There are 111,000 more registered Democrats in Iowa than Republicans, according to data released by Iowa Secretary of State’s office.

As of Jan. 2, there are 710,437 registered Democrats and 599,163 registered Republicans. Independents still outnumber both parties with 731,977.

In December 2007, there were 27,000 more registered Democrats. By August, that gap had grown to a little more than 91,000. In fact, the gap between the two parties has grown wider every month since summer.

Iowa, long considered a battleground state, went overwhelmingly for Democrat Barack Obama for president this year and expanded the Democratic margins in the legislature.

In the race to become the next chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, each candidate has stressed the need to close that registration gap as a priority.