DES MOINES - After two years with the thinnest of margins separating the political parties in the Iowa Legislature, control in both chambers could change hands Election Day.

Operatives on either side of the aisle want to win the Legislature one seat at a time and are focused on a handful of key races that will decide whether Republicans or Democrats hold the majority.

During the last General Assembly, the Iowa Senate has been split in a 25-25 deadlock. That forced leaders to forge a unique power-sharing agreement. In the House, Republicans held a 51-49 advantage for the past two years.

To many observers, the raw numbers appear to favor Democrats claiming the Senate for the first time in a decade. This year, the GOP must defend six seats and pick off one sitting Democrat to earn the majority. No Democrats are retiring their positions this year.

Despite the odds, Senate Republican Leader Mary Lundby of Marion isn't discouraged by the GOP's prospects.

"I'm confident we're in the races," she said.

The key issues are different in each district, making the contest extremely local this year, Lundby added.

"In some districts it's taxes and recreational opportunities and jobs. In some districts it's education, the environment or animal confinement operations, water quality," Lundby said.

Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs said Democrats likewise feel confident about their chances. He said it's the first time he's been in the Legislature when so many Republicans up for re-election decided they would retire instead.

"That's pretty stunning. Their members kind of voted with their feet by saying. 'I'm not running again,'" Gronstal said.

Republican woes in Washington may make a minor impact on local races, Gronstal said, though he believes those factors will not be a deciding influence in Iowa races.

"There could be some benefit to us, but that's certainly not something we're depending on. The national mood can turn on a dime, and it's about recruiting good candidates that are well-connected to their communities, and that's what we're doing," Gronstal said.

In the House, 42 Republicans are seeking re-election, compared to 47 Democrats.

Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said getting supporters to the polls will be key to their strategy. He believes the party has recruited solid newcomers, and GOP incumbents are well-positioned to be re-elected.

"Every Republican incumbent has one heck of a record to run on," Rants said. "There have been a lot of good accomplishments, from cracking down on sexual predators to moving our economy forward."

He also points to a GOP-proposed tax cut passed last session for retirees and pay raises approved for public school teachers.

Rants said Democrats want to nationalize the election after the scandal with Congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla., but believes that event won't have an impact on Iowa elections.

"There isn't any candidate running for the Statehouse that has a thing to do with what's going on in Washington, D.C., from the budget to Iraq. We're focused on local issues, and we believe the Iowa voter is smart enough to know the difference between the people in Washington and the people here in our local communities," Rants said.

Republicans have controlled the House since 1992. But Minority Leader Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, sees some GOP members as vulnerable and said Democrats have recruited candidates with a good shot at the open seats.

"We feel like the numbers are on our side," Murphy said.

Democrats have had to contend with outside political groups working for the GOP running ad campaigns against some Democratic incumbents. One, the Republican State Leadership Committee based in Washington, D.C., sent out flyers accusing two Democratic House members of taking votes to aid illegal immigrants - a vote taken before the lawmakers were even in office.

"It's just ridiculous stuff that is totally untrue," Murphy said.

Democrats will never have as much money as Republicans to run their legislative races, Murphy said, so they're banking on their ideas for Iowa's future.

House Democrats pledge - if they're handed the majority - to raise Iowa's minimum wage, boost teacher salaries even higher and focus on making Iowa a "green state" by developing renewable energies.

"That's all focused on what we have to do to grow this state to make it a stronger state," Murphy said.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.

Key races in the House:

- Cedar Falls Democrat Bob Kressig is facing a tough challenge from Republican Matt Reisetter in House District 19. In 2004, Kressig knocked off incumbent Rep. Ervin Dennis.

- Democrat Rep. Nathan Reichert of Muscatine is facing a challenge from Muscatine County Sheriff Greg Orr in House District 80.

- The parties are battling to see who will replace Rep. Willard Jenkins, a Waterloo Republican, who is retiring after 10 years in the Legislature. Cedar Falls Councilman Dave Wieland, a Republican, and Democrat Doris Kelley are running for the seat in House District 20.

- The open seat created by the retirement of Rep. Jeff Elgin, R-Cedar Rapids, is up for grabs in House District 37. Republican Andy Anderson and Democrat Art Staed are facing off.

- Rep. Mark Davitt, D-Indianola, is facing a challenge in House District 74 from Republican State Sen. Doug Shull, also of Indianola.

- Republican Dave Deyoe and Democrat Susan Radke, both of Nevada, are competing for the seat left open by GOP Rep. Jim Kurtenbach in House District 10.

Key races in the Senate:

- Democrat Merle Johnson and Republican Larry Noble, a retired official with the Iowa State Patrol, will square off for the seat in Senate District 35. Sen. Jeff Lamberti, R-Ankeny, retired to run for U.S. Congress.

- GOP State Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, an Iowa State University professor from Nevada, and Democrat Rich Olive, an insurance company owner from Story City, want to replace Sen. Stewart Iverson, R-Clarion, in District 5. Iverson was ousted from his leadership post by members of his party earlier this year and is retiring.

- In Senate District 9, Republican Tom Hoogestraat, a chiropractor from Parkersburg, and Democrat Bill Heckroth of Waverly, owner of a financial consulting firm, are competing. They want to replace Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, R-Waverly, who is stepping down.

- Sen. Roger Stewart, a Democrat from Preston, faces a challenge from Clinton Mayor LaMetta Wynn, a Republican, in Senate District 13.

- In Senate District 37, Democrat Staci Appel of Ackworth and Republican Julian Garrett of Indianola are vying for an open seat.