In a significant upset, Democrat John Ewing Jr. defeated Republican incumbent Jean Stothert in the Omaha mayoral race, becoming the city’s first Black mayor. This victory marks a Democratic win in a traditionally Republican-leaning area, adding to a string of recent Democratic successes in state and local elections across the country. The race, while officially nonpartisan, took on national overtones, with issues like transgender rights and ties to President Trump playing a role. Ewing’s win is seen by Democrats as a sign of their growing strength heading into the 2024 elections.
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In a surprising upset, Democrat James Malone won a Pennsylvania state Senate special election in a traditionally Republican district, defeating GOP candidate Josh Parsons by fewer than 500 votes. This victory marks the first Democratic win in the district since its creation and comes despite President Trump winning the area by a significant margin in the previous election. While Republicans attributed the loss to a weak candidate and low GOP turnout, Democrats celebrated it as evidence of growing anti-Trump sentiment. Malone’s win is attributed to a combination of factors, including appealing to independent voters, local issue focus and some anti-Parsons sentiment within the district.
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Democrat James Malone secured a surprising victory in Pennsylvania’s Senate District 36 special election, defeating Republican Josh Parsons in a district that heavily favored Trump in the previous presidential election. Malone’s win, by a margin of roughly 500 votes, defied expectations in a conservative area. This upset follows a pattern of Democratic success in recent special elections, further narrowing the GOP’s state Senate majority to 27-23. National Democratic leaders celebrated the win as a significant rebuke to Republican governance.
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Democrat Mike Zimmer secured victory in the Iowa State Senate District 35 special election, overcoming a significant Republican advantage in the traditionally conservative district. Zimmer, a retired educator and school board president, defeated Republican Katie Whittington with nearly 52% of the vote. This win narrows the Republican majority in the State Senate to 34-16. The election, spurred by the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, saw a robust Democratic turnout.
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Mike Zimmer, a Democrat, has won the Iowa Senate District 35 special election, defeating Republican Katie Whittington with 4,812 votes to 4,473. This victory fills the vacancy left by Republican Chris Cournoyer, who resigned to become Iowa’s lieutenant governor. The district encompasses Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties. Zimmer’s platform emphasizes improved education funding, minimum wage increases, and Highway 30 expansion.
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Democrat Mike Zimmer secured victory in Iowa’s Senate District 35 special election, defeating Republican Kate Whittington with 52% of the vote. This win flips the seat previously held by now-Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer. Zimmer, a veteran educator, will serve until 2026, representing Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties. While Republicans retain a 34-16 Senate majority, Democrats highlighted the win as a rejection of the current Republican agenda.
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John Q. Hosedrinker