Democrats flipped an Iowa state Senate seat in a special election on Tuesday, breaking the GOP supermajority in the state.
Democrat Catelin Drey beat Republican Christopher Prosch to fill the seat of the late Republican state Sen. Rocky De Witt. With the win, Democrats now have 17 state Senate seats to 33 Republican seats.
The Democratic National Committee had seized the district, rolling out 30,000 volunteers for “get out the vote” plans.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that the committee has ignored down-ballot races “for far too long.” Breaking the supermajority means any gubernatorial nominee in the state would need at least some Democratic support to be confirmed.
The DNC celebrated the Tuesday night win, noting Drey’s district voted for Trump by more than 11 points in 2024. Martin said that Iowans want change.
“They are putting Republicans on notice and making it crystal clear: any Republican pushing Trump’s unpopular, extreme agenda has no place governing on behalf of Iowa families,” he said. “That’s why all year long, Iowans have been electing Democrats ready to fight for working Iowans. Make no mistake: when Democrats organize everywhere, we win everywhere, and today is no exception.”
Democrats flipped another Iowa state Senate seat won by Trump in January.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the top Democratic committee for state legislature campaigns, said the win is a “flashing warning” to Trump and the GOP for their “failing MAGA agenda.”
DNC BOLSTERS IOWA STATE SENATE CANDIDATE CATELIN DREY TO BREAK GOP SUPERMAJORITY
“State legislative Democrats are delivering progress, responding to their communities’ concerns about the chaos in Washington, and providing the steady leadership voters are asking for — leadership that has propelled candidates like Sen.-elect Catelin Drey to victory this year,” Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said. “More special elections are right on the horizon, and we’re just getting started.”
Republicans control a majority of state legislative seats nationally and hold a majority of state legislative chambers.