Iowa Dems Break GOP Supermajority With Special Election Win

Democrats scored a special election victory in Iowa on Tuesday, flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat and breaking the GOP supermajority in the upper chamber.

Democrat Catelin Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch to replace the late Republican state Sen. Rocky De Witt, who passed away in June. Drey won 55% of the vote in a district that President Donald Trump carried by over 11 points in the November election, according to unofficial results from the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office.

“For the fourth special election in a row, Iowa voted for change,” the Iowa Democratic Party said in a statement. “Our state is ready for a new directions, and Iowa Democrats will keep putting forward candidates who can deliver better representation for Iowans.”

Tuesday’s election results leave the Iowa state Senate with 33 Republicans and 17 Democrats. Without a GOP supermajority, Democrats in the upper chamber will have the ability to block Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments for state agencies, boards, and commissions.