Iowa Democrat wins state Senate seat, blocking GOP from regaining supermajority in state legislature

Iowa Democrat Renee Hardman won a special election Tuesday night for state Senate, the Associated Press reported, successfully blocking Republicans from having a supermajority in the state legislature. Hardman, a member of the West Des Moines City Council, won the left-leaning suburban seat, which was left vacant in October after its incumbent, who was also a Democrat, died from an illness. 
The newly elected state senator defeated Republican Lucas Loftin for the seat. Democrats also won two other state Senate elections earlier this year, which flipped the two seats. But Republicans still hold the majority in the state legislature and hold every seat in the congressional delegation and every statewide office but state auditor.
“Democrats have been on fire in state legislative special elections throughout 2025,” Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, told the New York Times. “Iowa is our latest proof point.”
The special election comes as House lawmakers nationwide gear up for the 2026 midterm elections next year. Republicans hold the majority in the lower chamber, but Democrats hope momentum from the off-year elections and criticism of the current administration will flip control of the chamber.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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