The Iowa Senate began its 2023 session on January 9 with 34 Republicans and sixteen Democrats, the largest majority seen in the chamber for about five decades. Five of the last seven Iowa general elections have been Republican waves.
Fourteen senators (nine Republicans, five Democrats) were just elected to the chamber for the first time in November. Seven of them (four Republicans and three Democrats) previously served in the Iowa House.
Fifteen senators are women (eight Democrats and seven Republicans), up from twelve women in the chamber prior to the 2022 election and more than double the six women senators who served prior to the 2018 election.
Democrat Izaah Knox is the second Black state senator in Iowa history. The first was Tom Mann, a Democrat elected to two terms during the 1980s. The other 49 senators are white. No Latino has ever served in the chamber, and Iowa’s only Asian-American senator was Swati Dandekar, who resigned in 2011.
Democrat Janice Weiner became the first Jewish person to serve in the Iowa Senate since Ralph Rosenberg left the legislature after 1994. Democrat Liz Bennett became the first out LGBTQ state senator since Matt McCoy retired in 2018.
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 mentioned changes since last year’s legislative session. The Senate has added a new Technology Committee and renamed what used to be “Labor and Business Relations” as the Workforce Committee.
Some non-political trivia: the 50 Iowa senators include two Taylors, a Democrat and a Republican. As for first names, there are three Jeffs and two men each named Mark, Mike, and Dan.
Senate Republicans
First elected in 2004: Brad Zaun
First elected in a 2011 special election: Jack Whitver
First elected in 2012: Dennis Guth, Amy Sinclair, Ken Rozenboom, Dan Zumbach
First elected in a 2013 special election: Julian Garrett (following 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, Mark Lofgren
First elected in a 2018 special election: Annette Sweeney
First elected in the 2018 general election: Chris Cournoyer, Carrie Koelker
First elected in 2020: Dawn Driscoll, Mike Klimesh, Jeff Reichman, Jeff Taylor, Jesse Green
First elected in 2021 special elections: Adrian Dickey, Dave Rowley
First elected in 2022: Rocky De Witt, Lynn Evans, Kevin Alons, Cherielynn Westrich (two years in Iowa House), Mike Bousselot (one year in Iowa House), Sandy Salmon (ten years in Iowa House), Kerry Gruenhagen, Charlie McClintock (two years in Iowa House), Scott Webster
Senate Democrats
First elected in 2002: Bill Dotzler (six years in Iowa House), Herman Quirmbach
First elected in 2008: Pam Jochum (sixteen years in Iowa House)
First elected in 2012: Janet Petersen (twelve years in Iowa House)
First elected in 2014: Tony Bisignano (six years in Iowa House and four in Iowa Senate during 1980s and 1990s)
First elected in 2016: Nate Boulton
First elected in a 2016 special election: Jim Lykam (fourteen years in Iowa House)
First elected in 2018: Claire Celsi, Todd Taylor, Zach Wahls
First elected in a 2019 special election: Eric Giddens
First elected in 2020: Sarah Trone Garriott
First elected in 2022: Molly Donahue (four years in Iowa House), Liz Bennett (eight years in Iowa House), Janice Weiner, Cindy Winckler (22 years in Iowa House)
Iowa Senate Republican leadership team
Jack Whitver remains majority leader, having served in that role since March 2018. He represents Senate district 23, covering parts of northern and eastern Polk County and a small area in Dallas County.
Amy Sinclair is the Senate president. (Jake Chapman held that position last year, but lost his re-election bid.) Sinclair previously served as majority whip. Following the 2016 election, she was the only woman in the 29-member Republican caucus, but she has six female colleagues now. She was elected in 2020 to her third term, and following redistricting represents Senate district 12, covering Adair, Madison, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, and Wayne counties, along with small areas in Dallas, Union, and Appanoose counties.
Brad Zaun is the longest-serving member of the GOP Senate caucus and remains the president pro tempore. He was elected to a fifth term in 2020 and now represents Senate district 22, representing some of the suburbs northwest of Des Moines in Polk County.
Waylon Brown is the new majority whip. He was first elected in 2016 and represents Senate district 30, covering Worth, Mitchell, and Cerro Gordo counties, and a small area in Floyd County.
Two of the four assistant majority leaders are the same as last year.
- Chris Cournoyer was first elected in 2018 and represents Senate district 35, covering Clinton County and parts of Scott and Jackson counties.
- Carrie Koelker was first elected in 2018 and represents Senate district 33, covering Jones County, much of Jackson County and most of Dubuque County outside the city of Dubuque.
There are two new assistant majority leaders.
- Mike Klimesh was first elected in 2020 and represents Senate district 32, covering Allamakee, Clayton, Winneshiek, and Howard County, and small areas in Fayette and Dubuque counties.
