Iowa State Senate

Iowa State House

Summary

The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly, United States. There are 50 seats in the Iowa Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state of Iowa with populations of approximately 60,927 per constituency, as of the 2010 United States Census.[3] Each Senate district is composed of two House districts. The Senate meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Unlike the lower house, the Iowa House of Representatives, Senators serve four-year terms, with no term limits. Terms are staggered so that half the Senate is up for reelection every two years.

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41°35′28″N 93°36′14″W / 41.591°N 93.604°W / 41.591; -93.604

The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 seats in the Iowa Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state of Iowa with populations of approximately 63,807 per constituency, as of the 2020 United States census.[1] Each Senate district is composed of two House districts. The Senate meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Unlike the lower house, the Iowa House of Representatives, senators serve four-year terms, with no term limits. Terms are staggered so that half the Senate is up for reelection every two years.

Leadership

The President of the Senate presides over the body, whose powers include referring bills to committees, recognizing members during debate, and making procedural rulings. Unlike the more powerful Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, the Senate President cannot appoint committee chairmanships or shuffle committee memberships.[2] The lieutenant governor of Iowa was the presiding officer of the Senate until 1988, when an amendment to the Constitution of Iowa was passed in a referendum (effective from 1991).[3] The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.

The President of the Senate is Republican Amy Sinclair of the 12th District. The Majority Leader is Republican Jack Whitver of the 23rd District. The Minority Leader is Democrat Janice Weiner of the 36th District.[4]

Committee leadership

CommitteeChairVice chairRanking member
AgricultureDan ZumbachAnnette SweeneyKevin Kinney
AppropriationsTim KraayenbrinkMark LofgrenJoe Bolkcom
CommerceJason SchultzCarrie KoelkerJim Lykam
EducationAmy SinclairJeff TaylorHerman Quirmbach
EthicsCarrie KoelkerJim CarlinPam Jochum
Government OversightJason SchultzCraig WilliamsClaire Celsi
Human ResourcesJeff EdlerMark CostelloLiz Mathis
JudiciaryBrad ZaunJulian GarrettKevin Kinney
Labor and Business RelationsZach WhitingJesse GreenNate Boulton
Local GovernmentTom ShipleyMike KlimeshJackie Smith
Natural Resources and EnvironmentAnnette SweeneyDawn DriscollSarah Trone Garriott
Rules and AdministrationJack WhitverJake ChapmanZach Wahls
State GovernmentRoby SmithChris CournoyerTony Bisignano
TransportationWaylon BrownAdrian DickeyEric Giddens
Veterans AffairsJim CarlinJeff ReichmanEric Giddens
Ways and MeansDan DawsonTim GoodwinPam Jochum

*All chairs and vice chairs are Republicans. All ranking members are Democrats.[5]

Current composition

AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanIndVacant
End 201226230491
2013–201426240500
Begin 201526240500
End 2016 session[6]231
2017–201820291500
2019–202218320500
2023–202416340500
Begin 2025[7]15340491
January 28, 2025[8]16500
June 25, 2025[9]33491
August 26, 2025[10]17500
Latest voting share34%66%

