{"id":2396440,"date":"2025-01-29T09:02:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-democrat-pulls-off-upset-in-state-special-election-contest-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T09:03:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:03:53","slug":"iowa-democrat-pulls-off-upset-in-state-special-election-contest-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-democrat-pulls-off-upset-in-state-special-election-contest-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa Democrat pulls off upset in state special election contest &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fiowa-democrat-pulls-off-upset-in-state-special-election-contest-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2396440&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">recent special election<\/a> in Iowa, Democrat Mike Zimmer \u2062achieved a surprising victory \u2064over Republican katie Whittington,\u200d winning with 51.7% of the votes compared to Whittington&#8217;s 48.1%. This win is especially notable as it comes after a challenging period for Democrats \u200dfollowing\u2062 the 2022 presidential election,\u2062 where they struggled in the state. Zimmer&#8217;s victory \u2063lowers \u200cthe\u2063 Republican majority in the Iowa\u2064 State Senate\u200b to 34-16 and fills a \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tv-news-anchor-christina-pascucci-running-for-calif-senate\/\" title=\"Christina Pascucci, TV News Anchor, seeks Calif. Senate seat.\">seat\u2062 previously held<\/a> by now-Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, a Republican. The election saw a notably lower turnout, with around\u200c 9,304\u2062 votes cast\u200c compared to 23,850 in the last\u2062 general election. Democratic leaders have\u2063 hailed this win as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fani-willis-gets-her-first-guilty-plea-in-2020-election-case-heres-who-it-is\/\" title=\"Fani Willis secures first guilty plea in 2020 election case.\">potential turning \u2063point<\/a>, with hopes for future success in upcoming elections as they prepare for more contests ahead.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iowa Democrat pulls off upset in state special election contest<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1959926\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Iowa\">Iowa<\/a> Democrats scored an upset in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-legislatures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Iowa\">state Senate<\/a> special <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2025-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"election\">election<\/a> on Tuesday, months after being wiped out in the Hawkeye State in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-pence-met-with-boos-calls-of-traitor-at-faith-freedom-conference\/\" title=\"Mike Pence Met With Boos, Calls Of \u2018Traitor\u2019 At Faith &amp; Freedom Conference\">presidential contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Democrat Mike Zimmer narrowly defeated Republican Katie Whittington, 51.7%-48.1%, in a race to fill the seat vacated by now-Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, a Republican, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/electionresults.iowa.gov\/IA\/123074\/web.345435\/#\/detail\/1000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"results\">results<\/a> posted by the Iowa secretary of state. The result lowers the GOP majority in the state Senate to 34-16.<\/p>\n<p>The district was flipped from Democrat to Republican in 2018 by Cournoyer, and she won reelection over a Democratic challenger by a 61%-39% margin in 2022. Zimmer will serve the rest of Cournoyer&rsquo;s term and be up for reelection in 2026. Tuesday&rsquo;s special election had significantly fewer votes cast than the last general election, with only roughly 9,304 votes on Tuesday compared to 23,850 votes in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats are hoping the upset is a good sign after a dismal showing in the Hawkeye State last November. President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3219478\/preelection-iowa-poll-favoring-harris-far-off-final-margins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"handily defeated\">handily defeated<\/a> former Vice President Kamala Harris, 55.7%-42.5%, despite a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3214550\/harris-leads-trump-in-iowa-by-3-points-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"late poll\">late poll<\/a> suggesting Harris had a 3-point lead in the state.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams heralded the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latino-group-torches-biden-after-gop-victory-in-south-texas-democrats-make-a-mockery-of-our-culture\/\" title=\"Latino Group Torches Biden After GOP Victory In South Texas: Democrats Make \u2018A Mockery Of Our Culture\u2019\">special election win<\/a> in Iowa as an &ldquo;earthquake victory&rdquo; that puts &ldquo;Republicans across the country on notice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The DLCC is starting the new cycle strong just a month into 2025 &mdash; from battlegrounds to Republican territory. We have dozens more special elections on the horizon &mdash; we&rsquo;re only just getting started,&rdquo; Williams said in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3303742\/minnesota-democrats-win-senate-majority-crucial-special-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"defend\">defended<\/a> a state Senate seat in Minnesota on Tuesday, while in Florida, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3303698\/house-republicans-randy-fine-jimmy-patronis-election-wins-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"both\">both<\/a> of Trump&rsquo;s picks to fill the seats vacated by former GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz advanced to the general special elections in April.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1959926\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1959926\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa Democrat wins surprise state Senate special election<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2396441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-special-election-upset-jan-2025.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4912,5626,5894,37103,14968],"class_list":["post-2396440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrat","tag-iowa","tag-politics","tag-special-election","tag-upset"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-special-election-upset-jan-2025.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2396440"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396444,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396440\/revisions\/2396444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2396441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2396440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2396440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2396440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}