CLINTON, IOWA – A special election was held today for an Iowa Senate seat in a district Donald Trump clobbered Kamala Harris by 21 points in, but Democrats turned the table, won the seat, and then gloated over their victory even as they remain woefully outnumbered in the Legislature.
A Special Election has been called by Governor Kim Reynolds to fill a Vacancy for the 35th District of the Iowa State Senate. The election took place on January 28th, 2025 from 7 am to 8 pm. On Election Day all voters in the Iowa Senate 35th District will vote at their usual polling places. The seat was earlier vacated by Chris Cournoyer.
Democrat Mike Zimmer (4,812) beat Republican Katie Elizabeth Whittington (4,473), according to the Secretary of State results. This heavily-red district was favored to go Republican once again and put them up 35-15 in the Senate, but the margin is now merely a 34-16 GOP majority.
After the outcome looked to be set, Iowa Democratic Party was in full festive mode. They posted to social media, “A big win in SD35 tonight! Congratulations to Mike Zimmer on flipping a Trump +21 district!”
