By holding a left-leaning seat in suburban Des Moines, Democrats ensured that Republicans would not have a supermajority in the State Senate.

By holding a left-leaning seat in suburban Des Moines, Democrats ensured that Republicans would not have a supermajority in the State Senate.

Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber. Hardman bested Republican Lucas Loftin by an overwhelming margin to win the seat representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs. The seat became vacant after the Oct. 6 death of state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat.