Last Tuesday’s primary races across the state marked the first stepping stone for political candidates vying for a seat in office.

One of these candidates hoping to make it through the primary process was Iowa State graduate and former Government of the Student Body President Dan Mangan.

Mangan lost a close battle with Glenda Bradshaw of Ames by only 45 votes. Bradshaw will face incumbent Democrat Bill Bernau of Ames for the House District 62 seat.

Mangan cited encouragement and support from top Republican leaders in the area as reasons he decided to run for the House seat. Mangan said his strategy for the campaign focused on a personal touch. He spent much of his campaign knocking on doors, making calls and sending out mailings to drum up support.

“I ran a good campaign,” Mangan said. “Of course there are always things that you can do better, but I didn’t miss anything critical. It just wasn’t in the cards this time.”

Does this mean a second campaign might be in the cards in the near future?

“I guess a lot of things would have to happen. I would have to have enough people tell me they want me to run again. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to just decide to run. I would need my supporters to come back out and say try again. It would also depend on who else was running.”

For the time being, however, Mangan said he has a great job and likes what he is doing. Mangan is employed with the Kiliper Corporation in Ames and heads a sales department within the company.

Mangan said he will stay active within the community and the Republican party.

“I love this town, I plan on staying here and I have nothing but positives to look forward to.”

In other primary races, U.S. Rep. Jim Ross Lightfoot won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate by defeating state Sen. Maggie Tinsman and state Rep. Steve Grubbs. The Lightfoot victory sets up a showdown between Lightfoot and the incumbent, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.

In the third congressional district, state Sen. Leonard Boswell defeated Ames native Charles Krogmeier for the Democratic nomination for the vacant U.S. House seat left by Lightfoot.

Boswell will face Mike Mahaffey of Montezuma in the Nov. 5 general election. Mahaffey won the Republican nomination for the third district seat in a three-way race with Dan Reed of Mount Pleasant and Rick Phillips of Searsboro.

In Story County, voters picked Democrat Jack Whitmer and Republican David Coe as the nominees for the vacant Board of Supervisors seat. The seat was left open by Democrat Larry Larson. Incumbent Democrat Judy Emmons and Republican John Anderson ran unopposed in the primary for the County Auditor position. Incumbent Democrat Paul Fitzgerald and Republican Gerry Bearden also ran unopposed for the County Sheriff spot of the ballot. All races will be decided in the general election on Nov. 5.