Republicans strengthen hold on Iowa Legislature

Des Moines, Iowa – This election has witnessed a surge of Republican victories throughout Iowa and the nation, and Iowa Republicans have solidified their hold on power in the state legislature.

Republicans are expected to gain two seats and take 36 of the 50 Iowa Senate seats as of Wednesday morning. Republicans are expected to gain three members from the previous session and take 67 of the 100 seats in the House.

This benefit limits Democrats’ ability to influence or broker agreements by guaranteeing Iowa Republicans will continue to have the authority to push legislation and appointments without requiring Democratic backing. Two years ago, Republicans initially achieved that supermajority.

Iowa Republicans were able to remove some long-standing Democrats in order to gain seats.

One such instance is Dubuque’s House District 72, where Republican Jennifer Smith defeated Democrat Chuck Isenhart after 14 years in office.

Democratic leadership members in the Iowa Senate failed their attempts to be re-elected.
Democrat Sen. Nate Boulton, the Minority Whip in the Iowa Senate, appears to have lost a quest for a third term, trailing Republican Mike Pike by 43 votes in the contest for Senate District 20 in Des Moines, which is sure to go to a recount. Republican Dave Sires defeated Assistant Democratic Leader Sen. Eric Giddens in the race for District 38, which includes portions of Black Hawk, Tama, and Benton Counties.

Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, the former Democratic Whip, will probably also go up for a recount in District 14 of West Des Moines, where she is only 13 votes ahead of Republican Mark Hanson.