Democrat Mike Zimmer beat out Republican Kate Whittington in a special election to fill newly appointed Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer's state senate seat.

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.

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 president of a school board,

President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered most federal workers the option to leave their jobs in exchange for eight months severance, in his most radical move yet to drastically overhaul the government.She defended the drastic move as part of Trump's bid to make the government "good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

Unofficial results as of 9:40 p.m. with all counties and precincts reporting, show Zimmer leading with 4,812, or 51.72%, to Whittington's 4,473 votes, or 48.08%.

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,