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Des Moines, Iowa — Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa authorities Senate connected Tuesday successful a year-end peculiar election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds power of the enclosure and Legislature.
Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming borderline to triumph a spot representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs. The spot became vacant aft the Oct. 6 decease of authorities Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.
Hardman, the CEO of nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa and a subordinate of the West Des Moines City Council, becomes the archetypal Black pistillate elected to the 50-member Senate.
This undated photograph provided by Hardman for Iowa connected Dec. 26, 2025 shows Democrat Renee Hardman.
Hardman for Iowa via AP
"I privation to admit that portion my sanction was the 1 connected the ballot, this contention was ne'er conscionable astir me," Hardman told a country of supporters successful West Des Moines aft declaring victory.
With 99% of votes counted, Hardman led by astir 43 percent points.
Her triumph is the latest successful a drawstring of peculiar predetermination victories for Iowa Democrats, who flipped 2 Senate seats this twelvemonth to interruption up a supermajority that had allowed Republicans to easy corroborate GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds' appointments to authorities agencies and commissions.
Democrat Mike Zimmer archetypal flipped a spot successful January, winning a territory that had powerfully favored President Trump successful the 2024 election. In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP hostile successful the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans' 33. Celsi's decease brought that down to 16.
Republicans would person regained two-thirds power with a Loftin triumph Tuesday. Without a supermajority, the enactment volition request to get enactment from astatine slightest 1 Democrat to o.k. Reynolds' nominees. The GOP inactive has important majorities successful some legislative chambers, with an airtight supermajority successful the Iowa House of Representatives, arsenic well.
Ken Martin, seat of the Democratic National Committee, called Hardman's triumph "a large cheque connected Republican power."
"With the past peculiar predetermination of the twelvemonth present decided, 1 happening is clear: 2025 was the twelvemonth of Democratic victories and overperformance, and Democrats are connected way for large midterm elections," Martin said.
In November, the enactment dominated the archetypal large Election Day since Trump returned to the White House, notably winning governor's races successful Virginia and New Jersey. Democrats held onto a Kentucky authorities Senate spot this period successful a peculiar election. And portion Republican Matt Van Epps won a Tennessee peculiar predetermination for a U.S. House seat, the comparatively slim borderline of triumph gave Democrats anticipation for adjacent year's midterms. The enactment indispensable nett 3 House seats successful 2026 to reclaim the bulk and impede Mr. Trump's agenda.
Loftin, a histrion trimmer turned information manager, congratulated Hardman and told The Associated Press he's praying for her arsenic she embarks connected this important chapter.
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann applauded Loftin and his supporters for putting up a combat successful what helium described arsenic "a precise pugnacious district." Democrats outnumber Republicans by astir 3,300 voters, oregon 37% to 30%.
"Although we fell abbreviated this time, the Republican Party of Iowa remains laser-focused connected expanding our majorities successful the Iowa Legislature and keeping Iowa ruby-red," Kaufmann said.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee pledged Tuesday to assistance support the party's gains successful Iowa and forestall the instrumentality of a GOP supermajority adjacent year.
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