Republicans no longer hold super-majority in Iowa Senate after special election in northwest Iowa

SIOUX CITY — Republicans no longer hold a super-majority in the Iowa Senate after Democrats captured an open seat in a special election on Tuesday.

Democrat Catelin Drey of Sioux City won the special election by an 11 point margin in a district that President Trump carried by over 10 points last November. Unofficial results show Drey finished with 55% of the vote while 44% of the ballots were cast for Republican Christopher Prosch.

Drey will finish the term of Republican Senator Rocky De Witt of Lawton, who died of pancreatic cancer in June.

Drey’s victory ends the 34-seat supermajority Republicans have held in the Iowa Senate for the past three years. It means Governor Reynolds’ nominees for top state government roles will need the support of at least one Democrat to reach the 34 vote threshold for confirmation