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Capitol Notebook: Reynolds orders flags lowered, sets date for Iowa Senate special election
Also, Canadian National Railway announces $38M investment in Iowa
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday ordered all flags in Iowa lowered to half-staff in honor and remembrance of northwest Iowa Republican state Sen. Rocky De Witt of Lawton.
De Witt announced he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2024. He died on June 25, at the age of 66.
Reynolds ordered flags in the state to be lowered and remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, July 3.
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, and was a 22-year employee of MidAmerican Energy.
De Witt represented Iowa Senate District 1, covering parts of northern Woodbury County.
Reynolds on Monday issued a proclamation setting Aug. 26 as the date for a special election to fill De Witt’s Senate seat.
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of De Witt's term, which ends in January 2027.
Iowa has already seen three special elections this year to fill vacancies in the Iowa Legislature.
In January, Democrat Mike Zimmer of DeWitt defeated Republican Kate Whittington to flip an Eastern Iowa Senate seat that Republican Chris Cournoyer vacated when she became lieutenant governor.
In March, Republican Blaine Watkins defeated Democrat Nannette Griffin to replace former Rep. Martin Graber, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
In April, Democrat Angel Ramirez of Cedar Rapids won a special election to the Iowa House to replace former Rep. Sami Scheetz, who resigned after being appointed to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Ramirez defeated Republican Bernie Hayes.
Republicans hold supermajorities in both the Iowa House and Senate.
Canadian National Railway to invest $38M in Iowa
Canadian National Railway announced this week plans to invest $38 million in Iowa, including upgrades to tracks and building capacity in the state, as part of its 2025 capital investment program.
“This investment will support track maintenance and strategic infrastructure initiatives in the state,” the company said in a statement. “The projects will help ensure the safe movement of goods and support long-term sustainable growth in Iowa and across CN’s network."
In 2024, CN invested approximately $31 million in Iowa for track maintenance and key infrastructure initiatives. Highlights of this investment include:
- Approximately $1.4 million to upgrade the track and build capacity on CN’s Osage Subdivision near Cedar Rapids
- More than $1 million toward upgrades at CN’s Waterloo rail yard to improve operations.
CN employs roughly 260 people in Iowa and operates roughly 570 miles of railroad in the state.
“CN’s $38 million investment into our state’s infrastructure is a big win for Iowa's farmers, businesses, and communities,” Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, said in a statement. “This project will not only improve the resiliency and efficiency of transporting Iowa products across North America, but it will also create jobs and support long-term sustainable growth in Iowa. Investments like this help ensure Iowa remains a leader in feeding and fueling the world, and I’m grateful to have CN invest in Iowa’s future."
— Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
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