Largely overlooked in the spate of reports on the recent election was the defeat in a retention election of David Baker, Michael Streit, and Marsha Ternus, three Justices on the Iowa Supreme Court.  They had previously joined the majority in ruling that Iowa’s ban on same sex-marriage violated the state’s equal protection guarantees.  As a result of that ruling, Iowa became the only state in the Midwest to allow same-sex marriage.  This was important not only for gay and lesbian couples in Iowa but also in nearby states.  A majority of same-sex marriages in Iowa during the past year involved couples from Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

One key to the election results was the money that was spent in Iowa by national groups opposed to same-sex marriage, and Iowa opponents of same-sex marriage welcomed the spending and surely delighted in the Iowa returns.  Bob Vander Plaats, a leader of pro-removal campaign said, “It’s the people rising up, and having a voice for freedom, and holding an out-of-control court in check.”