By The Canadian Press

Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa state Senate special election

Dec 30, 2025 | 6:09 PM

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a holiday-week special election, denying Republicans’ bid to reclaim two-thirds control of the chamber.

Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin to win the seat representing parts of Des Moines’ suburbs. It became vacant after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.

Hardman becomes the first Black woman elected to the Senate.

A GOP win would have given the party a supermajority once again, just months after a Democrat flipped a Republican seat in an August special election, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans’ 33. Celsi’s death made that 16.

Senate Republicans left Des Moines last spring with a supermajority, which allows the party to easily confirm Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments to state agencies and commissions.

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Without a supermajority, Republicans will have to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds’ nominees.

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Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.

Hannah Fingerhut And Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press