Gov. Reynolds Sets Date for Iowa Senate District 1 Special Election

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation setting Tuesday, August 26, 2025, as the date for a special election in Iowa Senate District 1 following the death of Iowa State Senator Rocky De Witt. 

Iowa Code section 69.14 outlines the authority given to the governor to set a special election. 

De Witt was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022. He previously served as a member of the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office before being elected to the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors in 2016. De Witt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2024 and passed away on June 25, 2025, at the age of 66.  

The proclamation setting the date of the special election can be found online and reads as follows:  

SPECIAL ELECTION PROCLAMATION 

WHEREAS, the Office of State Senator for the First (1st) State Senate District of the Iowa General Assembly, as defined by section 41.2(1) of the 2025 Iowa Code has become vacant by reason of the death of Iowa State Senator Rocky De Witt on June 25, 2025. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIMBERLY K. REYNOLDS, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by law, do hereby proclaim and direct that a special election to fill said vacancy shall be held within said District on: 

TUESDAY, THE TWENTY-SIXTH (26TH) DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 A.D. 

WHEREFORE, all electors within the First (1st) State Senate District will take due notice and the Woodbury County Commissioner of Elections shall give official notice as provided in section 39.6 of the Iowa Code.