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.[2] 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.[3] 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).[4] 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.[5]

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 Williams
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.[6]

Current composition

AffiliationParty
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanIndVacant
End 201226230491
2013–201426240500
Begin 201526240500
End 2016 session[7]231
2017–201820291500
2019–202218320500
2023–202416340500
Begin 2025[8]15340491
January 28, 2025[9]16500
June 25, 2025[10]33491
August 26, 2025[11]17500
October 6, 2025[12]16491
December 30, 2025[13]17500
Latest voting share34%66%

Senators

Iowa senators as of December 30, 2025
District
PortraitSenatorPartyCounties representedFirst electedStanding committee leaderAppropriations subcommittee member
1Catelin DreyDemocraticWoodbury2025[a]
2Jeff TaylorRepublicanPlymouth and Sioux2020Education (Vice Chair)Education (Chair)
3Lynn EvansRepublicanOsceola, O'Brien, Clay, Cherokee, and Buena Vista2022Education
4Tim KraayenbrinkRepublicanCalhoun, Pocahontas, Sac, and Webster2014Appropriations (Chair), Technology (Vice Chair)
5Dave RowleyRepublicanClay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto, and Winnebago2020Administration and Regulation Appropriations (Chair)
6Jason SchultzRepublicanAudubon, Carroll, Crawford, Ida, and Shelby2014State Government (Chair)
7Kevin AlonsRepublicanCherokee, Monona, Plymouth, and Woodbury2022Health and Human Services
8Mark CostelloRepublicanFremont, Harrison, Mills, and Pottawattamie2014[b]Ethics (Vice Chair)Health and Human Services (Chair)
9Tom ShipleyRepublicanAdams, Cass, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, and Union2014Ethics (Chair), Natural Resources and Environment (Vice Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources
10Dan DawsonRepublicanPottawattamie2016Ways and Means (Chair)
11Julian GarrettRepublicanMarion and Warren2013[c]Judiciary (Vice Chair)Justice System (Chair)
12Amy SinclairRepublicanAdair, Appanoose, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Union, and Wayne2012Government Oversight (Chair), Rules and Administration (Vice Chair)
13Cherielynn WestrichRepublicanAppanoose, Davis, Monroe, and Wapello2022Justice System (Vice Chair)
14Sarah Trone GarriottDemocraticDallas2020Health and Human Services (Ranking Member)Health and Human Services
15Tony BisignanoDemocraticPolk2014State Government (Ranking Member), Agriculture (Ranking Member)
16Renee HardmanDemocraticDallas and Polk2025[d]
17Izaah KnoxDemocraticPolk2022Natural Resources and Environment (Ranking Member)Education
18Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyJanet PetersenDemocraticPolk2012Appropriations (Ranking Member)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Ranking Member)
19Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyKen RozenboomRepublicanJasper, Mahaska, and Marion2012Agriculture (Vice Chair), Education (Chair)
20Mike PikeRepublicanPolk2024
21Mike BousselotRepublicanPolk2022Commerce (Vice Chair)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Vice Chair)
22Matt BlakeDemocraticPolk2024
23Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyJack WhitverRepublicanDallas and Polk2011[e]Rules and Administration (Chair)
24Jesse GreenRepublicanBoone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, and Story2020Local Government (Chair)
25Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyHerman QuirmbachDemocraticStory2002Education (Ranking Member)Economic Development
26Kara WarmeRepublicanMarshall and Story2024
27Annette SweeneyRepublicanBlack Hawk, Grundy, Hardin, Poweshiek, and Tama2018Natural Resources and Environment (Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources (Vice Chair)
28Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyDennis GuthRepublicanFranklin, Hancock, Hamilton, Humbolt, and Wright2012N/AAdministration and Regulation (Vice Chair)
29Sandy SalmonRepublicanBremer, Butler, Chickasaw, and Floyd2022Veterans Affairs (Vice Chair)Justice System
30Doug CampbellRepublicanCerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, and Worth2024
31Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyWilliam DotzlerDemocraticBlack Hawk2002Veterans Affairs (Ranking Member)Economic Development (Ranking Member)
32Mike KlimeshRepublicanAllamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek2020Government Oversight (Vice Chair); Transportation (Chair)Health and Human Services
33Carrie KoelkerRepublicanDubuque, Jones, and Jackson2018Was and Means (Vice Chair)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (Chair)
34Official Portrait for the 85th General AssemblyDan ZumbachRepublicanBlack Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, and Fayette2012Appropriations(Vice Chair)Agriculture and Natural Resources (Chair)
35Mike ZimmerDemocraticClinton, Jackson, and Scott2025[f]
36Thomas TownsendDemocraticDubuque2024
37Molly DonahueDemocraticLinn2022Workforce (Ranking Member)Health and Human Services (Ranking Member)
38Dave SiresRepublicanBenton, Black Hawk, and Tama2024
39Liz BennettDemocraticLinn2022Technology (Ranking Member)Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
40Art StaedDemocraticLinn2024
41Kerry GruenhagenRepublicanCedar, Muscatine, and Scott2022Economic Development
42Charlie McClintockRepublicanBenton and Linn2022Workforce (Vice Chair)Justice System
43Zach WahlsDemocraticJohnson2018Rules and Administration (Ranking Member)
44Adrian DickeyRepublicanHenry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, and Van Buren2021[g]Workforce (Chair); Transportation (Vice Chair)Economic Development
45Janice WeinerDemocraticJohnson2022Local Government (Ranking Member)Agriculture and Natural Resources
46Dawn DriscollRepublicanIowa, Johnson. and Washington2020Agriculture (Chair)
47Scott WebsterRepublicanScott2022Administration and Regulation
48Mark LofgrenRepublicanDes Moines, Henry, Louisa, and Muscatine2016Local Government (Vice Chair)Economic Development (Chair)
49Cindy WincklerDemocraticScott2022Ethics (Ranking Member)Education (Ranking Member)
50Jeff ReichmanRepublicanDes Moines and Lee2020Veterans 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 an December 30, 2025 special election
  5. ^ First elected in a January 18, 2011 special election.
  6. ^ First elected in a January 28, 2025 special election.
  7. ^ 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

3 members held state level elected positions including: Beryl F. Carroll as Iowa State Auditor from 1903 to 1909, Richard C. Turner as Attorney General of Iowa from 1968 to 1979 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. ^ a b Opsahl, Robin (September 24, 2025). "Sen. Mike Klimesh elected Iowa Senate majority leader". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Iowa Legislative Services Agency (October 21, 2021). "Second Redistricting Plan" (PDF). p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  3. ^ "The Three Branches of Government". Iowa General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2005-11-10. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  4. ^ "The Drafting of Iowa's Constitution". Steven Cross, Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  5. ^ "Iowa Legislature - Leadership".
  6. ^ Agency, Iowa Legislative Services. "Committees". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  7. ^ David Johnson (District 1) switched parties from Republican to "No Party" on June 7, 2016. [1]
  8. ^ Republican Chris Cournoyer (District 49) resigned to become lieutenant governor of Iowa.[2]
  9. ^ Democrat Mike Zimmer elected to succeed Cournoyer.[3]
  10. ^ Republican Rocky De Witt (District 1) died.[4]
  11. ^ Democrat Catelin Drey is elected to succeed De Witt.[5]
  12. ^ Democrat Claire Celsi (District 12) died. [6]
  13. ^ Democrat Renee Hardman is elected to succeed Celsi. [7]
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Senate

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