The Iowa Senate begins work today with 29 Republicans, 20 Democrats, and one independent, former Republican David Johnson.
I enclose below details on the majority and minority leadership teams, along with all chairs, vice chairs, and members of standing Iowa Senate committees. Where relevant, I’ve noted changes since last year’s legislative session.
Just six senators are women (five Democrats and a Republican), down from ten women serving in the chamber in 2013 and 2014 and seven during 2015 and 2016. All current senators are white. To my knowledge, the only African-American ever to serve in the Iowa Senate was Tom Mann, elected to two terms during the 1980s. No Latino has ever served in the Iowa legislature; in 2014, Nathan Blake fell 18 votes short of becoming the first to join the Senate. No Asian-American has served in the state Senate since Swati Dandekar resigned in 2011.
Some non-political trivia: the 50 Iowa senators include two with the surname Johnson, four Marks, and two men each named Bill, Richard (Rich and Rick), Robert (a Rob and a Bob), Dan, Jim, Tim, Tom, Jeff, and Charles (one goes by Chaz).
Senate Republicans
First elected in 1996: Jerry Behn
First elected in 2004: Brad Zaun
First elected in 2008: Randy Feenstra, Tim Kapucian
First elected in 2010: Bill Dix (ten years previous service in Iowa House), Rick Bertrand, Roby Smith, Mark Chelgren
First elected in a 2011 special election: Jack Whitver
First elected in 2012: Dennis Guth, Mark Segebart, Jake Chapman, Amy Sinclair, Ken Rozenboom, Dan Zumbach, Mike Breitbach
First elected in a 2012 special election: Charles Schneider
First elected in a 2013 special election: Julian Garrett (three years service in the Iowa House)
First elected in 2014: Tom Shipley, Jason Schultz (six years in Iowa House), Tim Kraayenbrink
First elected in a 2014 special election: Mark Costello
First elected in 2016: Waylon Brown, Dan Dawson, Jeff Edler, Tom Greene, Craig Johnson, Mark Lofgren
First elected in a 2017 special election: Jim Carlin
First elected in a 2018 special election: Annette Sweeney
Senate Democrats
First elected in 1982: Wally Horn (10 years previous service in Iowa House)
First elected in a 1994 special election: Bob Dvorsky (eight years in Iowa House)
First elected in 1996: Matt McCoy (four years in Iowa House)
First elected in 1998: Joe Bolkcom
First elected in a 2002 special election: Amanda Ragan
First elected in 2002: Bill Dotzler (six years in Iowa House), Herman Quirmbach
First elected in 2004: Jeff Danielson
First elected in 2006: Rob Hogg (four years in Iowa House)
First elected in 2008: Pam Jochum (sixteen years in Iowa House)
First elected in 2010: Tod Bowman
First elected in a 2011 special election: Liz Mathis
First elected in 2012: Janet Petersen (twelve years in Iowa House), Rita Hart, Rich Taylor
First elected in 2014: Tony Bisignano (six years in Iowa House and four in Iowa Senate during 1980s and 1990s), Kevin Kinney, Chaz Allen
First elected in 2016: Nate Boulton
First elected in a 2016 special election: Jim Lykam (fourteen years in Iowa House)
Independent Senator David Johnson was elected to the upper chamber four times as a Republican, most recently in 2014.
Iowa Senate Republican leadership team
UPDATE: Dix resigned on March 12 after Iowa Starting Line published a video and photos showing him snuggling with a lobbyist. On March 14, the GOP caucus elected Whitver as majority leader, Schneider as Senate president, Sinclair as majority whip, and Jake Chapman as one of four assistant majority leaders. Feenstra unsuccessfully sought the majority leader position.
Majority Leader Bill Dix served ten years in the Iowa House, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2006, then defeated a Democratic Senate incumbent in 2010. After a failed attempt to become minority leader the following year, Dix was chosen for the position shortly after the 2012 general election. He represents Senate district 25, covering Hardin and Grundy counties and parts of Story and Butler counties.
Senate President Jack Whitver represents Senate district 19, covering Ankeny and other parts of northern Polk County.
Senate President Pro-Tem Jerry Behn preceded Dix as minority leader and returned to the GOP leadership team after the 2016 election. He represents Senate district 24, covering all of Boone, Hamilton, and Greene counties and part of Webster.
Charles Schneider continues as majority whip. Since 2013, he has represented Senate district 22, covering Windsor Heights, Clive, Waukee, and parts of West Des Moines in Polk and Dallas counties.
