Democrat wins Iowa state Senate race, blocking GOP from regaining supermajority

[Demsrule86]

"😊😊😊Her victory denies Republicans a two-thirds majority in the upper chamber, which would have given them the power to override a governor’s veto, call for special sessions and approve a governor’s appointees on a party-line vote.

With Hardman’s win, Iowa Democrats are closing out the year strong. Back in January, Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped an Iowa state Senate district that had overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2024. And in August, Democrat Catelin Drey flipped another open state Senate seat, breaking the GOP supermajority.

Hardman’s win is also the last in a string of notable victories for her party nationwide. Democrats most recently saw success in a special election for a state Senate seat in Kentucky. Prior to that, the party overperformed in a special election in Tennessee. And Democrats had a better-than-expected Election Day in November, when they overwhelmingly
won the governors’ mansions in New Jersey and Virginia, the mayor’s office in New York City, and a number of other notable downballot races.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5666914-democrat-rene-hardman-wins/

Hardman has also made history. The first Black woman elected to the West Des Moines City Council, she now becomes the first Black woman elected to the state Senate. Celsi managed Hardman’s first city council campaign nearly a decade prior, KCCI reported. "

[Scrivener7]

1. Wow! In Iowa, no less, she didn't just win, she wiped the floor with him. And she's a black woman. IN IOWA!!

Amazing!

[Demsrule86]

3. I know right!

It is an amazing victory...I think this time next year...we will have won big in 26.

[ShazzieB]

15. Yes, it's absolutely amazing! 😁

[rsdsharp]

34. It's an impressive win, but this district includes parts

of Windsor Heights, Clive, and West Des Moines — Des Moines suburbs, so a Democratic win wasn’t really unexpected. That said, I’m hoping the pendulum is starting to swing back toward purple in this state.

[kimbutgar]

2. Great news !!!❤️❤️❤️🥰

When I read about this race yesterday I was worried since it was Iowa they wouldn’t vote for a black woman! A blow at 71% yeah!

[Demsrule86]

4. I felt the same way...I am so relieved she won...the first Black woman ever elected to the legislature

in Iowa. It feels so good.

[EdmondDantes_]

5. We need more of this at the state and local level

Not that the national offices aren't important building from the ground up is what we need. She went from city council and then on to state government growing her experience and profile with voters in Iowa. I feel like often we get a high profile candidate that generated a lot of our of state attention that doesn't match their in state attention and serves to make their opponent more popular by virtue of the "out of state interests trying to buy our election" claim.

[Demsrule86]

6. I live in Ohio...we have some remarkable races too...Sherrod Brown is doing quite well!

We also have close races despite gerrymandering.

[ShazzieB]

16. I would love to see Sherrod Brown back in the Senate!

I wish him well and will add him to my list of candidates to donate to. (Unfortunately, my money and therefore my ability to help is limited these days, but I will help if I can.)

[Demsrule86]

19. I would too. He was a good Senator...cares for the people...he ran a bad

campaign like Tim Ryan did tried to tap into the Trump votes...spent very little time in Cuyahoga Country...but this time is different...Also, good old Bernie called Trump's kid an anchor baby... That will hurt him with the true believers which I think is becoming fewer by the day. Ohio was doing great and now we struggle thanks to Trump and his thieves...who help him steal our money.

[ShazzieB]

38. Yes, Barron is an anchor baby all right!

Actually, Trump has 4 anchor babies: Barron + the 3 kids he had with Ivana! Tiffany is the one of his kids who is NOT an anchor baby.

[johnnyplankton]

7. Hopefully this is a harbinger for the midterms. What a blowout win!

[Demsrule86]

20. God I hope so. I am cautiously optimistic. We have a DNC person who is running a 50

state effort like Howard Dean did...never understood why Dean was replaced...he did the best job of anyone that I can remember. It was a mistake.

[malaise]

8. Rec rec rec

Important

[Demsrule86]

21. Thank you Malaise...I appreciate that...

I always read your posts...

[Pinback]

9. Tremendous win.🏆

K&R and Happy New Year!

[Demsrule86]

22. Thanks Pinback. Thanks for the rec...Happy new years!

[SunSeeker]

10. Excellent!

[Demsrule86]

23. I am feeling cautiously optimistic...thanks for the kick.

Happy New Year...

[blue-wave]

11. May the momentum be

with us for a long....no.....forever!!

[Demsrule86]

24. In some ways this election reminds me of 1932. We had tariffs thanks to Hoover,

We had the Army including Eisenhower attacking Americans who came to Washington for their bonus money from world war I. We had starvation...too this day, the number of death during this time has never been released publicly...breadlines, market collapse...no help sent to Americans. And the GOP lost the presidency for 20 years. This could be a once in a generation change in voting behavior...for a good long time. Time for us to rebuild the safety net...fix the insurance debacle...etc.

[blue-wave]

39. Yes Indeed!

I hope you're correct.

[Gum Logger]

12. Hopefully the Dem try to get some traction in Appalachia

[Demsrule86]

25. I hope all Americans respond...but consider that Kentucky unlike Georgia extended

Medicaid... And while thy should vote for us...and all votes are important, we can win without them.

[dalton99a]

13. Kick

[Cha]

17. Very Cool.. TY!

This is so Brilliant!

[Demsrule86]

26. Thanks so much!

Happy New Year... 😍😍😍 .

[Initech]

14. Thank you Iowa!

[Demsrule86]

28. I agree...the legisture will not be able to shove shit down our throat either.

[Demsrule86]

29. Thanks again...happy new year!!!!

[D_Master81]

18. Great win but so sad

It’s so sad to me that many of these states we are seeing Democrats win and it’s big to block a GOP supermajority. Or here in Indiana where they didn’t redistrict but still have the 40-10 supermajority. Many of these states fell so far into GOP control that I’m in my 40s and May never see them come back over to the blue in my lifetime.

[Demsrule86]

30. I think we will have a wave election...with...big surprises...this may be a once

in a generation election.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

27. Its been a good election season for Dems

[Demsrule86]

31. Yes it has...

Fingers crossed...for 26 and beyond... Time to take back our country. I am a Democrat of course but also a member of the the Democratic Socialist part of the Democratic party. Anyone who knows me...understands how huge this is for me...Time to let the next generation move up. We need progressive policy desperately. We need the elected for fight for us...not business as usual.

[orangecrush]

32. Kick

[Demsrule86]

35. Thanks for the kick!!!!!

I am think this and other victories show...great weakness in the GOP.

[orangecrush]

37. I agree.

[Nictuku]

33. Wow!!!

Great News. They lost their veto-proof majority! This is important as we head into 2026 midterms.

[Demsrule86]

36. It really is important...they won't be able to play their usual bull-shit games...

I am sure they planned to make voting difficult...