Democrat Mike Zimmer Claims Victory in Special Election for Iowa State Senate Seat

A voter fills out a ballot at a polling station in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 6, 2018. Joshua Lott/Getty Images

Democratic candidate Mike Zimmer has claimed victory over his Republican rival Kate Whittington following Tuesday’s special election to replace GOP Sen. Chris Cournoyer in Iowa’s Senate.

Cournoyer resigned from representing Iowa Senate District 35—which covers Clinton County and parts of Scott and Jackson counties—in December to serve as Iowa’s new lieutenant governor.

Zimmer won Tuesday’s race with 51.72 percent of the vote compared to Whittington’s 48.08 percent, according to unofficial results published by Iowa’s secretary of state.

If the results are confirmed, Zimmer will serve out the remainder of Cournoyer’s term through 2026.

“I am honored that the residents of Senate District 35 have put their faith in me to represent them in the Iowa Senate,” Zimmer said in a statement. “Our campaign’s values of hard work and fairness resonated with a bipartisan coalition of voters in Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties.“

Zimmer said he is looking forward to “working on behalf of the people of Eastern Iowa to help working Iowans get ahead, support our public schools and teachers, and help lower the cost of living.”

Zimmer is a longtime education professional and coach who currently works as a career and technology education consultant for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency and owns a construction business, according to his official website.

He also serves as Central DeWitt School’s board president, the website states.

The Democratic candidate campaigned heavily on issues such as supporting Iowa’s working families, increasing wages, and bolstering underfunded public schools.

Democrats Tout ‘Earthquake Victory’

Zimmer’s Republican rival Whittington campaigned on bringing down soaring inflation, increasing community safety, restoring Iowa schools, and controlling property taxes.

She has not yet commented on Zimmer’s apparent victory and her campaign website is no longer accessible.

In a statement, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said Zimmer’s “earthquake victory” in Iowa “puts Republicans across the country on notice.”

“In a ruby red district that Trump won by 21 points, DLCC candidate Mike Zimmer clinched a comfortable win ...” Williams said. “Tonight’s win marks the first flip of the cycle and builds on key majority-making wins in Virginia earlier this month.”

Williams added that Democrats “have dozens more special elections on the horizon – we’re only just getting started.”

DNC Executive Director Sam Cornale also celebrated Zimmer’s win and said Democrats are “ready to fight for our rights and for a government that looks out for the needs of working Americans.”

Cornale said the tide is already beginning to turn against Trump, who took office earlier this month.

“The massive 24-point swing toward Democrats in Iowa’s Senate District 35 shows that Democrats can and will compete in every part of the country, ” Cornale said in a statement.

Republicans will still hold large majorities in both legislative chambers.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Whittington and the White House for comment.