Iowa Democrats celebrated a significant triumph on Tuesday by successfully flipping a Republican seat during a special election, effectively breaking the GOP's supermajority in the state Senate. Catelin Drey emerged victorious in the Sioux City-area district, securing 55% of the vote against her Republican opponent, Christopher Prosch, who garnered 44%, based on unofficial results with all precincts accounted for.
With this victory, Democrats now control 17 seats in the Iowa Senate, while Republicans hold 33 seats. This outcome marks a critical shift, dismantling the GOP's two-thirds supermajority that had permitted them to pass legislation with minimal opposition. The special election was prompted by the passing of Republican Senator Rocky De Witt, who succumbed to cancer in June, after being elected just last year.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin expressed enthusiasm for Drey's win, particularly in a district that favored Donald Trump in the previous election. “Iowans are seeing Republicans for who they are: self-serving liars who will throw their constituents under the bus to rubber stamp Donald Trump’s disastrous agenda — and they’re ready for change,” Martin stated in a press release. He emphasized the importance of Democratic organization, asserting that “when Democrats organize everywhere, we win everywhere, and today is no exception.”
While this victory is significant for Iowa Democrats, it’s important to note that Republicans still maintain a majority in the state House. The gains made by Democrats in special elections throughout the year suggest a shifting political landscape, especially following Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to Trump in the last election. As the political climate evolves, this recent win could serve as a bellwether for future elections in Iowa and beyond.
