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

President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered most federal workers the option to leave their jobs in exchange for eight months severance, in his most radical move yet to drastically overhaul the government.She defended the drastic move as part of Trump's bid to make the government "good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

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.

A Democratic candidate has won the state senate seat previously held by Republican Chris Cournoyer, who resigned in December to serve as lieutenant governor. State Senate District 35 covers all of Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott Counties.

Iowa Democrats scored an upset in a state Senate special election on Tuesday, months after being wiped out in the Hawkeye State in the presidential contest. Democrat Mike Zimmer narrowly defeated Republican Katie Whittington,