Isabella Liu

Democrat Renee Hardman beat her Republican opponent by more than 40 percentage points.

Hardman's win also means Republicans are one seat short of a supermajority and will need Democratic support to approve the governor's appointees.

Hardman will represent part of West Des Moines where she serves on the city council.

She also leads a nonprofit, Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Hardman says running a successful campaign in the winter was a group effort.

The seat was formerly held by Democrat Claire Salsey, who died in October.

For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.

We just decided as a collective that we're going to get this job done and we are going to prevent the supermajority.

And that is what helped drive our motivation to get this job done.

Democrat Renee Hardman beat her Republican opponent by more than 40 percentage points.

Hardman's win also means Republicans are one seat short of a supermajority and will need Democratic support to approve the governor's appointees.

Hardman will represent part of West Des Moines, where she serves on the city council.

She also leads a nonprofit, Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Hardman says running a successful campaign in the winter was a group effort.

The seat was formerly held by Democrat Claire Salci, who died in October.

For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.