's Public Policy team engages with local, state and federal officials to create public policy that generates economic growth, business prosperity and talent development in Greater Des Moines (DSM). The Partnership is a nonpartisan organization.

Greater Des Moines (DSM) has one of the best business climates in the country. The region is nationally recognized for having a talented and educated workforce, a cost of doing business 13% below the national average, a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life. In 2022, Site Selection Magazine named it a top metro for a number of economic development projects.