Dems Flip Iowa State Senate Seat, Breaking GOP Supermajority

DNC Chair Ken Martin had said the party hasn’t recognized the importance of down-ballot elections for too long and rebuilding the party “starts from the ground up.”

The DNC celebrated Drey’s win on Tuesday night, noting that the district voted for President Trump in 2024 by more than 11 points. Martin said in a statement that Iowans are seeing Republicans as a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s agenda and want change.

“They are putting Republicans on notice and making it crystal clear: any Republican pushing Trump’s unpopular, extreme agenda has no place governing on behalf of Iowa families,” he said. “That’s why all year long, Iowans have been electing Democrats ready to fight for working Iowans. Make no mistake: when Democrats organize everywhere, we win everywhere, and today is no exception.”

Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said the party’s special election wins should be seen as a “flashing warning” to Trump and the GOP, saying that voters are rejecting the “failing MAGA agenda.” The organization works to elect Democrats to state legislatures.

“State legislative Democrats are delivering progress, responding to their communities’ concerns about the chaos in Washington, and providing the steady leadership voters are asking for — leadership that has propelled candidates like Sen.-elect Catelin Drey to victory this year,” Williams said. “More special elections are right on the horizon, and we’re just getting started.”