Democrats won local Iowa Legislature races.

Herman Quirmbach, Democrat, won the race for Iowa Senate, District 23, with 54 percent of the votes. Republican Barbara Finch received 43 percent of the votes and Libertarian Eric Cooper earned 3 percent.

According to Daily staff reports, Quirmbach would like to restore the work-study programs and will work to reduce tuition increases, but acknowledges that it cannot be eliminated.

He said hog lots contribute to the “serious threat to groundwater and drinking water supplies to the state.” He would like local boards of supervisors, instead of the state, to determine the placement of hog lots.

Democrat Jane Greimann won the Iowa House District 45 race with 60 percent of the votes. Her opponents, Republican Roman Lynch and Libertarian Phillip Burgmeier, earned 37 percent and three percent of the votes, respectively.

Greimann believes higher education should be available for low-income families. She is concerned with hog confinements contaminating the water supply and would like to simplify Iowa’s tax system, making it progressive, fairer and easier to understand.

Burgmeier said he didn’t think his chances of winning were good. He said this in part because he didn’t have the money to run a big campaign.

“The goal was just to get an improvement from last year,” Burgmeier said.

Lynch said he believes his campaign went well, but he could have done more to prepare for the forums.

“If I lose, I really win. If I win, I win,” Lynch said. “I won both ways. First of all, I learned a lot about the process.”

He said he’s met a lot of people and the experience has enhanced his life.

Democrat Lisa Heddens won the District 46 of the Iowa House race with 54 percent of the votes. Her opponent, Republican Steve Halloran, earned 46 percent.

Heddens said higher education is very important and that it should be “accessible and affordable to students.” She would like to increase financial aid and reinstate work-study program funding.

When dealing with environmental issues, she believes the biggest issue is livestock confinement. She said a lot of it should be under local control. She also believes smell is one of the big issues.

On taxes, she would like to decrease property taxes and would prefer not to see taxes increase.