DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) 鈥� Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from of the chamber.
Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming margin to win a seat representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs. The seat became vacant after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.
Hardman, the CEO of nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa and a member of the West Des Moines City Council, becomes the first Black woman elected to the 50-member Senate.
鈥淚 want to recognize that while my name was the one on the ballot, this race was never just about me,” Hardman told a room of supporters in West Des Moines after declaring victory.
With 99% of votes counted, Hardman led by about 43 percentage points.
Her win is the latest in a string of special election victories for Iowa Democrats, who flipped two Senate seats this year to break up a supermajority that had allowed Republicans to easily confirm GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds鈥� appointments to state agencies and commissions.
Democrat Mike Zimmer first flipped a seat in January, winning a district that had strongly favored Republican President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans鈥� 33. Celsi鈥檚 death brought that down to 16.
Republicans would have regained two-thirds control with a Loftin victory Tuesday. Without a supermajority, the party will need to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds鈥� nominees. The GOP still has significant majorities in both legislative chambers.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called Hardman’s victory 鈥渁 major check on Republican power.”
鈥淲ith the last special election of the year now decided, one thing is clear: 2025 was the year of Democratic victories and overperformance, and Democrats are on track for big midterm elections,” Martin said.
In November the party the first major Election Day since Trump returned to the White House, notably winning governor’s races in and . Democrats held onto a Kentucky state Senate seat this month in a special election. And while Republican won a Tennessee special election for a U.S. House seat, the relatively slim margin of victory gave Democrats hope for next year鈥檚 . The party must net three House seats in 2026 to reclaim the majority and impede Trump鈥檚 agenda.
Loftin, a tree trimmer turned data manager, congratulated Hardman and told The Associated Press he鈥檚 praying for her as she embarks on this important chapter.
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann applauded Loftin and his supporters for putting up a fight in what he described as 鈥渁 very tough district.鈥� Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 3,300 voters, or 37% to 30%.
鈥淎lthough we fell short this time, the Republican Party of Iowa remains laser-focused on expanding our majorities in the Iowa Legislature and keeping Iowa ruby-red,” Kaufmann said.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee pledged Tuesday to help defend the party鈥檚 gains in Iowa and prevent the return of a GOP supermajority next year.
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Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.
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