Democrat Eric Armstrong won an Iowa state House race despite withdrawing from the campaign because of health problems.
Armstrong announced his decision in a Facebook post on Sept. 7, saying the campaign had demanded significant physical and mental energy and that he needed to focus on his health and recovery. He added that he hoped to continue serving the community in other ways.
His name remained on the ballot. Unofficial results show Armstrong received 4,602 votes, compared with 3,737 for Republican Keith Jones, a member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.
In a Wednesday phone interview, Armstrong said he would do his best to represent the district, though he was still dealing with health issues.
Jones questioned whether Armstrong was well enough for the demands of the job, which he described as exhausting and involving 14-hour days away from home. He also said voters deserved more information about Armstrong’s condition and whether he was committed to representing the district.
The seat is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, who won Iowa’s U.S. Senate race against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.
