Just over half of Iowa’s two-million registered voters cast a ballot in the mid-term election. Michael Mauro, Iowa’S Secretary of State and commissioner of elections, says an estimated 1.1 million voters participated in the election, slightly more than the last mid-term election in 2006.

The voter turnout of 52% includes a record 350,000 Iowans who voted early by casting absentee ballots. “When you take that number into consideration, you’d think the turnout would be bigger on election day,” Mauro said. “But, many people are getting comfortable voting early who normally would have voted on election day.”

Mauro was denied a second term in office. The Democrat from Des Moines narrowly lost to Republican Matt Schultz, a lawyer who currently serves on the Council Bluffs City Council. “I’m feeling disappointed, but life goes on,” Mauro told Radio Iowa. “I know I gave it my best shot.” Mauro and Governor Chet Culver were the other incumbents defeated in statewide races.

Mauro says he takes comfort in the fact that he knows he did a good job. “I just got caught in a dynamic that I couldn’t control,” Mauro said. “I’m certainly not blaming anybody and I congratulate my opponent.”