In a holiday-weekend special election in the West Des Moines-area District 16, Democrat Renee Hardman defeated Republican Lucas Loftin on December 30, 2025 to win the Iowa Senate seat left vacant by the death of Democrat Claire Celsi. Hardman, a longtime West Des Moines City Council member and chief executive of Lutheran Services in Iowa, will join the Iowa Senate, becoming the first Black woman to serve in the chamber.
By winning the seat, Hardman denied Republicans a two-thirds majority in the chamber, preserving a Democratic check on appointments and on the governor’s agenda as Iowa heads into 2026.
District 16 covers parts of the Des Moines metro area, including the West Des Moines suburbs. The result reshapes the balance of power for confirmations and major policy votes in the next session, ensuring Democrats maintain at least one vote on key nominees and legislation.