{"id":2527061,"date":"2025-12-30T23:17:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-renee-hardman-wins-iowa-senate-special-election\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T23:19:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:19:03","slug":"democrat-renee-hardman-wins-iowa-senate-special-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-renee-hardman-wins-iowa-senate-special-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa Senate special election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fdemocrat-renee-hardman-wins-iowa-senate-special-election%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=2527061&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>Democrat Renee Hardman won the iowa Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want Republican ... to Control the Senate | Sean Hannity\">special election<\/a>,defeating Republican Lucas Loftin by roughly 45 percentage points and preventing Republicans from regaining a two-thirds supermajority in the 50-seat chamber. The seat, representing Des Moines suburbs, had been vacated after the death of Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi, which briefly reduced the democratic caucus to 16 seats. Hardman&#8217;s victory brings Democrats back to 17 seats versus the GOP&#8217;s 33, meaning Republicans will need at least one Democratic vote to override vetoes, call certain special sessions, or confirm many gubernatorial appointees. The Democratic National Committee hailed the win as historic-Hardman is the first Black woman elected to the Iowa Senate-and state Auditor Rob Sand noted it as another in a string of Democratic overperformances in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >recent special elections ahead<\/a> of 2026.  <\/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\">Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa Senate special election, denying GOP supermajority<\/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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2458750\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Democratic candidate Renee Hardman won the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\">Iowa<\/a> Senate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/special-elections\/\">special election<\/a> on Tuesday, preventing Republicans from regaining two-thirds control of the state&rsquo;s upper chamber.<\/p>\n<p>Hardman defeated Republican candidate Lucas Loftin by nearly 45 percentage points, <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">according to <\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2025\/12\/30\/us\/elections\/results-iowa-state-senate-district-16-unexpired-term-special.html\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">the&nbsp;election<\/span> results<\/a>, which showed that more than 95% of the votes were in by late Tuesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4365099\/jessica-looman-virginia-labor-secretary\/\">Spanberger taps ex-Biden official for Virginia labor secretary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4074943\/rough-year-court-marc-elias\/\">A rough year in court for Marc Elias<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4363059\/mamdani-musk-fdny-chief-bonsignore\/\">Mamdani hits back at Musk after claim &#8216;people will die&#8217; over mayor-elect&#8217;s FDNY pick<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The special election was for a seat representing parts of Des Moines&rsquo;s suburbs. The seat became vacant after Democratic state Sen. Claire Celsi died of an undisclosed medical condition in October.<\/p>\n<p>Celsi&rsquo;s death reduced the Democratic caucus to 16 seats in the 50-seat Iowa Senate. With Hardman&rsquo;s victory, her party now holds 17 seats, compared to the Republicans&rsquo; 33.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This undated photo provided by Hardman for Iowa on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, shows Democrat Renee Hardman. (Hardman for Iowa via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Democratic Party previously broke the GOP supermajority in an August special election, but that victory was undermined by Celsi&rsquo;s death two months later.<\/p>\n<p>If Loftin won, Republicans could have easily overrode gubernatorial vetoes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-gov-abbot-campaigning-against-once-allied-republicans-in-an-effort-to-embrace-school-vouchers\/\" title=\"Texas Governor Abbott campaigns against former allies to support school vouchers\">called special sessions<\/a>, and confirmed Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kim-reynolds\/\">Kim Reynolds&rsquo;s<\/a> (R-IA) appointees without Democratic support. But given his loss, Iowa Republicans now need at least one Democratic vote to confirm the governor&rsquo;s nominees to state agencies, boards, and commissions.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday&rsquo;s special election adds to the Democratic Party&rsquo;s winning streak this year. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-national-committee\/\">Democratic National Committee<\/a> congratulated Hardman on her &ldquo;historic&rdquo; win as the first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-mayor-ted-wheeler-finally-condemns-anarchist-violence\/\" title=\"Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Finally Condemns \u2018Anarchist\u2019 Violence\">black woman elected<\/a> to the Iowa Senate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Senator-elect Hardman &hellip; will be a voice for working Iowans and will fight tooth and nail to make Iowa more affordable,&rdquo; DNC Chairman Ken Martin said. &ldquo;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. 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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4365030\/iowa-special-election-puts-gop-senate-supermajority-back-in-play\/\">IOWA SPECIAL ELECTION PUTS GOP SENATE SUPERMAJORITY BACK IN PLAY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, the sole Democrat currently serving in statewide elected office and one of the leading candidates to replace Reynolds next year, also released a hopeful statement ahead of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Congrats to Renee Hardman on her over 40-point victory in SD-16 tonight,&rdquo; Sand <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RobSandIA\/status\/2006192102800044298\">wrote on X<\/a>. &ldquo;As the sixth straight Democratic overperformance in special elections since 2024, it&rsquo;s clear Iowans are ready for change as we head into 2026.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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>Hardman wins Iowa seat, denies GOP supermajority<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2527062,"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\/12\/AP25365090478149.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32923,69771,62442,69770,37103],"class_list":["post-2527061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democratic-party","tag-iowa-politics","tag-iowa-senate","tag-renee-hardman","tag-special-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25365090478149.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527061","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\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2527061"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2527065,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527061\/revisions\/2527065"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2527062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2527061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2527061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2527061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}