Saturday, 23 November 2024

GOP Gains Legislative Supermajority In Midwestern State For First Time In Over Five Decades

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Republicans have tightened their grip on the Iowa Legislature.

The GOP will have a legislative supermajority in the Hawkeye State for the first time in over five decades.

“Iowa House Republicans have received a mandate from the people of Iowa. On January 13, 2025, we will have a supermajority for the first time in over 54 years. We have a historic opportunity to think big and act boldly. And we will deliver!” State Rep. Austin Harris said.

“House Republicans flipped Democrat-held seats in Ankeny, Dubuque, Marshalltown and Mason City and held off Democratic challengers in the Des Moines metro,” the Des Moines Register noted.

From the Des Moines Register:

In the Senate, Democrats flipped a Republican-held seat in Urbandale but appeared to have lost two incumbents in Des Moines and Cedar Falls.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, took the stage Tuesday night at the Iowa GOP’s election night watch party in Des Moines to declare victory.

Grassley said Republicans had defended all the incumbent House Republicans running for reelection.

“How does the number 67 House Republicans sound to everybody?” he asked the crowd.

Going into Tuesday’s election, Republicans held a 64-36 majority in the Iowa House and a 33-16 advantage in the Iowa Senate.

If all the results hold, a 67-member Republican supermajority will be the largest majority the party has held in the Iowa House since Iowa set the number of state representatives at 100 beginning with the 1970 election.

“Come January 13, 2025, under the leadership of @PatGrassley, Iowa House Republicans will hold a super majority of 67 seats and the largest majority since 1970. Meanwhile, 33 House Democrats will only represent 10 of the 99 Iowa counties…Iowa is a red state!” Harris said.

Per The Gazette:

The wins will give Republicans a 35-15 majority in the Senate and a 67-33 majority in the House when legislators convene next year.

Republicans picked up two seats in the Senate but lost one notable incumbent: Sen. Brad Zaun, an Urbandale Republican who was seeking a sixth term.

Zaun was ousted in Polk County’s Senate District 22 by Democrat Matt Blake, a former Urbandale City Council member. Zaun is the city’s former mayor.

Their race was among several high-dollar Senate contests in the Des Moines metro area. The political parties split wins for two others in which Democrats were incumbents.

Sen. Nate Boulton, a Des Moines Democrat, narrowly lost his Senate District 20 seat to his challenger, Republican Mike Pike. The unofficial margin of victory was fewer than 50 votes.


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