The four senators chosen as assistant majority leaders before last year’s legislative session continue in that role:
Randy Feenstra is serving his third term and represents Senate district 2, covering Sioux, O’Brien, and Cherokee counties.
Dan Zumbach has since 2013 represented Senate district 48, covering Delaware County and parts of Jones, Linn, and Buchanan counties.
Michael Breitbach has since 2013 represented Senate district 28, covering all of Allamakee and Clayton counties, most of Winneshiek County, and about half of Fayette County.
Amy Sinclair, the only woman in the GOP Senate caucus, has since 2013 represented Senate district 14, covering Clarke, Decatur, Lucas and Wayne counties, most of Marion County, and a small portion of Jasper County. UPDATE: Annette Sweeney doubled the number of Republican women in the Senate by winning the April 10 special election in Senate district 25.
Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team
Minority Leader Janet Petersen replaced Rob Hogg in that role in October. First elected to the Senate in 2012 after serving for 12 years in the Iowa House, she represents Senate district 18, covering parts of northern and eastern Des Moines in Polk County.
Minority Whip Amanda Ragan is serving her fourth term and represents Senate district 27, which includes Mason City and most of Cerro Gordo County as well as Franklin County and most of Butler County.
Assistant minority leaders:
Joe Bolkcom is serving his fifth term and represents Senate district 43, covering most of Iowa City in Johnson County.
Bill Dotzler is serving his fourth term and represents Senate district 31, covering a large area in Waterloo in Black Hawk County.
Rita Hart has since 2013 represented Senate district 49, covering Clinton County and part of Scott County.
Liz Mathis helped Democrats retain control of the chamber by winning a 2011 special election and has since been re-elected twice in Senate district 34, covering some surburban areas in Linn County.
Matt McCoy was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1996 and represents Senate district 21, covering much of the south side of Des Moines and part of West Des Moines in Polk County.
Herman Quirmbach is serving his fourth term and represents Senate district 23, covering Ames and some rural areas in Story County.
Iowa Senate Standing Commitees
Agriculture
Chair: Dan Zumbach (see above)
Vice Chair: Waylon Brown was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 26, covering Worth, Floyd, Chickasaw, Mitchell, and Howard counties, and parts of Cerro Gordo and Winneshiek counties.
Ranking member: Kevin Kinney was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 39, covering Washington and Keokuk counties and a large area in Johnson County.
Other members: Ken Rozenboom (R), Jeff Edler (R), Tom Shipley (R), Tim Kapucian (R), Mark Segebart (R), Mark Costello (R), Amanda Ragan (D), Tod Bowman (D), Rich Taylor (D), Rita Hart (D)
Appropriations
Chair: Charles Schneider (see above)
Vice Chair: Tim Kraayenbrink was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 5, covering Calhoun, Humboldt, and Pocahontas counties, as well as most of Webster County.
Ranking member: Joe Bolkcom (see above) He chaired the Ways & Means Committee when Democrats controlled the chamber before the 2016 elections.
Other members: Dan Zumbach (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dennis Guth (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Tom Shipley (R), Mark Costello (R), Jack Whitver (R), Tom Greene (R), Craig Johnson (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Nate Boulton (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Rita Hart (D), Liz Mathis (D), Matt McCoy (D), Amanda Ragan (D)
Appropriations Subcommittees
Administration and Regulation
Chair: Dennis Guth (see above)
Vice Chair: Jake Chapman (see above)
Ranking member: Liz Mathis (see above)
Other members: Dan Zumbach (R), Jim Lykam (D)
Agriculture/Natural Resources
Chair: Tom Shipley (see above)
Vice Chair: Waylon Brown (see above)
Ranking member: Rita Hart (see above)
Other members: Ken Rozenboom (R), Kevin Kinney (D)
Economic Development
Chair: Mark Lofgren (see above)
Vice Chair: Mike Breitbach (see above)
Ranking member: Bill Dotzler (see above)
Other members: Tom Greene (R), Chaz Allen (D)
Commerce
Chair: Jake Chapman was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 10, covering most of Dallas County, a little bit of Polk and Cass counties, and all of Adair and Guthrie Counties. Last year Bill Anderson chaired this committee; he was removed from that position shortly after the legislature adjourned for the year and retired from the legislature in September to take another job.
