Iowa Democrats have flipped a state Senate seat vacated earlier this year by Chris Cournoyer, who resigned to become the state’s new lieutenant governor.

Democrat Mike Zimmer has defeated Republican Kate Whittington in the special election for Senate District 35.

According to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, Zimmer won with 52% of the vote to Whittington’s 48%.

Zimmer is a longtime education professional and president of the Central DeWitt School Board. He 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. I‘m 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.”

Senate District 35 spans Clinton County, as well as parts of Jackson and Scott counties. It encompasses the cities Clinton, DeWitt, Camanche, Wheatland, Maquoketa and Princeton.

Although Republicans will maintain a firm hold on the chamber, now with a 34-16 majority, Democrats celebrated Tuesday evening.

“Mike Zimmer’s victory in Senate District 35, which President Trump won in November with nearly 60% of the vote, is a clear rejection of the Republican agenda led by Kim Reynolds and the Senate Republicans that have failed Iowans,” Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement.

“Voters sent a message: They’re tired of stagnant wages, defunded schools, and state interference in local control.”

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.