DES MOINES, Iowa — State Republicans will have supermajorities, or two-thirds control, in the Iowa House and Senate this upcoming legislative session, after initial election results show the party flipping multiple seats.
Before Tuesday's election, Iowa Republicans already had a supermajority in the Senate with 33 seats. Unofficial results show the GOP added two more senators to the statehouse.
In the House, before Election Day, Republicans controlled 64 out of 100 seats. Now, the party is looking to have taken three seats from across the aisle, according to unofficial results.
"Every time there's been a general election, special election, we've decided we wanted to pick up seats every time," Speaker of the House Pat Grassley said Tuesday night at the Iowa Republicans Election Day watch party. "So I hope that's OK with you all across the state of Iowa. All incumbents were re-elected, and how does the number 67 House Republicans sound to everybody?"
Republicans took House seats in Dubuque and Marshalltown from their incumbent, Democratic challengers. So what advantage would pending supermajorities in the House and Senate provide for the Republican party?
"In our case, for the governor to make certain appointments, it requires a two-thirds confirmation in the state Senate," University of Iowa political science associate professor Timothy Hagle told Local 5 News. "If you don't have supermajority control, then that would be mean you would need some bipartisan support."
Hagle added it's been several terms since either party possessed this much control at the statehouse.
In some of the close races decided by a few hundred, or dozen votes, recounts may occur. Until then, Iowa Republicans appear to have supermajorities in both Iowa Legislature chambers.
The next state legislative session begins on Jan. 13, 2025.