Norwalk Republican Hollie Zajicek has won the Iowa Senate District 11 seat, defeating Democrat Sinikka Waugh in a race to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime incumbent Julian Garrett. Zajicek, who works as the city's economic development director, described herself as a patriot, not a politician, and said she felt good about the result after what she called an exhausting eight-month process.
Zajicek won roughly 54% of the vote, according to unofficial returns from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office cited by the Des Moines Register. Per the Indianola Independent Advocate, Zajicek received 17,219 votes to Waugh's 14,664, according to the Iowa Secretary of State's website. The district covers Warren County and part of Marion County, and the seat had sat empty since Garrett, a Republican, died June 8 following a prostate cancer diagnosis, the Register reported.
A Vacancy Filled After Months of Campaigning
Waugh, a small-business owner and Democrat from Indianola, was Zajicek's opponent in the race.
Zajicek listed economic growth, lower taxes, smaller government, and protecting families, freedoms and health as her top issues in response to an Independent Advocate questionnaire. She also plans to continue working as Norwalk's economic development director at least part-time during the legislative session.
Cancer and Water Quality Loomed Over the Race
The Register's candidate-questionnaire coverage discussed education and cancer. Waugh also addressed water quality and cancer rates.
Waugh called water quality her top priority, pushing for better measurement, real-time monitoring, and more transparency around contamination. The issue carries weight statewide: Iowa ranks second highest in the nation for new cancer cases, and the state's 2026 Cancer in Iowa report estimated 21,700 Iowans would be diagnosed with cancer this year, 500 more than the previous year's estimate, according to Iowa Public Radio.
Election Day Scenes Across the District
Polls across the district were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, per the Independent Advocate. Indianola's 7th precinct cast ballots at the Indianola American Legion Hall, while New Virginia voters turned out at the Gerry Allen Memorial Park building. In Medora, Kendra Heiman served as stew chef for Zajicek's official election-day crew. Voters statewide could find polling-place and absentee-voting information at voterready.iowa.gov.
The District 11 outcome came the same day Democrat Heather Matson flipped a Des Moines-area seat in neighboring Senate District 21, winning about 56% of the vote according to unofficial Polk County returns reported by the Register. Photographs from election night in District 11 were credited to Mark Davitt.
