Lykam takes seat in Iowa Senate special election

December 29, 2016

State Rep. Jim Lykam (D-Davenport) won the special election Dec. 27 for the Iowa Senate seat vacated when long-time Sen. Joe Seng passed away in September. Lykam handily defeated Republican Mike Gonzales and Libertarian Severin Gilbert. This outcome was not totally unexpected, since Lykam has represented half the district in the Iowa House since 2003, and the Senate district has twice the number of Democrats as Republicans. District 45 covers much of west Davenport and the town of Buffalo. With the Democratic pickup, the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has 29 Republicans, 20 Democrats and one Independent.

Next, a special election will be scheduled to fill the House District 89 seat Lykam is vacating.

Read more: Lykam wins Senate special election (Quad City Times)
                      Lykam to resign House post on Monday (Quad City Times)