Iowa Democrats eye opportunity in eastern Iowa special election

Following Sen. Chris Cournoyer’s elevation to lieutenant governor, there’s a vacancy in the state Senate. Local school board president Mike Zimmer is hoping to flip a seat back for Democrats. 

There is a special election looming in eastern Iowa. Senate District 35 was represented by Republican state Sen. Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire before Gov. Kim Reynolds selected her as the state’s new number two. Reynolds has since announced a January 28 election to fill the vacancy, setting in motion a new possibility for Democrats as they try to build a future after a hard election. 

Iowa Republicans are expected to settle on a candidate this weekend. Meanwhile, Democrats quickly fielded a candidate before Christmas Day.

Mike Zimmer, 64, is the president of Central DeWitt School Board and owner of Mike Zimmer Construction. A longtime fixture in local education and business circles, Zimmer brings community leadership experience to his campaign. As school board president and a small business owner, his candidacy announcement said he would focus on promoting public education and the economic success of middle-class families.

“It’s not enough for families to just get by—we need to make sure they can truly get ahead. That’s the kind of future I’ll be fighting for in the Senate,” Zimmer said in a statement. 

Mike Zimmer is the president of Central DeWitt School Board. He’s running to represent Senate District 35.

Iowa Senate Democrats view the special election as an opportunity to send a message about their priorities. In a statement, they characterized the race as “a pivotal moment for Eastern Iowa” and an opportunity for voters to “demand bold leadership and real solutions to move Iowa forward,” particularly on issues of education funding and economic equity.

The Iowa Democratic Party’s Chair Rita Hart is simultaneously the chair of the Clinton County Democrats. Outside of a Black Hawk County supervisor race, Senate District 35 is a priority going into the New Year.

Republicans to select a candidate Saturday

Cournoyer’s ascendance was met with excitement from the local party, but its timing complicated Christmas. While the statewide party is taking the reins, local activists have been working to field candidates. 

“This has all had to be done so fast,” said Darla Chappell, chair of the Jackson County Republicans.  “It was hard on a lot of people during the holidays. I and other people in the county wish she had been named, and we could have had this election. And then had a little more time during the holidays.”

The Republican Party of Iowa did not return calls Friday. 

On Saturday, Republicans representing the district’s precincts will convene in a DeWitt elementary school to settle on a candidate. So far, Iowa Starting Line confirmed with the local party that three Republicans have raised their hands to carry the GOP’s standard. 

State Rep. Tom Determann of Camanche just won his second term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Before joining the legislature, Determann was a Clinton County supervisor. In 2023, he was a vocal supporter of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president. His signature issue—one he advertises with a lapel button during the session—has been expanding Highway 30 to four lanes, which has not happened. As a result of the legislature’s 2023 limits on the levy abilities of local governments, Clinton County was forced to make drastic cuts to the county government he used to supervise. If selected, there will be another Iowa Legislative vacancy that will need filling. 

The other two candidates are both from Clinton County. 

Katie Whittington of Clinton organized locally for Clinton County Republicans. She’s been a supporter of private school vouchers and vocal opponent of electricity-producing wind turbines and carbon capture pipelines.

Clinton County’s Dennis Campbell is the part-owner of Crystal Creek Enterprises, a row-crop farm his family began in Clinton County.

Independent candidates can also end up on the ballot by collecting a minimum of 100 signatures from eligible district voters. 

District leans Republican but anything can happen in a special election

Senate District 35 stretches across three Mississippi River counties. In Clinton County, it includes Clinton, DeWitt, Camanche and Wheatland. The district has a southern square of Jackson County that includes Maquoketa. It also has the northwestern section of Scott County including Princeton.

In November, President-elect Trump carried the district by 21 points. US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won it by 9 points. And back in 2022, Cournoyer carried it with 61% of the vote. This all suggests strong headwinds for Republicans. 

But campaigns have less than a month to organize. And special elections tend to have low turnout since they occur outside the normal November election period. The condensed, off-calendar timing makes the special election unpredictable. 

No matter the outcome, Iowa Republicans will maintain control in the Iowa Senate. Before Cournoyer’s resignation, Republicans held a 34-16 majority before the legislators newly elected in 2024 are sworn in.

Special Election at the end of the month

Gov. Kim Reynolds set the special election day for January 28. 

Early Voting typically starts 20 days before Election Day, which would be around January 8. However, the deadline for candidates to file isn’t until January 14. An elections official in Clinton County told Iowa Starting Line that early voting can’t begin until the special election ballots are printed and those require candidate names

Absentee ballots will be available for mail and in-person voting once ballots are ready. County auditors can accept absentee ballot request forms at any time. 

The first day of in-person voting and when the ballots can be mailed to requesting voters hasn’t been announced. 

Eligible voters submitted enough signatures to require satellite voting locations in Dewitt and in Scott County. 

The special Election Day is Tuesday, January 28. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. 

For more information, contact your county auditor.