Democrat Mike Zimmer beat out Republican Kate Whittington in a special election to fill newly appointed Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer's state senate seat.

Republicans still have large legislative majorities in Iowa, but a Democrat’s apparent win in a solidly conservative area buoyed that party at a moment of uncertainty.

Democrat Mike Zimmer is the newest Iowa senator, flipping the Senate District 35 seat in Tuesday’s special election. Zimmer won with 52% of the vote to Republican Katie Whittington’s 48%, according to unofficial results published by the Iowa Secretary of State.