Catelin Drey Makes History and Joins Live Interview on August 27, 2025

SIoux City, IA (August 27, 2025) - In a remarkable turnaround for Iowa Democrats, Catelin Drey cemented her place in state political history yesterday by flipping the deeply red 1st District in a special election, breaking the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate. Drey secured 55% of the vote to her opponent’s 44%, prevailing in a district Donald Trump carried by 11 points in 2024.

This morning, Drey appeared in a live interview hosted jointly by Iowa Starting Line and KHOI’s “Capitol Week” to discuss her victory and her plans for the remainder of the legislative session. During the conversation, Drey emphasized her commitment to:

• Fully funding public schools and improving educational outcomes across western Iowa.
• Expanding access to affordable housing and child care to ease financial burdens on working families.
• Restoring bipartisanship in Des Moines by requiring the Republican majority to negotiate on key appointments and legislation, now that Governor Reynolds can no longer rely on party-line votes for judicial and executive confirmations.

The interview, distributed through the Starting Line feed and KHOI’s podcast channels, aired live on Wednesday morning, August 27. Drey reflected on the grassroots energy that fueled her campaign, noting that high turnout among volunteers and small-dollar donors underscored a hunger for change in communities long considered solidly Republican.

Looking ahead, Drey will be sworn into the Iowa Senate next week. With her arrival, Democrats will hold a 17-? balance, enough to block unilateral GOP actions on judicial and cabinet nominations. Drey’s emergence as a young mother and progressive organizer signals a strategic shift for Iowa’s Democrats as they eye competitive statewide races in 2026.

Catelin Drey’s live interview is available for replay on the Iowa Starting Line website and KHOI’s “Capitol Week” podcast feed.