DLCC Spotlight candidate Renee Hardman will be the first Black woman to serve in the Iowa Senate
WASHINGTON — In the latest downballot special election win, DLCC Spotlight Candidate Renee Hardman just overperformed by double digits and won her special election to the Iowa Senate, preventing Republicans from reclaiming a supermajority. Her win builds on Democratic success in this chamber after two Iowa Democrats flipped GOP seats earlier this year, breaking the supermajority. The Iowa Senate was recently added to the DLCC’s target map as we aim to prevent Republicans from reclaiming a supermajority in 2026.
The DLCC has a stellar record of winning special elections in battleground territory, and there are more high-stakes special elections on the horizon with majority-deciding races just weeks away.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Democrats have been on fire in state legislative special elections throughout 2025, and Iowa is our latest proof point. Tonight, Iowans rebuked GOP chaos by blocking a toxic Republican supermajority, and made history by electing the first Black woman to serve in the Iowa Senate. Voters have had enough of Republicans’ broken promises, and the DLCC will continue to support candidates like Renee Hardman who prioritize working families. The Iowa Senate is on the DLCC’s target map in 2026 as we aim to defend our hard-fought gains and prevent the return of a GOP supermajority.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade. Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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