XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, alt.politics   
   From: not@home.org   
      
   super70s wrote:   
      
   >Democrat Renee Hardman wins Iowa state Senate seat, blocking GOP from   
   >reclaiming a supermajority   
   >By Hannah Schoenbaum and Hannah Fingerhut   
   >Associated Press   
   >Mon, December 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM CST   
   >   
   >DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa   
   >state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying   
   >Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber.   
   >   
   >Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming margin to win   
   >a seat representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs. The seat became   
   >vacant after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.   
   >   
   >Hardman, the CEO of nonprofit Lutheran Services of Iowa and a member of   
   >the West Des Moines City Council, becomes the first Black woman elected   
   >to the 50-member Senate.   
   >   
   >"I want to recognize that while my name was the one on the ballot, this   
   >race was never just about me," Hardman told a room of supporters in   
   >West Des Moines after declaring victory.   
   >   
   >With 99% of votes counted, Hardman led by about 43 percentage points.   
   >   
   >Her win is the latest in a string of special election victories for   
   >Iowa Democrats, who flipped two Senate seats this year to break up a   
   >supermajority that had allowed Republicans to easily confirm GOP Gov.   
   >Kim Reynolds' appointments to state agencies and commissions.   
   >   
   >Democrat Mike Zimmer first flipped a seat in January, winning a   
   >district that had strongly favored Republican President Donald Trump in   
   >the 2024 election. In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated   
   >her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa,   
   >giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans' 33. Celsi's death brought   
   >that down to 16.   
   >   
   >Republicans would have regained two-thirds control with a Loftin   
   >victory Tuesday. Without a supermajority, the party will need to get   
   >support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds' nominees. The   
   >GOP still has significant majorities in both legislative chambers.   
   >   
   >Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called   
   >Hardman's victory "a major check on Republican power."   
   >   
   >"With the last special election of the year now decided, one thing is   
   >clear: 2025 was the year of Democratic victories and overperformance,   
   >and Democrats are on track for big midterm elections," Martin said.   
   >   
   >In November the party dominated the first major Election Day since   
   >Trump returned to the White House, notably winning governor's races in   
   >Virginia and New Jersey. Democrats held onto a Kentucky state Senate   
   >seat this month in a special election. And while Republican Matt Van   
   >Epps won a Tennessee special election for a U.S. House seat, the   
   >relatively slim margin of victory gave Democrats hope for next year's   
   >midterms. The party must net three House seats in 2026 to reclaim the   
   >majority and impede Trump's agenda.   
   >   
   >Loftin, a tree trimmer turned data manager, congratulated Hardman and   
   >told The Associated Press he's praying for her as she embarks on this   
   >important chapter.   
   >   
   >Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann applauded Loftin and his supporters for   
   >putting up a fight in what he described as "a very tough district."   
   >Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 3,300 voters, or 37% to 30%.   
   >   
   >"Although we fell short this time, the Republican Party of Iowa remains   
   >laser-focused on expanding our majorities in the Iowa Legislature and   
   >keeping Iowa ruby-red," Kaufmann said.   
   >   
   >The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee pledged Tuesday to help   
   >defend the party's gains in Iowa and prevent the return of a GOP   
   >supermajority next year.   
   >   
   >   
      
   More lies.   The ignorant slaves in Iowa are right wing and afraid to vote   
   against Trump because he never lies.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)