Democrat Mike Zimmer has defeated Republican Kate Whittington in the special election for Senate District 35, which was vacated by Chris Cournoyer.

Republicans still have large legislative majorities in Iowa, but a Democrat’s apparent win in a solidly conservative area buoyed that party at a moment of uncertainty.

Democrats have flipped an Iowa state Senate seat in a district that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November. Democrat Mike Zimmer, who has worked in education and serves as the

Democrats Tuesday flipped seat in the Iowa Senate in a special election held to replace Republican Sen. Chris Cournoyer, who was named as Iowa's lieutenant governor, but Democrats still will be far outnumbered in the chamber.

A Democratic candidate has won the state senate seat previously held by Republican Chris Cournoyer, who resigned in December to serve as lieutenant governor. State Senate District 35 covers all of Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott Counties.

Democrat Mike Zimmer is the newest Iowa senator, flipping the Senate District 35 seat in Tuesday’s special election. Zimmer won with 52% of the vote to Republican Katie Whittington’s 48%, according to unofficial results published by the Iowa Secretary of State.

Iowa Democrats scored an upset in a state Senate special election on Tuesday, months after being wiped out in the Hawkeye State in the presidential contest. Democrat Mike Zimmer narrowly defeated Republican Katie Whittington,