Iowa Election Update

GOP Expand House and Senate Majorities

The Republican majorities in the House and Senate will increase in the upcoming 2025 Iowa Legislative Session following Tuesday’s general election.

Republicans Increased their Senate majority by one, now holding 35 of that chambers’ 50 seats. The Democrat minority now totals 15 seats.

In the House, the GOP majority expanded by three members, up to 67 seats.

The Democrats now hold only 33 seats in the 100 member House of Representatives.

Three House Incumbents Fall      

Three incumbent House of Representatives members were defeated in their reelection attempts.

6-term House of Representatives incumbent Democrat Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque was defeated by Republican Jennifer Smith by a margin of over 1000 votes.

In House District 41 (Ankeny and portions of unincorporated Polk County) Democrat incumbent Molly Buck was defeated by GOP challenger Ryan Weldon.

Marshalltown Democrat incumbent Sue Cahill lost her reelection bid to the GOP’s David Blom by over 400 votes.

Senate Races of Note

       
Two longtime Senators from the Des Moines area fell to challengers on election night

Incumbent Democrat Nate Boulton lost his reelection bid to the GOP’s MIke Pike by less than 50 votes in the 20th Senate District which includes portions of Des Moines, Altoona and unincorporated Polk County.

In Senate District 22 (Des Moines, and suburban Des Moines,) incumbent Republican Brad Zaun lost to former nursing home industry lobbyist/attorney and former Clive City Council member Democrat Matt Blake by over two thousand votes.

Republican Dave Sires topped incumbent Democrat Eric Giddens in the 38th Senate District. Sires’ 400 vote win comes in the district which stretches from Cedar Falls to Traer and Dysert.

Also the hotly contested battle for Senate District 14 (portions of West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Waukee and Dallas County) between incumbent Democrat Sarah Trone-Garriott and Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson was decided by only 19 votes. Trone-Garriott garnered 20,429 votes and Hanson earned 20,410.

         
Judicial Election Updates  

This year, Iowa voters weighed in on two significant constitutional amendments. One focused on clarifying the gubernatorial line of succession, while the other aimed to formally establish voting age and citizenship requirements. Both amendments received voter approval, marking a notable update to the state’s constitution.

In addition, Iowa held judicial retention elections, giving voters the power to decide if a judge should continue serving. On the ballot were one Iowa Supreme Court justice, four Iowa Court of Appeals judges, and 64 district court judges. A "yes" vote meant the judge would stay in their role for another term, while a "no" could mean replacement. In this round of retention elections, Iowans chose to retain all judges in their positions.