- Jeff Reichman was first elected in 2020 and represents Senate district 50, covering Lee County and part of Des Moines County, including the city of Burlington.
Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team
Zach Wahls remains minority leader. He was elected for the first time in 2018 and represents Senate district 43, covering part of Johnson County.
Sarah Trone Garriott is the new minority whip, since Amanda Ragan did not seek re-election in 2022. Trone Garriott was first elected in 2020 and defeated Jake Chapman in Senate district 14, covering part of Dallas County, in November.
Three of the four assistant minority leaders served in that role last year.
- Nate Boulton was elected to a second term in 2020 and represents Senate district 20, covering Altoona and part of the Des Moines east side in Polk County.
- Pam Jochum is serving her fourth term in the Senate and represents Senate district 36, covering the city of Dubuque and a few other areas in Dubuque County.
- Herman Quirmbach was just elected to his fifth term and represents Senate district 23, covering most of Ames in Story County.
The new assistant minority leader is Eric Giddens, who represents Senate district 38, covering Cedar Falls and parts of Black Hawk, Tama, and Benton counties.
Iowa Senate Standing Commitees
Agriculture
Chair: Dawn Driscoll was first elected in 2020 and was re-elected in November to Senate district 46, covering Iowa and Washington counties and much of rural Johnson County. Last year, Dan Zumbach chaired this committee.
Vice Chair: Ken Rozenboom was first elected in 2012 and was re-elected in 2022 to Senate district 19, covering Jasper County and parts of Marion and Mahaska counties. Last year Annette Sweeney was the vice chair.
Ranking member: Tony Bisignano’s first legislative career was in the 1980s and 1990s. He returned to the Senate following the 2014 election and now represents Senate district 15, covering parts of the south side of Des Moines. Last year Kevin Kinney was the ranking Democrat, but he lost his re-election bid to Driscoll.
Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Jeff Edler (R), Tom Shipley (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Jesse Green (R), Mark Costello (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Dan Zumbach (R), Nate Boulton (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Eric Giddens (D), Todd Taylor (D)
Appropriations
Chair: Tim Kraayenbrink was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 4, covering Webster, Calhoun, Sac, and Pocahontas counties.
Vice Chair: Dan Zumbach was first elected in 2012 and now represents Senate district 34, covering Delaware, Buchanan, and Fayette counties, and parts of Black Hawk and Dubuque counties. Last year Mark Lofgren was vice chair.
Ranking member: Janet Petersen was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and represents Senate district 18, covering parts of Des Moines. Last year’s ranking member Joe Bolkcom did not seek re-election in 2022.
Other members: Carrie Koelker (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dennis Guth (R), Jeff Edler (R), Dave Rowley (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Mark Costello (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Jesse Green (R), Claire Celsi (D), Molly Donahue (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Todd Taylor (D), Eric Giddens (D), Cindy Winckler (D)
Appropriations Subcommittees
Administration and Regulation
Chair: Dave Rowley won a special election in 2021 and was just re-elected in Senate district 5, covering Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, and Palo Alto counties, plus a small area in Clay County. Last year Dennis Guth chaired this subcommittee.
Vice Chair: Dennis Guth was first elected in 2012 and represents Senate district 28, covering Humboldt, Hancock, Wright, Franklin, and Hamilton counties, plus a small area in Story County. Last year Dan Zumbach was the vice chair.
Ranking member: Claire Celsi was elected for the first time in 2018 and represents Senate district 16, covering Windsor Heights, most of Clive, and part of West Des Moines.
Other members: Scott Webster (R), Pam Jochum (D)
Agriculture/Natural Resources
Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above)
Vice Chair: Annette Sweeney was first elected to the Senate in a 2018 special election and represents Senate district 27, covering Hardin, Grundy, and Poweshiek counties, most of Tama County, and part of Black Hawk County. Last year Tom Shipley was vice chair.
Ranking member: Eric Giddens (see above) Last year Liz Mathis was ranking member, but she ran for Congress in 2022 rather than seeking re-election to the state Senate.
Other members: Tom Shipley (R), Janice Weiner (D)
Economic Development
Chair: Mark Lofgren was first elected to the Senate in 2016 and represents Senate district 48, covering most of Muscatine County, Louisa County, and parts of Des Moines and Henry counties. Last year Carrie Koelker chaired this subcommittee.
Vice Chair: Adrian Dickey was first elected in a 2021 special election and was just re-elected in Senate district 44, covering Keokuk, Jefferson, and Van Buren counties and parts of Henry and Mahaska counties. Last year Jeff Reichman was vice chair.
Ranking member: Bill Dotzler was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2002 and just re-elected in Senate district 31, covering most of Waterloo in Black Hawk County.
Other members: Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Herman Quirmbach (D)
Education
Chair: Jeff Taylor was first elected in 2020 and represents Senate district 2, covering Lyon and Sioux counties and part of Plymouth County. Last year Chris Cournoyer chaired this subcommittee.
