Spotlight candidate Renee Hardman would be the first Black woman to serve in the Iowa Senate
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced Renee Hardman as a Spotlight candidate ahead of her special election for the Iowa Senate on December 30th. Renee’s race is a must-win for Democrats to stop Republicans from reclaiming a supermajority in the Iowa Senate, after two Iowa Democrats flipped seats in this chamber earlier this year. Iowa marks the sixth GOP supermajority the DLCC has broken in just two years, and protecting our hard-won progress is critical.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Iowa Senate Democrats shattered expectations when they broke the GOP supermajority by flipping two seats earlier this year. Renee’s race is an opportunity to make history by electing the first Black woman to the state Senate chamber, while also defending Democrats’ gains. The 2025 elections proved that voters across the country are holding Republicans accountable for the affordability crisis, and the DLCC is proud to support Renee as we elect more state Democrats to fight for working families.”
Renee Hardman (SD-16) is a nonprofit leader running in a December special election to represent her West Des Moines district in the Iowa Senate. Winning her race is essential to block Republicans from restoring a supermajority in the chamber after Democrats flipped a pair of seats earlier this year. Renee has dedicated herself to uplifting her community through public service. As a city council member, she strives to create a brighter future for every resident. If Renee is elected to the state Senate, she will be a strong voice for the people, fighting for increased public school funding and a lower cost of living for working Iowans.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade. Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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