Angel Ramirez won Tuesday’s special election in Iowa House District 78 in a landslide. The Cedar Rapids Democrat won 2,742 of the 3,470 votes cast in the district, according to the vote count published by the Linn County Auditor’s Office. Bernie Hayes, chair of Linn County Republicans, received 721 votes in the special election. There were six write-in votes.
“I am so honored to be elected as the first Latina elected in the Iowa State Legislature,” Ramirez said in a statement on Tuesday night. “Progress isn’t partisan. Fully funded schools, access to healthcare, clean air and water, these are Iowa values. I believe every Iowan, no matter their zip code or background, deserves dignity, opportunity, and justice. I am looking forward to advocating for these values in the House!”
House District 78 covers much of southeast Cedar Rapids, including downtown and the NewBo district. It’s considered safe territory for Democrats. Kamala Harris carried the district in 2024 winning 65 percent of its vote. Ramirez outperformed Harris by 14 percentage points on Tuesday, garnering 79 percent of the votes cast.
In an interview posted by Iowa News Now on Monday, Ramirez said she was running “because I believe Iowans deserve more.”
“We deserve more opportunity, more justice, more joy,” she said. “These are things that policy and government can help with, can lead to, when it’s done well and when it’s done right. And when you have people who represent the everyday struggles and challenges that Iowans face.”
Ramirez ran on a progressive platform that included protecting and strengthening civil rights and voting rights, and serving as a voice for immigrants and others who lack representation in state government.
“Right now, we have a statehouse and a governor that are bent on stripping civil liberties, on giving tax cuts to corporations and big ag that will impact the health and the employment of workers and regular residents across Iowa for years to come,” Ramirez said in the Iowa News Now interview.
“We have a lot of financial hardships here in Iowa. As I’m knocking doors, I’m meeting people who are considering leaving our state. And it’s because of the policies, the very harmful policies, that this legislature, this Republican-led legislature and governor, have implemented.”
“I know a lot of people feel disheartened with both parties right now, and I think that’s fair,” she continued. “And I also think, why don’t we try something new, right? Why don’t we try a bold, human-centered progressive vision towards change, and put up leaders that represent that across Iowa?”
Ramirez moved to Iowa to attend Coe College, and after graduating decided to make the state her home.
“I experienced the best of what Iowa can be,” she said about her decision to stay. “A community that empowers and protects and supports.”
Ramirez is a peace facilitator at the Kids First Law Center, working with students at Metro High School and McKinley STEAM Academy on positive ways to resolve conflicts using the principles of restorative justice. She also co-founded and serves as executive director for Our Future, a nonprofit that provides paid fellowships to emerging community leaders in the Cedar Rapids area. She previously served as a legislative aide to Rob Hogg, who represented Cedar Rapids in the Iowa Senate, and worked on Cory Booker’s 2020 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The seat in Iowa House District 78 came open when Democrat Sami Scheetz, the first Arab-American to serve in the state legislature, resigned at the beginning of the month after being appointed to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Scheetz, who was in his second term in the House, filled the vacancy left when Ben Rogers resigned, after serving as a Linn County supervisor for 16 years.
Ramirez will complete Scheetz’s term, which runs through the end of 2026. Ramirez said she plans to run for reelection in the November 2026 general election.
In a social media post on Wednesday morning, Ramirez said, “The outpouring of support shows just how ready we all are to fight for the future of all Iowans. The fight doesn’t stop here, but wow, what an incredible start!”
