Republican Wendy Larson defeated Democrat Rachel Burns to win a special election for Iowa House District 7 in northwest Iowa.

Republican Wendy Larson and Democrat Rachel Burns both live in Odebolt. They are running to replace Mike Sexton, a Republican from Rockwell City, who resigned his seat in September to take a job with the Trump administration as director of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Iowa.

Hear from Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann as he breaks down the opportunity Democrats have in 2026.

A special election on Tuesday features two candidates from the same small town in northwest Iowa. The outcome could be an indicator of political sentiment in rural Iowa after recent contests in the state — and across the country — have favored Democratic candidates.

As Republicans and Democrats look ahead to next year’s midterms, both parties are keeping an eye on a series of state and local special elections to close the year out. Democrats are seeking

National Democrats are adding the Iowa House and Senate to their 2026 target map, citing recent over-performance in special elections and new opportunities to cut into GOP control in Des Moines.

Republican Wendy Larson will keep Iowa House District 7 red following a special election on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.The Iowa House seat was vacated earlier this year by former Rep.

Unofficial results show Republican Wendy Larson winning Iowa’s House District 7 special election by more than 1,600 votes, filling the seat vacated by Mike Sexton.