Des Moines, Iowa – In a stunning upset that reshapes the balance of power in the state capital, Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday. The victory denies Republicans the two-thirds control of the chamber and Legislature they sought, and marks a significant moment as hardman becomes the first Black woman elected to the 50-member Senate.
A Democratic Wave in the Hawkeye State?
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Hardman decisively defeated Republican Lucas Loftin, winning a seat representing parts of the des Moines suburbs.The special election was called after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.With 99% of votes tallied,Hardman lead by a commanding 43 percentage points.
Prior to Hardman’s win, the Iowa Senate was split 33 Republicans and 17 Democrats. Celsi’s passing had temporarily reduced the Democratic count to 16.Hardman’s victory restores the Democrats to 17 seats, preventing the Republicans from regaining a supermajority.
What’s at Stake for Iowa Republicans?
A Loftin victory would have restored the Republicans’ two-thirds control of the state Senate. While the GOP maintains significant majorities in both chambers-including an airtight 66-33 supermajority in the Iowa House of Representatives-they no longer hold a supermajority in the Legislature as a whole. This means the party will now need at least one Democratic state senator to support gov. Reynolds’ nominees.
What does a supermajority mean? A two-thirds majority in both chambers allows a party to override a governor’s veto and pass legislation with minimal opposition.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, hailed Hardman’s victory as “a major check on Republican power.” He added, “with 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.”
Momentum Building for 2026
The Democratic surge extends beyond Iowa. In November,the party achieved notable wins in Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races following the return of former President Trump to the White House. Democrats also held onto a Kentucky state Senate seat earlier this month. While Republican Matt Van Epps won a special election for a U.S. House seat in Tennessee, the close margin provided encouragement for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms, where they need to net three House seats to regain the majority and possibly challenge Mr. Trump’s agenda.
lucas Loftin, a tree trimmer turned data manager, congratulated Hardman and expressed his prayers for her success in her new role, according to The Associated Press. Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann acknowledged the challenge, praising Loftin and his supporters for their efforts in what he described as “a very tough district.” Democrats currently hold a voter registration advantage of approximately 3,300, representing 37% of the electorate compared to the Republicans’ 30%.
“Even though 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 has pledged to support the party’s gains in Iowa and prevent a return to Republican supermajority control next year.
