At a Glance
- Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa Senate seat, keeping Republicans from a supermajority.
- Hardman defeats Republican Lucas Loftin by 43 percentage points.
- First Black woman elected to the 50-member Senate.
Why it matters: The result preserves a 17-to-33 split, preventing a GOP supermajority that would ease confirmation of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments.
In a decisive end-of-year special election, Democrat Renee Hardman captured an Iowa Senate seat in the Des Moines suburbs, thwarting Republican hopes of regaining a supermajority.
Election Results
Hardman, CEO of Lutheran Services of Iowa and West Des Moines City Council member, won the seat vacated by the late Democrat Claire Celsi. With 99% of votes counted, she led by about 43 percentage points.
Renee Hardman stated:
> “I want to recognize that while my name was the one on the ballot, this race was never just about me.”
- Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped a seat in January.
- Democrat Catelin Drey won in August.
- Hardman’s win keeps Democrats at 16 seats.
Impact on Senate Balance
The win keeps Democrats at 16 seats, preventing Republicans from reaching the 34-seat threshold needed for a two-thirds supermajority.
| Party | Seats after August | Seats after Celsi death | Seats if Loftin wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| Republicans | 33 | 34 | 34 |
The result means Republicans will need at least one Democrat’s support to confirm Gov. Reynolds’ nominees.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called Hardman’s victory a major check on Republican power.
> “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.”
Jeff Kaufmann, Iowa GOP Chairman, praised Loftin’s effort but said the GOP remains focused on expanding majorities.
> “Although 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.”
Key Takeaways
- Hardman’s win keeps Democrats at 16 seats, denying Republicans a supermajority.
- The election underscores the tight balance in the Iowa Senate.
- GOP must seek Democratic support to confirm gubernatorial appointments.
In a tightly contested Senate, Hardman’s victory sets the stage for a contested legislative agenda moving forward.
