Democrat Catelin Drey sworn in to Iowa Senate

Iowa’s new state legislator, Catelin Drey, was sworn into office Monday, officially ending Republicans’ supermajority hold on the chamber.

Drey, a Sioux City Democrat, won the August special election to represent Iowa Senate District 1, which was called following the passing of Sen. Rocky De Witt, R-Lawton, in June. The 37-year-old marketing firm account executive and mother won with 55% against her Republican opponent Christopher Prosch at 44% in the election.

On Monday, Drey stood in the Iowa Senate chamber and took her oath of office from Iowa Supreme Court Justice Matthew McDermott. She was joined by her husband, children and Senate Democratic colleagues.

Speaking to reporters, Drey said she was “honored” to join the state Senate while acknowledging that political tensions are high in the aftermath of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the shooting of two high school students by a classmate in Colorado.

“There was something very humbling about taking the official oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state of Iowa at a moment when it feels like that has become increasingly difficult or increasingly controversial,” Drey said. “And so, that oath is sacred, and I look forward to doing the best that I can to uphold that.”

Drey said she believed it was important for leaders to work to prevent future instances of politically motivated violence.

“I think right now we have to turn the temperature down,” Drey said. “And talking to my neighbors, I think that we’re much closer politically than the climate right now gives us credit for. I’m thinking about the safety of kids in school, I’m thinking about the safety of myself and my Senate colleagues. But I am optimistic that we have an awareness now that this type of rhetoric is dangerous, and I’m also optimistic that we can find some solutions to solve the gun violence crisis that is ongoing in this country.”

In addition to speaking in support of efforts on firearm regulation, Drey said that she wants to focus on issues like public education funding, child support and water quality as a state legislator.

With Drey sworn in, there are now 17 Democrats in the Iowa Senate, breaking Republicans’ 34-member supermajority. While Republicans maintain a large majority in the chamber — in addition to retaining supermajority control of the Iowa House and holding all but one statewide elected office — Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said the special election results will push Iowa Republicans to work more with members of the minority party in the 2026 legislative session than they had in previous years.

“Way too often the last few sessions it was perhaps a Senate of 34,” Weiner said. “Now we’re a Senate of 50. If they want to get people confirmed, if they want some other things, they will need to work with us. But that’s honestly the way it should work.”

In addition to Drey’s victory, Democrats have fared well in some other Iowa special elections in 2025, including the victory of Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, in a January special election. Democrats have said these recent victories show the party could be more competitive in Iowa’s 2026 midterm elections than in previous recent elections.