Vice Chair: Chris Cournoyer (see above) Last year Jesse Green was the vice chair.
Ranking member: Cindy Winckler served in the Iowa House for 20 years and was just elected to the Senate for the first time in 2022. She represents Senate district 49, covering part of Davenport and Buffalo in Scott County. Last year Jackie Smith was the ranking member, but she lost her re-election bid.
Other members: Lynn Evans (R), Izaah Knox (D)
Health and Human Services
Chair: Mark Costello was first elected in a 2014 special election and represents Senate district 8, covering Mills, Harrison, and Fremont counties, and most of Pottawattamie County outside Council Bluffs.
Vice Chair: Jeff Edler was first elected in 2016 and represents Senate district 26, covering Marshall County and much of Story County outside Ames.
Ranking member: Molly Donahue was elected to the Senate for the first time in 2022 after serving four years in the Iowa House. She represents Senate district 37, covering Marion and part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. Last year Amanda Ragan was ranking member, but she did not seek re-election in 2022.
Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Justice Systems
Chair: Julian Garrett was first elected in 2013 and represents Senate district 13, covering Madison County and most of Warren County.
Vice Chair: Cherielynn Westrich served a term in the Iowa House before being elected in 2022 to represent Senate district 13, covering Wapello, Monroe, and Davis counties, and most of Appanoose County. Last year Jim Carlin was vice chair, but he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 instead of for re-election to the legislature.
Ranking member: Todd Taylor served for more than 20 years in the Iowa House and was first elected to the Senate in 2018. He was just re-elected in Senate district 40, covering part of Cedar Rapids as well as Hiawatha and Robins in Linn County.
Other members: Sandy Salmon (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Nate Boulton (D)
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals
Chair: Carrie Koelker (see above) Last year Craig Johnson chaired this subcommittee, but he ran for the Iowa House in 2022 instead of for re-election in a district where the new political map paired him with another Senate Republican.
Vice Chair: Mike Bousselot was elected to the Senate for the first time in 2022 after serving a year in the Iowa House. He represents Senate district 21, covering most of Ankeny in Polk County. Last year Dawn Driscoll was vice chair.
Ranking member: Janet Petersen (see above)
Other members: Rocky De Witt (R), Liz Bennett (D)
Commerce
Chair: Waylon Brown (see above) Last year Jason Schultz chaired this committee.
Vice Chair: Mike Bousselot (see above) Last year Carrie Koelker was vice chair.
Ranking member: Eric Giddens (see above) Last year Jim Lykam was ranking member.
Other members: Dan Dawson (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Dave Rowley (R), Jason Schultz (R), Scott Webster (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Pam Jochum (D), Tony Bisignano (D), Izaah Knox (D), Janet Petersen (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Education
Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above) Last year Amy Sinclair chaired this committee.
Vice Chair: Jeff Taylor (see above)
Ranking member: Herman Quirmbach (see above)
Other members: Lynn Evans (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Julian Garrett (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Brad Zaun (R), Claire Celsi (D), Eric Giddens (D), Molly Donahue (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Ethics
This committee has three members from each party in accordance with Iowa law.
Chair: Tom Shipley was first elected in 2014 and just re-elected in Senate district 9, covering Cass, Montgomery, Adams, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold counties, and part of Union County. Last year Carrie Koelker chaired the committee.
Vice Chair: Mark Costello (see above) Last year Jim Carlin was vice chair.
Ranking member: Cindy Winckler (see above) Last year Pam Jochum was ranking member.
Other members: Lynn Evans (R), Pam Jochum (D), Todd Taylor (D)
Government Oversight
Chair: Amy Sinclair (see above) Last year Jason Schultz chaired the committee.
Vice Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above) Last year Craig Williams was vice chair, but he did not seek re-election after being paired with another Senate Republican on the new map.
Ranking member: Claire Celsi (see above)
Other members: Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Janet Petersen (D)
Health and Human Services (formerly called Human Resources)
Chair: Jeff Edler (see above)
Vice Chair: Mark Costello (see above)
Ranking member: Sarah Trone Garriott (see above) Last year Liz Mathis was ranking member.
Other members: Julian Garrett (R), Dave Rowley (R), Kevin Alons (R), Lynn Evans (R), Dennis Guth (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Molly Donahue (D), Pam Jochum (D), Janet Petersen (D)
Judiciary
Chair: Brad Zaun (see above)
Vice Chair: Julian Garrett (see above)
Ranking member: Nate Boulton (see above) Last year Kevin Kinney was ranking member.
Other members: Dan Dawson (R), Tom Shipley (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Jason Schultz (R), Dave Rowley (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Lynn Evans (R), Scott Webster (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Izaah Knox (D), Janet Petersen (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Janice Weiner (D)
Local Government
Chair: Jesse Green was first elected in 2020 and represents Senate district 24, covering Boone, Green, and Guthrie counties, and areas in Story and Dallas counties. Last year Tom Shipley chaired this committee.
