Iowa voters removed three state Supreme Court justices who voted in 2009 to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage. According to the Associated Press, it was the first time that Iowa voters had successfully voted to remove a Supreme Court justice.

The National Organization for Marriage, an anti-gay group that was formed in response to California’s Proposition 8 battle in 2008, lobbied on behalf of the removal of the justices. NOM, in partnership with Campaign for Working Families PAC and Iowa for Freedom, purchased ads in the state leading up to the election urging voters to remove the justices.

Iowa voters oust justices who allowed gays to marry

“This election, we want Iowans to know that their values and their votes matter,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM in a press release prior to Tuesday’s elections. “They need to know where these Justices stand.”

Supreme Court Justices Marsha Ternus, David Baker and Michael Streit were all removed from their positions through “retention” votes. Iowa’s Supreme Court has seven members, but only three were up for a vote this year.