This combination of undated images provided by Hardman for Iowa and Lucas Loftin on Friday, Dec. 26, 2205, shows Democrat Renee Hardman and Republican Lucas Loftin, who are running against each other in the special election for the state Senate seat representing parts of Des Moines’ suburbs. (Hardman for Iowa, Lucas Loftin via AP)
This combination of undated images provided by Hardman for Iowa and Lucas Loftin on Friday, Dec. 26, 2205, shows Democrat Renee Hardman and Republican Lucas Loftin, who are running against each other in the special election for the state Senate seat representing parts of Des Moines’ suburbs. (Hardman for Iowa, Lucas Loftin via AP)
This undated photo provided by Hardman for Iowa on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Democrat Renee Hardman, who is facing Republican Lucas Loftin in the special election for the state Senate seat representing parts of Des Moines’ suburbs. (Hardman for Iowa via AP)
This undated photo provided by Lucas Loftin on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Loftin, a Republican who is facing Democrat Renee Hardman in the special election for the state Senate seat representing a part of Des Moines' suburbs. (AP via Lucas Loftin)
This undated photo provided by Hardman for Iowa on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Democrat Renee Hardman. (Hardman for Iowa via AP)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber.
Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming margin to win the 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 Senate.
Her win is 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’ appointments to state agencies and commissions.
A Loftin win would have given the GOP a supermajority once again, just months after Democrat Catelin Drey flipped an open seat in an August special election, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans’ 33. Celsi’s death brought that down to 16.
Without a supermajority, Republicans will have to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds’ nominees.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic ºÃÉ«tv Committee, called Hardman's victory “a major check on Republican power†that cemented 2025 as a year of Democratic victories and overperformance.
Democratic voters outnumbered Republicans in the district by about 3,300 voters, or 37% to 30%.
___
Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
