Democratic challenger Matt Blake upsets Republican incumbent Brad Zaun in Iowa Senate race

In this year's most expensive legislative race, Democrat Matt Blake, a former Urbandale council member, defeated Republican incumbent Brad Zaun, who sought a sixth term in the Iowa Senate.

Blake won 52% of the vote, with Zaun at 48%. Senate District 22 represents Urbandale and Johnston.

Blake, 36, an attorney and an Iowa Army National Guard major who serves as a judge advocate, said Tuesday night that he's happy he could flip a Republican Senate seat. Blake said in a Des Moines Register survey that he would like to repeal vouchers for private and charter schools and the state’s book ban.

"I think bringing some balance back to the state, making sure we have some policies that reflect the wishes of Iowans, would be a good thing," he said, adding that he talked with voters about making education and women's reproductive rights a priority.

Zaun, a former Urbandale mayor, voted for the current six-week abortion ban, which took effect this year. And he supported prohibiting public schools from having books with descriptions or depictions of sex acts.

Blake, a South Dakota native who graduated with a law degree from Drake University, has said he would push to repeal the six-week abortion ban that’s “too extreme for Iowa” and seek more sensible policies.

Senate District 22 is the state's most expensive legislative contest. Blake and Zaun, 62, a sales director, raised $1.72 million, an amount that includes in-kind contributions from the state political parties and other outside groups.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at [email protected].

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Matt Blake beats Brad Zaun in battle for Iowa Senate in big-money race