Iowa Democrat Wins 4,602 Votes After Dropping Out
Eric Armstrong defeated Republican Keith Jones in an Iowa state House race despite announcing his withdrawal from the campaign on September 7.
By Samir Patterson ·
Voters in an Iowa state House district elected a candidate who had formally withdrawn from the race nearly two months before the vote. Eric Armstrong, a Democrat, secured 4,602 votes in unofficial results to beat Republican Keith Jones, who received 3,737 votes. Armstrong’s name remained on the ballot even after he announced his departure due to health concerns.
Armstrong posted the news of his withdrawal on Facebook on September 7. He wrote that running a campaign required immense physical and mental energy, but personal health issues required his immediate care. "Because I must prioritize my health and recovery at this time, I am stepping down from my campaign, effective immediately," he stated. He added that the district deserved a representative capable of giving full energy to the race.
Jones, a member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, questioned the circumstances surrounding the election. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday, Jones said, "I think we deserve to know more." He noted that serious rumors circulated that Armstrong was hiding a background that could have disqualified him from office. Jones, who served as a police officer for 29 years, argued that the media needs to investigate whether donors and voters were misled by a falsehood.
Jones raised further questions in a subsequent statement. He asked why Armstrong reentered the race if he was truly sick and whether the candidate is healthy enough to hold office. "Did he lie about being sick to cover a damaging personal story?" Jones asked. He emphasized that public trust is important at that level and questioned if Armstrong is qualified for public office.
Armstrong addressed his condition during a phone interview with The New York Times on Wednesday. "I'm going to do my best to represent the district," he said. He acknowledged that he still struggles with health issues. Armstrong did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Thursday.
The state House seat is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. Turek defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in the Iowa U.S. Senate race earlier this week.
