Democrat Giddens wins vacant seat in Iowa Senate District 30 special election

Democrat Eric Giddens won election to fill a vacant Iowa Senate seat in District 30 on Tuesday night, a seat that was vacated after Democrat Jeff Danielson resigned in January.

Giddens won 7,610 votes to Republican Walt Rogers' 5,631 votes, or 57 percent to 42 percent. Libertarian Fred Perryman received 143 votes, or 1 percent.

Giddens, a member of the Cedar Falls School Board, emphasized improving public education in the state as a main focus of his candidacy. He opposes public school voucher programs and would like full funding for K-12 education.

Rogers, who previously held office in Iowa House District 60, ran on conservative principles that he said would better represent this district in the legislature. He pointed out his support for the Republican-backed state tax cut.

Perryman also entered the race. He had previously run for State Auditor in 2018, but lost to Democrat Rob Sand.

Giddens won the absentee portion of the vote 3,941 votes to Rogers' 2,125 votes. Perryman received 48 votes.

The seat opened up after former Iowa Sen. Jeff Danielson

in the middle of his 15th legislative session. He said he could no longer work for the Cedar Falls Fire Department after the way had been run over the past few years, and could not support his family on just the state senator's salary.

After this result, the balance of power in the Iowa Senate will stand at 32 Republicans and 18 Democrats.