How Iowa City native Heather Hora won state's Republican primary for House District 92
It was fitting that Heather Hora was surrounded by loved ones when she learned she was selected as the Iowa House District 92 Republican nominee Tuesday night.
That at-home celebration mirrored her strategy on the campaign trail — being always accompanied by family.
District 92 covers all of Washington County and portions of southern and western Johnson County, including the cities of Lone Tree and Hills.
Republicans there chose to nominate Hora, a farmer and mother of three from Washington.
She defeated Jaron Rosien, also of Washington. The raw vote count came to 1,495 votes (64%) for Hora, and 840 votes (36%) for Rosien.
More: Heather Hora wins Iowa House District 92 Republican primary; Bopp drops out of Democratic race
Rosien said he called Hora on Tuesday night to congratulate her and to concede.
"I am disappointed, but I accept the results," said Rosien, the mayor of Washington. "I believe like so many that I'm a good fit for this district, and I respect that I'm not a good fit for where some in the Republican Party want to go. Congratulations to Heather. I wish her well."
'I'm just a girl that went to Highland High School': Hora's hometown connection
Hora, 52, and her husband Kurt live with their children, John, Elizabeth and Presley, on their fifth-generation family farm. Hora was born in Iowa City but grew up in Minneapolis, eventually coming back to Iowa to attend Highland Community School District.
Hora spent her time door-knocking with her husband and children and split the time evenly between Johnson and Washington counties, she said.
"We went to every town. We knocked the doors. We just did what we had to do," Hora said. "We just did it as fun and we really looked at it as an opportunity to spend time together to learn the process."
Hora said it means everything to her to be able to represent the community where she went to school and where her children now attend school.
"To think that I'm just a girl that went to Highland High School and graduated in a class of 51, and to take that and now I represent our district in the Statehouse, it's really amazing," she said. "It means a lot and this whole area means a lot to me."
Campaigning and door-knocking allowed Hora to share with voters the importance of where she grew up with her children, she said. Through bringing her children, she was able to tell stories of her life that connected with people.
"Sharing that with my family, there's no comparison," Hora said. "I would tell my kids stories and every little town that we were in, Ainsworth and Crawfordsville, and it's just such a big part of my growing up. And now I get to represent that for the children that are there now."
More: Republican farmer Heather Hora enters House District 92 race in Johnson and Washington counties
'It was a great surprise': Hora reacts to overwhelming results
"It was a great surprise and it really, it makes me go into the general election feeling pretty confident," Hora said of her margin of victory.
She was happy that so many people exercised their right to vote Tuesday.
"The more people we can get interested in the process and engaged, I just think is better," she said.
Hora said Rosien ran a great race and she was glad his supporters also engaged in the voting process.
"Even if they voted for my opponent, at least they came out and voted," she said.
'They trust that I am honest': Hora will focus on improving education
Hora said her focus will continue to be on education, mental health and agriculture in Iowa.
"I am a pro-family, pro-parent, pro-taxpayer candidate, and I think that's just going to resonate," she said.
Hora said she understands what improvements need to happen in schools because of her children.
Bringing her children on the campaign trail may have helped her guarantee to voters that she understood education problems, she said.
"When we would knock doors, they get to meet my children and talk to my children, and I think they trust that I am honest with what I would do," Hora said.
Hora no longer has a Democratic opponent in November's general election. She was set to face Ty Bopp, but according to the Southeast Iowa Union, Bopp dropped out of the race in April. Bopp still appeared on Tuesday's ballot after submitting the necessary paperwork and signatures.
Nevertheless, Hora said she's excited to get back out in the district and talk to people about issues they see.
"We will knock the doors and talk to the people and figure out what the constituents in District 92 want or believe, and go with that," she said.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Heather Hora credits family-first campaign for House District 92 win
