Democrats have turned in a lot of remarkable performances in special elections this year, but Tuesday's win in Iowa was the biggest by far—and we explain why on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. Not only did progressive organizer Catelin Drey flip a deep-red district, but by doing so, she broke the GOP's supermajority in the state Senate. It's also the latest sign that the political environment for Iowa Republicans is pug-ugly—not something they want with much bigger races on the line next year.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also delve into the big new legal decision out of Utah, where a judge just ruled that Republicans were not permitted to gerrymander the state's congressional map and would have to draw a new one. It's a major victory for direct democracy, and it also means a new Democratic seat—likely in time for the 2026 midterms.

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