Democrats Break Iowa GOP Supermajority With Catelin Drey’s Senate Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iowa Democrat Catelin Drey flipped a Republican-held state Senate seat, breaking the GOP’s supermajority for the first time in three years. Drey won with 55% of the vote in a district carried by Trump in 2024. The victory marks Democrats’ second state Senate flip this year, boosting momentum ahead of 2026 midterms.
Democrats Break Iowa GOP Supermajority Quick Looks
- Catelin Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch with 55% of the vote.
- The seat was left vacant after GOP Sen. Rocky De Witt’s passing.
- This is Democrats’ second GOP-held Iowa Senate flip in 2025.
- Drey’s district backed Trump by over 11 points in 2024.
- DNC chair Ken Martin hailed the win as rejection of Trump’s agenda.
- Democrats now have more power to block Iowa governor’s nominees.
Democrats Break Iowa GOP Supermajority With Catelin Drey’s Senate Win
Deep Look
Iowa Democrats scored a significant political victory Tuesday, flipping a Republican-controlled state Senate seat and breaking the GOP’s supermajority in the chamber for the first time since 2022.
Catelin Drey, the Democratic candidate, defeated Republican Christopher Prosch with 55% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies from the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office. The seat became vacant following the death of Republican state Sen. Rocky De Witt in June at age 66 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The result represents the second time this year that Democrats have flipped a GOP-held Iowa state Senate seat. In January, Democrat Mike Zimmer pulled off a similar upset against Republican Katie Whittington in another special election.
A Win in Trump Country
Drey’s win is particularly notable given the district’s conservative leanings. President Donald Trump carried the area by more than 11 points in the 2024 election. Similarly, Zimmer’s district had gone to Trump by more than 20 points, making these flips a sign of potential Democratic momentum in Republican territory.
Such gains could have implications far beyond Iowa. National Democrats are hoping to build on these local wins to energize voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when they plan to contest GOP majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate.
Breaking the Supermajority
The loss of the seat dents Republicans’ legislative dominance in Iowa. Until Tuesday, the GOP maintained a supermajority in the state Senate, giving them broad control over policy decisions and confirmation of nominees. Now, Democrats have enough leverage to block gubernatorial appointees, since those require two-thirds support for approval.
This newfound power could allow Democrats to slow or stop certain elements of the Republican agenda in Des Moines.
Democrats Claim Momentum
Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin hailed the victory as proof that Iowans are rejecting Trump-aligned Republicans.
“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.
He argued that Democrats’ success in organizing local campaigns demonstrates that grassroots efforts can yield results even in GOP-friendly regions.
“When Democrats organize everywhere, we win everywhere, and today is no exception,” Martin added.
Looking to 2026
With two Republican seats flipped in less than a year, Iowa Democrats are entering the 2026 cycle with renewed energy. Their victories mirror a string of Democratic special-election wins nationally, which party leaders view as evidence of shifting voter sentiment ahead of high-stakes midterm contests.
For Republicans, the results could serve as a warning that areas once considered safely red may now be competitive. Though Trump carried both districts in recent elections, Democrats’ ability to secure victories there suggests voters may be more open to change than recent statewide margins have indicated.
The outcome in Iowa highlights a broader dynamic in American politics: control over state legislatures not only affects local governance but also shapes the national conversation heading into federal elections. With their supermajority broken, Iowa Republicans will now face more hurdles advancing their agenda, while Democrats gain a crucial foothold to influence legislative priorities.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.