Vice Chair: Michael Breitbach (see above)
Ranking member: Chaz Allen was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 15, covering most of Jasper County and eastern areas in Polk County. Last year Janet Petersen was ranking member on this committee.
Other members: Rick Bertrand (R), Dan Zumbach (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Craig Johnson (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Brad Zaun (R), Dennis Guth (R), Janet Petersen (D), Nate Boulton (D), Jim Lykam (D), Liz Mathis (D), Matt McCoy (D)
Economic Growth
In a decision criticized by Democrats, Senate Republican leaders eliminated this committee shortly after the 2016 election. The committee continues in the GOP-controlled Iowa House.
Education
Chair: Amy Sinclair (see above) She was ranking member on this committee during the previous legislature.
Vice Chair: Jeff Edler was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 36, covering Marshall and Tama counties and part of Black Hawk County.
Ranking member: Herman Quirmbach (see above)
Other members: Jerry Behn (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Tom Greene (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Craig Johnson (R), Tod Bowman (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Rita Hart (D), Rob Hogg (D), Jeff Danielson (D)
Ethics
This committee has three members from each party in accordance with Iowa law.
Chair: Jerry Behn (see above)
Vice Chair: Dennis Guth was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 4, covering Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, and Wright counties.
Ranking member: Wally Horn was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1982 and represents Senate district 35, covering a large area of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.
Other members: Mark Costello (R), Pam Jochum (D), Kevin Kinney (D)
Government Oversight
Chair: Mike Breitbach (see above)
Vice Chair: Amy Sinclair (see above)
Ranking member: Matt McCoy (see above)
Other members: Mark Lofgren (R), Rob Hogg (D)
Last year, Breitbach refused repeated requests by McCoy to hold oversight hearings on problems in sate government.
Human Resources
Chair: Mark Segebart was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 6, covering Buena Vista, Sac, Carroll, and Audubon counties, plus part of Crawford County.
Vice Chair: Mark Costello was first elected in a 2014 special election to replace Joni Ernst and represents Senate district 12, covering Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold counties.
Ranking member: Liz Mathis (see above)
Other members: Julian Garrett (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Tom Greene (R), Craig Johnson (R), Jake Chapman (R), Tom Shipley (R), Joe Bolkcom (D), Pam Jochum (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Amanda Ragan (D)
Judiciary
Chair: Brad Zaun was first elected in 2004 and represents Senate district 20, covering Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, and other areas in northwest Polk County.
Vice Chair: Dan Dawson was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 8, covering Council Bluffs and Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County.
Ranking member: Rich Taylor was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 42, covering Lee and Henry Counties and parts of Jefferson and Washington.
Other members: Julian Garrett (R), Tom Shipley (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Charles Schneider (R), Jason Schultz (R), Jeff Edler (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Nate Boulton (D), Janet Petersen (D), Kevin Kinney (D)
Labor and Business Relations
Chair: Jason Schultz was first elected in 2014 and represent Senate district 9, covering Ida, Monona, Harrison, and Shelby counties, along with parts of Crawford and Woodbury counties. He is the only state lawmaker who has called me a traitor.
Vice Chair: Brad Zaun (see above)
Ranking member: Nate Boulton was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 16, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County.
Other members: Jake Chapman (R), Waylon Brown (R), Mark Costello (R), Dennis Guth (R), Mike Breitbach (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Rich Taylor (D), Tony Bisignano (D)
Local Government
Chair: Julian Garrett was first elected in a 2013 special election and represents Senate district 13, covering Madison County and most of Warren County.
Vice Chair: Mark Lofgren was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 46, covering parts of Muscatine and Scott Counties.
Ranking member: Rob Hogg was first elected in 2006 and represents Senate district 33, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. Last year Chaz Allen was ranking member on this committee.
Other members: Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Tom Greene (R), Dennis Guth (R), Mark Segebart (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Herman Quirmbach (D), Chaz Allen (D), Matt McCoy (D)
Natural Resources and Environment
Chair: Ken Rozenboom was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 40, covering Mahaska, Monroe, and Appanoose Counties, and parts of Marion and Wapello Counties. He was previously ranking member on this committee.
Vice Chair: Tom Shipley was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 11, covering Adams and Union counties, most of Cass County, and most of Pottawattamie County outside the Council Bluffs city limits.
Ranking member: Bob Dvorsky was first elected in 1994 and represents Senate district 37, covering Coralville and a large area in Johnson County as well as Cedar County.
