Both the ISU Democrats and Republicans are looking toward November after Tuesday night’s primaries.

Former Governor Terry Branstad beat out Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats with 51 percent of the total vote, according to statistics from the Des Moines Register.

Logan Pals, senior in industrial engineering and ISU Republican, said Branstad winning was a good thing for Republicans because you can go back and look at his records instead of having to question his voting record.

Pals said that the first time Branstad took office was during a time of an agricultural downturn, so Branstad can use his knowledge to help the economy recover.

Jeremy Freeman, freshman in animal ecology, said Branstad has a good chance of being elected, as long as he chooses a strong conservative to run with as lieutenant governor.

“He’ll drag Culver’s butt to the curb,” Freeman said.

Adam Kenworthy, senior in English and ISU Democrat, said he believes Chet Culver will do better than most people think when it comes time to go to the polls.

Kenworthy said Culver has many supporters and believes that because the Republican primary was so close, the party may be divided enough to help the Democrats out.

Michael Fox, senior in journalism and mass communication and ISU Democrat, said Culver is going to have to run a pretty good campaign to win the election.

“It’s going to be close, but he has a shot,” Fox said.

Kenworthy attended Roxanne Conlin‘s primary after-party Tuesday, and he said he thinks she has a good chance to beat Charles Grassley.

“The latest KCCI pole has her behind by eight percent,” Kenworthy said, adding that her ratings keep improving.

Fox said Conlin ran against two quality opponents, and she came away with a solid portion of votes.

“In Story County, she came away with about 80 percent of the votes. It gave her good momentum going into November,” Fox said.

Fox said if a Democrat were to replace Grassley, right now is the time for that to happen.

Kenworthy said he believes the incumbent Secretary of State Michael Mauro and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald are safe in their positions.

However, both Republicans were hopeful that this November will bring about change.

Freeman said he thinks Matt Schultz is a good candidate for secretary of state, with goals such as having to show IDs before voting.

Pals said he has met Dave Jamison, who will be running for treasurer, and thinks Jamison has put together a strong campaign.

“I think it’s a great year to be a republican, and it’s time for new officials to be elected,” Pals said.