Jason Noble

jnoble2@dmreg.com

U.S. Sen.-elect Joni Ernst resigned her seat in the Iowa Senate on Friday, and Gov. Terry Branstad moved Monday to set the date for the election of her successor.

Ernst, a Republican, is in the midst of her transition to Congress and will be sworn into the U.S. Senate early next month.

A special election will be held in Senate District 12 on Dec. 30, two weeks before the new legislative session convenes.

Ernst's resignation letter was short and to the point, comprising two sentences in which she resigned as of Nov. 28 and said she looked forward to "continuing my service to Iowa and our nation in the United States Senate."

The state Senate district covers six rural southwest Iowa counties – Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold and Taylor. Ernst, of Red Oak, had represented the areas since being elected in a special election in 2011.

Prior to that, the seat was held by Kim Reynolds, now Branstad's lieutenant governor.

The district is dominated by Republican voters and unlikely to shift the 26-24 partisan balance in the chamber. Democrats hold the majority. As of last month, the district was home to more than 18,000 registered Republicans, compared to about 7,000 Democrats and 12,000 independents.

Political parties will hold special conventions in advance of the Dec. 30 election to nominate candidates.