Dubuque city leaders have discussed whether to eliminate the city’s primary election and replace it with a runoff format.
This week at the city council meeting, City Clerk Adrienne Breitfelder reported primary elections cost the city more than city-school elections because the November election cost is split between the city and the Dubuque Community School District.
The November 2025 election cost the city just over $18-thousand dollars and drew a 42 percent turnout while the Dubuque city primary cost the city nearly $40-thousand dollars and drew a 13 percent turnout.
Mayor Brad Cavanagh said those figures prompt a call for a closer look at how the city runs its elections.