Senators

Iowa senators as of August 26, 2025
District
County(ies) represented
Portrait
Senator
Party
First
elected
Standing
committee
leader
Appropriations
subcommittee
member
1WoodburyCatelin DreyDemocratic2025[a]TBATBA
2Plymouth and SiouxJeff TaylorRepublican2020Education (Vice Chair)Education (Chair)
3Osceola, O'Brien, Clay, Cherokee, and Buena VistaLynn EvansRepublican2022Education
4Calhoun, Pocahontas, Sac, and WebsterTim KraayenbrinkRepublican2014Appropriations (Chair), Technology (Vice Chair)
5Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto and WinnebagoDave RowleyRepublican2020Administration and Regulation Appropriations (Chair)
6Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Ida, and ShelbyJason SchultzRepublican2014State Government (Chair)
7Cherokee, Monona, Plymouth, and WoodburyKevin AlonsRepublican2022Health and Human Services
8Fremont, Harrison, Mills, and Pottawattamie,Mark CostelloRepublican2014[b]Ethics (Vice Chair)Health and Human Services (Chair)
9Adams, Cass, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, and UnionTom ShipleyRepublican2014Ethics (Chair), Natural Resources and Environment (Vice Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources
10PottawattamieDan DawsonRepublican2016Ways and Means (Chair)
11Marion and WarrenJulian GarrettRepublican2013[c]Judiciary (Vice Chair)Justice System (Chair)
12Adair, Appanoose, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Union and WayneAmy SinclairRepublican2012Government Oversight (Chair), Rules and Administration (Vice Chair)
13Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, and WapelloCherielynn WestrichRepublican2022Justice System (Vice Chair)
14DallasSarah Trone GarriottDemocratic2020Health and Human Services (Ranking Member)Health and Human Services
15PolkTony BisignanoDemocratic2014State Government (Ranking Member), Agriculture (Ranking Member)
16Dallas and PolkClaire CelsiDemocratic2018Government Oversight (Ranking Member)Administration and Regulation (Ranking Member)
17PolkIzaah KnoxDemocratic2022Natural Resources and Environment (Ranking Member)Education
18PolkOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyJanet PetersenDemocratic2012Appropriations (Ranking Member)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Ranking Member)
19Jasper, Mahaska, and MarionOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyKen RozenboomRepublican2012Agriculture (Vice Chair), Education (Chair)
20PolkMike PikeRepublican2024
21PolkMike BousselotRepublican2022Commerce (Vice Chair)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Vice Chair)
22PolkMatt BlakeDemocratic2024
23Dallas and PolkOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyJack WhitverRepublican2011[d]Rules and Administration (Chair)
24Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, and StoryJesse GreenRepublican2020Local Government (Chair)
25StoryOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyHerman QuirmbachDemocratic2002Education (Ranking Member)Economic Development
26Marshall and StoryKara WarmeRepublican2024
27Black Hawk, Grundy, Hardin, Poweshiek, and TamaAnnette SweeneyRepublican2018Natural Resources and Environment (Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources (Vice Chair)
28Franklin, Hancock, Hamilton, Humbolt, and WrightOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyDennis GuthRepublican2012N/AAdministration and Regulation (Vice Chair)
29Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, and FloydSandy SalmonRepublican2022Veterans Affairs (Vice Chair)Justice System
30Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, and WorthDoug CampbellRepublican2024
31Black HawkOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyWilliam DotzlerDemocratic2002Veterans Affairs (Ranking Member)Economic Development (Ranking Member)
32Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and WinneshiekMike KlimeshRepublican2020Government Oversight (Vice Chair); Transportation (Chair)Health and Human Services
33Dubuque, Jones and JacksonCarrie KoelkerRepublican2018Was and Means (Vice Chair)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Chair)
34Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, and FayetteOfficial Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyDan ZumbachRepublican2012Appropriations(Vice Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources (Chair)
35Clinton, Jackson, and ScottMike ZimmerDemocratic2025[e]
36DubuqueThomas TownsendDemocratic2024
37LinnMolly DonahueDemocratic2022Workforce (Ranking Member)Health and Human Services (Ranking Member)
38Benton, Black Hawk, and TamaDave SiresRepublican2024
39LinnLiz BennettDemocratic2022Technology (Ranking Member)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
40LinnArt StaedDemocratic2024
41Cedar, Muscatine, and ScottKerry GruenhagenRepublican2022Economic Development
42Benton and LinnCharlie McClintockRepublican2022Workforce (Vice Chair)Justice System
43JohnsonZach WahlsDemocratic2018Rules and Administration (Ranking Member)
44Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, and Van BurenAdrian DickeyRepublican2021[f]Workforce (Chair); Transportation (Vice Chair)Economic Development
45JohnsonJanice WeinerDemocratic2022Local Government (Ranking Member)Agriculture and Natural Resources
46Iowa, Johnson and WashingtonDawn DriscollRepublican2020Agriculture (Chair)
47ScottScott WebsterRepublican2022Administration and Regulation
48Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, and MuscatineMark LofgrenRepublican2016Local Government (Vice Chair)Economic Development (Chair)
49ScottCindy WincklerDemocratic2022Ethics (Ranking Member)Education (Ranking Member)
50Des Moines and LeeJeff ReichmanRepublican2020Veterans Affairs (Chair)