Vice Chair: Mark Lofgren (see above) Last year Mike Klimesh was vice chair.
Ranking member: Janice Weiner was elected for the first time in 2022 in Senate district 45, covering most of Iowa City and University Heights in Johnson County. Last year Jackie Smith was ranking member.
Other members: Dawn Driscoll (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Dennis Guth (R), Tom Shipley (R), Scott Webster (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Herman Quirmbach (D), Izaah Knox (D), Cindy Winckler (D)
Natural Resources and Environment
Chair: Annette Sweeney (see above)
Vice Chair: Tom Shipley (see above) Last year Dawn Driscoll was vice chair.
Ranking member: Izaah Knox was elected for the first time in 2022 and represents Senate district 17, covering part of Des Moines. Last year Sarah Trone Garriott was ranking member.
Other members: Chris Cournoyer (R), Jesse Green (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Dan Zumbach (R), Lynn Evans (R), Claire Celsi (D), Liz Bennett (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Rules and Administration
Chair: Jack Whitver (see above)
Vice Chair: Amy Sinclair (see above) Last year Jake Chapman was vice chair.
Ranking member: Zach Wahls (see above)
Other members: Mark Lofgren (R), Waylon Brown (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Brad Zaun (R), Sarah Trone Garriott (D), Pam Jochum (D)
State Government
Chair: Jason Schultz was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 6, covering Ida, Crawford, Carroll, Audubon, and Shelby counties, along with a small area in Pottawattamie County. He is also the only state lawmaker who has called me a traitor. Last year Roby Smith chaired the committee, but he was elected state treasurer in 2022.
Vice Chair: Chris Cournoyer (see above)
Ranking member: Tony Bisignano (see above)
Other members: Dan Dawson (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Waylon Brown (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Scott Webster (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Claire Celsi (D), Eric Giddens (D), Nate Boulton (D), Pam Jochum (D)
Technology (new committee)
Chair: Chris Cournoyer (see above)
Vice Chair: Tim Kraayenbrink (see above)
Ranking member: Liz Bennett served four terms in the Iowa House before being elected in 2022 to Senate district 39, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.
Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Scott Webster (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Izaah Knox (D), Janice Weiner (D)
Transportation
Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above) Last year Waylon Brown chaired this committee.
Vice Chair: Adrian Dickey (see above)
Ranking member: Todd Taylor (see above) Last year Eric Giddens was the ranking member.
Other members: Dan Zumbach (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Waylon Brown (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Tom Shipley (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Chris Cournoyer (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Scott Webster (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Liz Bennett (D), Claire Celsi (D), Eric Giddens (D), Cindy Winckler (D)
Veterans Affairs
Chair: Jeff Reichman (see above) Last year Mark Lofgren chaired this committee
Vice Chair: Sandy Salmon served ten years in the Iowa House before being elected in 2022 to represent Senate district 29, covering Butler, Bremer, and Chickasaw counties, plus most of Floyd County.
Ranking member: Bill Dotzler (see above) Last year Eric Giddens was ranking member.
Other members: Dan Dawson (R), Kevin Alons (R), Jeff Edler (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Mark Costello (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Liz Bennett (D), Janice Weiner (D), Cindy Winckler (D)
Ways & Means
Chair: Dan Dawson was first elected in 2016 and represents Senate district 10, covering most of Council Bluffs and Carter Lake in Pottawattamie County.
Vice Chair: Carrie Koelker (see above) Last year Tim Goodwin was vice chair, but he stepped down from the Senate after the new map paired him with another Republican.
Ranking member: Pam Jochum (see above)
Other members: Waylon Brown (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Chris Cournoyer (R), Brad Zaun (R), Jason Schultz (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Dave Rowley (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Cindy Winckler (D), Janet Petersen (D), Todd Taylor (D), Herman Quirmbach (D)
Workforce (formerly Labor and Business Relations)
Chair: Adrian Dickey (see above)
Vice Chair: Charlie McClintock served a term in the Iowa House and was just elected in 2022 in Senate district 42, covering most of Benton County and most of rural Linn County. Last year Jesse Green was vice chair.
Ranking member: Molly Donahue (see above) Last year Nate Boulton was ranking member.
Other members: Dawn Driscoll (R), Dave Rowley (R), Dennis Guth (R), Jason Schultz (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Todd Taylor (D), Nate Boulton (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 Mike Klimesh (R, chair), Waylon Brown (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Nate Boulton (D), Pam Jochum (D, ranking member)
Top photo: Iowa Senate chamber on January 9, while Amy Sinclair was being sworn in as Senate president. Photo by State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, posted to her Twitter feed.