Republican Bill Gustoff narrowly beats Democrat Heather Sievers in Iowa House District 40

Republican state Rep. Bill Gustoff won reelection for Iowa House District 40 in Tuesday's voting, staving off a challenge from Democrat Heather Sievers by eyeing more tax cuts on the campaign trail.

With the Iowa Secretary of State's Office reporting the vote was full tallied, Gustoff had secured 51% to Sievers' 49%. Unrounded, the total margin was just less than 2 percentage points.

"I knew it would be a close race, but I felt momentum was going our way," Gustoff said late Tuesday, citing "all the doors that I knocked and all the people I talked to."

He attributed his electoral success to addressing economic issues that were top of mind for people at the doors.

"Putting food on the table, paying for gas in their tanks, and educating the children and just taking time to listen to people, I think makes a big difference," Gustoff said.

Gustoff, a 56-year-old attorney who lives in Des Moines, has served one term in the Iowa House. He previously was a lobbyist for Homeschool Iowa, a nonprofit that says it looks to "encourage Iowa homeschooling families and to promote and protect home education in our state."

He ran on further reducing Iowans' property tax burden and supports eventually eliminating the state individual income tax, playing to voters' concerns about the economy and inflation.

In candidate questionnaires submitted to the Des Moines Register, Gustoff said his top issue if reelected would be "keeping Iowa on track as a national leader for its economy and protection of individual liberties, as well as ensuring it remains the best state to run a business and raise a family."

On Wednesday morning, Sievers said she considered the margin of Gustoff’s victory too wide for a recount.

“Yesterday was hard on a lot of people, but we have to just keep moving forward,” Sievers said.

Sievers, a 39-year-old Altoona resident, said she would continue to show up at the Capitol to advocate for public education and reproductive freedom.

“I trust the path that comes in front of me,” Sievers said of her future plans. “I will do what I need to do to continue to advocate in my community.”

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Des Moines Register Statehouse reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this article

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican Bill Gustoff wins in race for Iowa House District 40