Other members: Jim Carlin (R), Jerry Behn (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Tim Kapucian (R), Tom Greene (R), Rick Bertrand (R), Kevin Kinney (D), Rita Hart (D), Jim Lykam (D), David Johnson (independent)
Senate Democrats gave Johnson one of their slots on this committee. Republican leaders have refused to give him a full slate of committee assignments.
Rules and Administration
Chair: Bill Dix (see above)
Vice Chair: Jack Whitver (see above)
Ranking member: Janet Petersen (see above)
Other members: Jerry Behn (R), Charles Schneider (R), Roby Smith (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Bob Dvorsky (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Pam Jochum (D)
State Government
Chair: Roby Smith was first elected in 2010 and represents Senate district 47, covering Bettendorf and parts of Davenport in Scott County.
Vice Chair: Jake Chapman (see above)
Ranking member: Tony Bisignano was elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 17, covering parts of downtown Des Moines and the south side. He previously served six years in the state House and four years in the Senate during the 1980s and 1990s.
Other members: Jim Carlin (R), Brad Zaun (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Jason Schultz (R), Dan Dawson (R), Waylon Brown (R), Charles Schneider (R), Tod Bowman (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Tod Bowman (D), Wally Horn (D), Pam Jochum (D)
Transportation
Chair: Tim Kapucian was first elected in 2008 and represents Senate district 38, covering Benton, Iowa and Poweshiek counties.
Vice Chair: Mike Breitbach (see above)
Ranking member: Tod Bowman was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and represents Senate district 29, covering Jackson, most of Dubuque County (but not the city of Dubuque) and a large area in Jones County.
Other members: Dan Zumbach (R), Jim Carlin (R), Rick Bertrand (R), Tim Kraaeynbrink (R), Waylon Brown (R), Roby Smith (R), Jeff Danielson (D), Tony Bisignano (D), Wally Horn (D), Jim Lykam (D)
Veterans Affairs
Chair: Mark Costello (see above)
Vice Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above)
Ranking member: Wally Horn (see above)
Other members: Rick Bertrand (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Jeff Edler (R), Mark Segebart (R), Dan Dawson (R), Chaz Allen (D), Tod Bowman (D), Amanda Ragan (D)
Ways & Means
Chair: Randy Feenstra (see above)
Vice Chair: Jerry Behn (see above)
Ranking member: Former Senate President Pam Jochum was first elected to the chamber in 2008, having previously served 16 years in the Iowa House. She represents Senate district 50, covering Dubuque.
Other members: Waylon Brown (R), Dan Dawson (R), Jim Carlin (R), Mike Breitbach (R), Jason Schultz (R), Roby Smith (R), Jeff Edler (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Joe Bolkcom (D), Rob Hogg (D), Matt McCoy (D), Herman Quirmbach (D)
Education
Chair: Tim Kraayenbrink (see above)
Vice Chair: Jim Carlin won a December 2017 special election in Senate district 3, covering most of Plymouth County and a large area of Woodbury County. Last year Craig Johnson was vice chair of this subcommittee.
Ranking member: Jeff Danielson was first elected in 2004 and represents Senate district 30, covering Cedar Falls, part of Waterloo and some rural areas in Black Hawk County.
Other members: Jason Schultz (R), Herman Quirmbach (D)
Health and Human Services
Chair: Mark Costello (see above)
Vice Chair: Mark Segebart (see above)
Ranking member: Amanda Ragan (see above)
Other members: Jeff Edler (R), Joe Bolkcom (D)
Justice Systems
Chair: Mark Chelgren was first elected in 2010 and represents Senate district 41, covering much of Wapello County and all of Davis and Van Buren counties.
Vice Chair: Dan Dawson (see above)
Ranking member: Bob Dvorsky (see above)
Other members: Julian Garrett (R), Rob Hogg (D)
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
Chair: Craig Johnson was first elected in 2016 in Senate district 32, covering Bremer County and parts of Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk. Last year Rick Bertrand chaired this subcommittee. Majority Leader Dix removed him from that position shortly after the legislature adjourned for the year.
Vice Chair: Tim Kapucian (see above)
Ranking member: Matt McCoy (see above)
Other members: Roby Smith (R), Tod Bowman (D)
Administrative Rules Review Committee
Five Iowa House and five Iowa Senate members serve on this committee. The Senate’s five representatives on this committee are Mark Chelgren (R, chair), Mark Costello (R), Jim Carlin (R), Wally Horn (D), Pam Jochum (D)