Sioux City, Iowa – In a significant upset for Iowa Republicans, Democrat Catelin Drey secured victory in a special election for the state’s Senate District 1 on Tuesday, flipping a long-held Republican seat and dismantling the GOP’s supermajority in the upper chamber.
Drey, a first-time candidate and founder of the advocacy group Moms for Iowa, defeated Republican Christopher Prosch by an 11-point margin, capturing 55.5% of the vote to Prosch’s 44.5%. The district, which encompasses Sioux City and parts of Woodbury County in northwest Iowa, had been vacated following the death of Republican Sen. Rocky De Witt from pancreatic cancer in June.
Turnout was robust for a special election, with about 24% of the nearly 32,000 registered voters participating. Drey won 18 out of 22 precincts, outperforming expectations in an area that has leaned Republican in recent years. Notably, the district supported Donald Trump by 10 points in the 2024 presidential election, down from a 25-point margin in 2020.
Drey’s campaign centered on issues of affordability, including housing, child care, and health care, resonating with voters amid ongoing economic concerns. In contrast, Prosch, who owns a media consulting firm, emphasized tax cuts, border security, school choice, and restrictions on abortion.
The win boosts Democrats to 17 seats in the 50-member Iowa Senate, reducing Republicans to 33. Without a supermajority, Republicans will now require at least one Democratic vote to confirm appointments to state agencies and commissions, potentially shifting the balance of power on key governance issues.
National Democrats hailed the result as a sign of momentum. The Democratic Party’s official X account posted, “With this victory, Democrats break the supermajority Iowa Republicans have in the State Senate. Congratulations, Catelin!” The post, which included a photo of Drey, garnered thousands of likes and shares.
This outcome aligns with a pattern of Democratic overperformance in recent special elections, which could bode well for the party heading into the 2026 midterms. Analysts suggest it reflects shifting voter priorities in traditionally red areas, particularly on reproductive rights and economic policies following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Drey is set to be sworn in soon, with her term running through the end of 2026. Republicans maintain control of the Iowa House and governorship, but the loss of Senate dominance may complicate Gov. Kim Reynolds’ agenda in the upcoming legislative session.