Notes

  1. ^ First elected in an August 26, 2025 special election
  2. ^ First elected in a December 30, 2014 special election.
  3. ^ First elected in a November 19, 2013 special election.
  4. ^ First elected in a January 18, 2011 special election.
  5. ^ First elected in a January 28, 2025 special election.
  6. ^ First elected in a January 26, 2021 special election.

Past notable members

Federal offices

10 members became US Senators including: Samuel J. Kirkwood, George G. Wright, James F. Wilson, Albert B. Cummins (also served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate), Lafayette Young, George A. Wilson, Guy Gillette, Jack Miller, Roger Jepsen and Joni Ernst.

5 members became members of the US House of Representatives including: James F. Wilson, Madison Miner Walden, Steve King, Randy Feenstra and Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

3 members became Federal Cabinet Members including: Samuel J. Kirkwood as Secretary of Interior, George W. McCrary, Secretary of War and Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture.

State offices

13 members became Governor including: Samuel J. Kirkwood, William Larrabee, Beryl F. Carroll, Albert B. Cummins, Warren Garst, John Hammill (served as Acting Governor in 1922, then Governor in 1925), Daniel Webster Turner, George A. Wilson, William S. Beardsley, Leo Elthon, Robert D. Fulton, Tom Vilsack and Kim Reynolds.

28 members became Lieutenant Governor including: Nicholas J. Rusch, John R. Needham, Enoch W. Eastman, Benjamin F. Gue, John Scott, Madison Miner Walden, Henry C. Bulis, Joseph Dysart, Frank T. Campbell, Alfred N. Poyneer, Samuel L. Bestow, Warren S. Dungan, Mathies Parrott, Warren Garst, John Hammill, Clem F. Kimball, Arch W. McFarlane, John K. Valentine, Kenneth A. Evans, Leo Elthon, Edward J. McManus, Robert D. Fulton, Roger Jepsen, Arthur Neu, Joy Corning, Patty Judge, Kim Reynolds and Chris Cournoyer.

1 member was twice the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court and Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court: George G. Wright

2 members held state level elected positions including: Beryl F. Carroll as Iowa State Auditor from 1903 to 1909 and Patty Judge as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture from 1999 to 2007.

Senate chamber seating chart detail from the 1882 Iowa Redbook

Past composition of the Senate

Main article: Political party strength in Iowa

See also

References

  1. ^ Iowa Legislative Services Agency (October 21, 2021). "Second Redistricting Plan" (PDF). p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  2. ^ "The Three Branches of Government". Iowa General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2005-11-10. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  3. ^ "The Drafting of Iowa's Constitution". Steven Cross, Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  4. ^ "Iowa Legislature - Leadership".
  5. ^ Agency, Iowa Legislative Services. "Committees". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  6. ^ David Johnson (District 1) switched parties from Republican to "No Party" on June 7, 2016. [1]
  7. ^ Republican Chris Cournoyer (District 49) resigned to become lieutenant governor of Iowa.[2]
  8. ^ Democrat Mike Zimmer elected to succeed Cournoyer.[3]
  9. ^ Republican Rocky De Witt (District 1) died.[4]
  10. ^ Democrat Catelin Drey is elected to succeed De Witt.[5]
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Senate

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