The Daily Populous Wednesday December 31st, 2025 day edition
Authored by newsday.com and submitted by IWantPizza555

DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber.

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

Hardman, the CEO of nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa and a member of the West Des Moines City Council, becomes the first Black woman elected to the 50-member Senate.

“I want to recognize that while my name was the one on the ballot, this race was never just about me," Hardman told a room of supporters in West Des Moines after declaring victory.

With 99% of votes counted, Hardman led by about 43 percentage points.

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Her win is the latest in a string of special election victories for Iowa Democrats, who flipped two Senate seats this year to break up a supermajority that had allowed Republicans to easily confirm GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments to state agencies and commissions.

Democrat Mike Zimmer first flipped a seat in January, winning a district that had strongly favored Republican President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans’ 33. Celsi’s death brought that down to 16.

This undated photo provided by Hardman for Iowa on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Democrat Renee Hardman, who is facing Republican Lucas Loftin in the special election for the state Senate seat representing parts of Des Moines’ suburbs. Credit: AP/Uncredited

Republicans would have regained two-thirds control with a Loftin victory Tuesday. Without a supermajority, the party will need to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds’ nominees. The GOP still has significant majorities in both legislative chambers.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called Hardman's victory “a major check on Republican power."

“With the last special election of the year now decided, one thing is clear: 2025 was the year of Democratic victories and overperformance, and Democrats are on track for big midterm elections," Martin said.

In November the party dominated the first major Election Day since Trump returned to the White House, notably winning governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey. Democrats held onto a Kentucky state Senate seat this month in a special election. And while Republican Matt Van Epps won a Tennessee special election for a U.S. House seat, the relatively slim margin of victory gave Democrats hope for next year’s midterms. The party must net three House seats in 2026 to reclaim the majority and impede Trump’s agenda.

This undated photo provided by Lucas Loftin on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Loftin, a Republican who is facing Democrat Renee Hardman in the special election for the state Senate seat representing a part of Des Moines' suburbs. Credit: AP/Lucas Loftin

Loftin, a tree trimmer turned data manager, congratulated Hardman and told The Associated Press he’s praying for her as she embarks on this important chapter.

Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann applauded Loftin and his supporters for putting up a fight in what he described as “a very tough district.” Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 3,300 voters, or 37% to 30%.

“Although we fell short this time, the Republican Party of Iowa remains laser-focused on expanding our majorities in the Iowa Legislature and keeping Iowa ruby-red," Kaufmann said.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee pledged Tuesday to help defend the party’s gains in Iowa and prevent the return of a GOP supermajority next year.

brain_overclocked on December 31st, 2025 at 04:32 UTC »

Jan 28 - Democrat wins Iowa Senate seat in district Trump won by 21 points

Jan 29 - Democrats win control of Minnesota Senate

Feb 16 - Democrats win Delaware Senate seats in Saturday's special elections

Mar 11 - Democrat David Gottfried easily wins Minnesota House special election, restoring a 67-67 power split

Mar 26 - Democrats take hope from upset win in a GOP-leaning Pennsylvania state Senate district

Apr 1

Liberal Wins Wisconsin Court Race, Despite Musk’s Millions

Trump-backed Randy Fine elected to Congress in tense Florida special election

Patronis wins Florida special election to replace Gaetz, giving GOP key House vote

Apr 30 - Democrats Win Landslide in Safe Iowa Seat, Claim 'Rebuke of Trump'

May 7 - Republican concedes in North Carolina court race, ending bid to throw out votes

May 13 - Democrat ousts incumbent Republican in Omaha mayoral race

May 20 - Democrats win New York state Senate race in Trump-friendly district

Jun 3 - Young Dem Clinches Landslide Election Win in Lindsey Graham’s Backyard

Jun 7 - Democrats fend off GOP in San Antonio mayor runoff election

Jun 14 - Democrat, CN citizen Amanda Clinton wins decisive victory in special state election

Jun 25 - NH House special election: Democrat Billie Butler wins after facing GOP attacks

Aug 26 - Democrats break GOP supermajority in Iowa Senate by flipping Republican seat in special election

Sep 3 - Democrats Overperform in Florida as They Cruise to Victory in Two Elections

Sep 9 - Democrat James Walkinshaw wins US House special election in Virginia

Sep 16 - Democrat wins Minnesota special election to replace slain lawmaker

Sep 23 - G.O.P. Majority in House Will Shrink After Democrat’s Victory in Arizona

Oct 8 - Republican Ousted By Democrat in Shock Election Defeat

Oct 11 - Democrat Helena Moreno wins New Orleans’ mayoral race

Nov 4:

Virginia elects Democrat Abigail Spanberger as state’s first woman governor

Democratic state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi wins Virginia lieutenant governor’s race

Democrat Jay Jones wins Virginia attorney general's race despite text message scandal, CBS News projects

Democrats sweep all 30 House of Delegates seats in Northern Virginia

Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey

Democrats flip 5 N.J. counties back to blue, cementing Sherrill’s sweep for governor

‘The ground is shaking’: Aurora City Council sees major change as progressives win, Jurinsky out

Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court justices, preserving Democrats' 5-2 majority

Democrat Corey O’Connor wins Pittsburgh mayor’s race

Democrats Pull Off Historic Victories in Georgia Special Election

Democrats Win 2 Key Energy Races in Georgia

Democrat Aftab Pureval wins reelection as Cincinnati mayor, defeating Vance’s relative

Democrats in Mississippi Break the G.O.P.’s State House Supermajority

Mary Sheffield elected Detroit's next mayor, will make history as first woman to lead city

Big win in Greece boosts Monroe County Democrats. Here are 2025 election takeaways

Democrats flip the Onondaga County Legislature for first time in nearly 50 years

Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race

California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026

Nov 10 - Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE

Nov 13 - Progressive Katie Wilson ousts Democratic incumbent in Seattle mayor’s race

Nov 30 - Virginia Democrat flips seat in state legislature by taking on datacenters

Dec 2 - Republican Matt Van Epps holds deep-red House district in Tennessee special election

Dec 3 - Republican Ousted by Democrat in Georgia

Dec 9

Democrat wins Miami mayor’s race for the first time in nearly 30 years

Georgia Democrat Eric Gisler flips a state House seat in district Trump won by double digits, CNN projects

Dec 10 - Democrat Rob Long wins big in Florida House race, defeating MAGA Republican

Dec 16 - Democrat Wins Election by 47-Point Landslide in Kentucky

Dec 23 - Republican wins South Carolina state House special election

Dec 30 - Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa state Senate seat, blocking GOP from reclaiming a supermajority

SavageSan on December 31st, 2025 at 03:00 UTC »

Don't let the pessimist distract you. Every vote is important. Just look at what Democrats have done for the people vs. what Republicans are doing to the people.

HaroldGreenBandana on December 31st, 2025 at 02:14 UTC »

Let’s Go!