A Democrat who’s served in the Iowa House for 14 years easily won Tuesday’s special election for a seat in the Iowa Senate. Jim Lykam (LIKE-um) of Davenport was elected to serve out the remaining year of the late Senator Joe Seng’s four-term. Seng, who was also a Democrat from Davenport, died in September after a two-year battle with brain cancer.
Lykam, who celebrated his 67th birthday in mid-December, is a life-long resident of Davenport. He was an independent auto dealer in the city for 25 years. He’s won seven traditional “Election Day” contests to secure a seat in the Iowa House, but Lykam admits the “special” election for this senate seat was unknown territory.
The senate district covers western Davenport and the community of Buffalo.
Voters in Lykam’s HOUSE district will have to choose his replacement. The 2017 legislature will start with 99 House members as a result, because Governor Branstad must give 18 days notice before setting the date for a special election. The 2017 legislative session starts in 13 days.
