Iowa Democrats Celebrate as Drey Wins Special Election, Breaks GOP Supermajority

Your contribution fuels the stories that shape Decorah—make a difference today. DES MOINES — Iowa Republicans' supermajority in the state Senate was broken Tuesday as Democrat Catelin Drey won the special election for Iowa Senate District 1. Drey faced off against Republican Christopher Prosch in the election, which was called to fill the seat after Sen. Rocky De Witt, R-Lawton, passed away due to pancreatic cancer in June. According to preliminary results, Drey, a 37-year-old from Sioux City, won the election by 55% to Prosch's 44%, according to unofficial results published by the Woodbury County Auditor's Office. Iowa Democrats celebrated Drey's victory, saying the Tuesday results — alongside results from other special elections this year — mark a turning point for the state party following several election cycles of overwhelming GOP victories. Another Iowa Senate seat was flipped from Republican to Democrat in January, when Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, defeated Republican Katie Whittington in the special election to replace Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer as she joined Gov. Kim Reynolds' administration in December 2024. In the Iowa House, Rep. Angelina Ramirez, D-Cedar Rapids, won a special election in April for a seat held by Democrat Rep. Sami Scheetz when he resigned to serve on the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Rep. Blaine Watkins, R-Donnellson, is the only Republican to win an Iowa special election in 2025, but Democrats pointed to his tight margin of victory as a positive sign for future elections. "For the fourth special election in a row, Iowa voted for change," Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. "Catelin Drey will listen to the people, not the powerful, get our economy growing, and bring down costs for families. Christopher Prosch and Iowa Republicans spent over $180,000 on this race while Democrats from all over Iowa came together to give money, knock doors and write postcards. Our state is ready for a new direction and Iowa Democrats will keep putting forward candidates who can deliver better representation for Iowans." With Drey's election, Republicans now hold a 33-17 majority in the Iowa Senate—down from the GOP supermajority held since the 2022 election cycle. While Republicans still have a trifecta of control with a supermajority in the House and all but one statewide elected office, breaking the supermajority does mean gubernatorial nominees requiring a two-thirds majority of approval could face a more difficult path to confirmation. However, as Reynolds has announced she will not run for reelection in 2026, it is unlikely many nominees will go before the state Senate in the 2026 legislative session. Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner called Drey's victory "a win for all Iowans." "Catelin's agenda of fully funding public schools, affordable childcare and housing, and putting money in the pockets of working Iowans is a clear rejection of the Republican agenda led by Kim Reynolds and the Senate Republicans that have failed Iowans," Weiner said. "This win shows that when Democrats fight for Iowa working families, when we get out and listen to Iowans, when we field people who care deeply about their communities, we can win anywhere, including in Northwest Iowa." The state legislative race has gained national attention as some Democrats say the race could show a positive forecast for Democrats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the results show Iowans—and voters throughout the country—do not approve of Republican policies. "Iowans are seeing Republicans for who they are: self-serving liars who will throw their constituents under the bus to rubber stamp Donald Trump's disastrous agenda—and they're ready for change," Martin said in a statement. "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." Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said the special election win for Democrats "should send a flashing warning to the GOP." "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." Stay ahead of the curve! Subscribe to free newsletters for exclusive insights, local trends and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.