Democrat Eric Armstrong has won his race for the Iowa State House of Representatives' 20th District, despite having withdrawn from the contest in September to address unspecified personal health issues. Armstrong, a retired railroad executive, was projected to defeat Republican Keith Jones by approximately nine percentage points, according to the Associated Press.
Armstrong announced his withdrawal on September 7th via a statement on his campaign's Facebook page. He cited the need to prioritize his health and recovery, stating, "Our District deserves a representative who can give 100 percent of their energy to this race. Right now, I must focus on healing so that I can continue to serve our community in other ways in the future."
Armstrong told The New York Times that he intends to do his best to represent his constituents, acknowledging, "I still have health issues, that’s what I’m struggling with."
If he takes his seat, Armstrong will succeed fellow Democrat Josh Turek, who won a US Senate seat. This victory occurred amidst a broader trend for Democrats in Iowa, who also secured three of the state's four US House seats and the governorship, marking their first gubernatorial win in 20 years. Despite these gains, Iowa Republicans retained their majorities in both the state House and state Senate, with a few races still undecided.