Des Moines' Ward 2 City Council race will move to a runoff election
Austin CannonDes Moines’ Ward 2 race will move to a runoff election after none of the candidates secured more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s unofficial results.
Incumbent Linda Westergaard, who represents the northeast quadrant of the city, secured 48.6% of the vote, while challenger Skip Moore earned 38.4%. A third candidate, Jerry Davis, received 12.5%.
City code stipulates that the two candidates who received the most votes will move on to a runoff election four weeks after the general election. Along with the mayoral and at-large city council candidates, Moore and Westergaard will be on the ballot Dec. 3.
In Ward 4, the southeast quarter of the city that includes sections of both Polk and Warren counties, incumbent Joe Gatto will keep his seat after securing 55.1% of the vote, according to the unofficial results.
More:
- Election results from Polk, Dallas counties
- Des Moines mayor, two council races headed to runoff election
Challengers Chelsea Chism-Vargas and ToyA Johnson earned 39.1% and 5.3%, respectively.
Des Moines City Council members are elected to four-year terms. They earn $28,880 per year in salary, plus benefits.
Results are unofficial until they are certified by the county boards of supervisors.
Austin Cannon covers the city of Des Moines for the Register. Reach him at awcannon@registermedia.com or 515-284-8398. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.