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Republicans missed an opportunity to reclaim a supermajority in the Iowa Senate in a special election on Tuesday night.
Democrat Renee Hardman defeated Republican Lucas Loftin to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.
Hardman won the special election 71.5 percent to 28.5 percent.
Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa state Senate seat, blocking GOP from reclaiming a supermajority https://t.co/12q7g1EiY4 pic.twitter.com/vIop3lBT2V
— New York Post (@nypost) December 31, 2025
The Hill explained:
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.
Hardman, the president and CEO of Lutheran Services of Iowa, is the first Black woman elected to the Iowa Senate.
“She also made history as West Des Moines’ first Black City Council woman when she was elected in 2017,” Des Moines Register noted.
“Her victory ensures that Iowa Republicans will not have a supermajority in the Iowa Senate, a major check on Republican power that puts billionaires first,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.
🚨BREAKING🚨
Democrat Renee Hardman has defeated Republican Lucas Loftin in the Iowa State Senate 16 Special Election.
This is a 🔵 hold. pic.twitter.com/GBKgV4biLE
— The Political HQ (@ThePoliticalHQ) December 31, 2025
More from Des Moines Register:
At an election night party Tuesday in Valley Junction, Hardman, 64, said she felt a responsibility to live out the words on her campaign yard signs to be “a voice for all people” and give all Iowans equal opportunity to thrive, adequately fund public schools, make health care affordable and support small businesses.
“We ran to make life better for real people,” Hardman said. “I ran to fight for people like you.”
Hardman becomes the 17th Democrat in the Iowa Senate, holding Republicans at 33 members — one short of the 34 the GOP caucus would need to claw back their supermajority in the 50-member chamber.
It means Republicans would need at least one Democratic vote to confirm Gov. Kim Reynolds’ nominees to state agencies, boards and commissions. Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, told reporters her caucus will give all nominees the chance to explain themselves and make their decisions as a collective.
Hardman gathered with supporters to celebrate her win at The Tavern, a West Des Moines staple that was purchased in 1988 by Chuck Celsi, the late senator’s uncle.