DES MOINES, Iowa - Candidates have been selected to run for the vacant Iowa State Senate seat vacated by newly elected Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Democrats has selected retired educator Mary Stewart of Ottumwa, while Republicans have nominated Packwood Businessman Adrian Dickey.
The two will face off in a special election on January 26th.
Miller-Meeks was sworn into Congress last Sunday, but her status is provisional because Democrat Rita Hart is challenging the tight election.
Miller-Meeks margin of victory in the contest was six-votes, which was the tightest federal office race in the country this year.
Hart filed to have the Democratically controlled U.S. House determine the outcome of the race.Republican say Iowa courts should determine any challenge to the election. Hart claims legally cast ballots were not counted and could have swayed the outcome of the race.
Republicans and Democrats held special primaries to select Dickey and Stewart ahead of a Tuesday deadline.
They're running to represent the state's 41st Senate District, which includes Wapello, Jefferson, Davis and Van Buren counties.