Republican wins NW Iowa state Senate seat special election

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Republican has overwhelmingly won a state Senate seat in a northwest Iowa special election. Spirit Lake insurance agent Dave Rowley won the special election Tuesday to fill the Senate District 1 set vacated by Zach Whiting, a Republican who is leaving Iowa for a job in Texas. Rowley won with nearly 76% of the vote. Democrat Mark Lemke received 24%. Turnout was extremely low with just 7.8% of registered voters in the five counties of the district turning out to cast ballots. Rowley will be sworn in on Jan. 10, the first day of the 2022 legislative session.