Iowa Senate chamber, as photographed by Nagel Photography, available via Shutterstock

The Iowa Senate convened in Des Moines on January 8 for the first day of the 2024 legislative session. Although the balance of power remains the same (34 Republicans, sixteen Democrats), I’m publishing a new version of this post to note changes in leadership or among the chairs, vice chairs, and members of standing Senate committees.

Fourteen senators (nine Republicans, five Democrats) were elected to the chamber for the first time in 2022. 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 remains the Senate president, having served as majority whip before 2023. 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 remains 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.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

Pam Jochum is the minority leader. During last year’s legislative session, Zach Wahls served in that role, but Senate Democrats chose Jochum in June 2023.

Sarah Trone Garriott remains minority whip. Trone Garriott was first elected in 2020 and defeated Jake Chapman in Senate district 14, covering part of Dallas County, in 2022.

The three assistant minority leaders also 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.
• Eric Giddens was first elected in a 2019 special election and represents Senate district 38, covering Cedar Falls and parts of Black Hawk, Tama, and Benton counties.
• Herman Quirmbach was first elected in 2006 and represents Senate district 23, covering most of Ames in Story County.

UPDATE: Iowa Senate Democrats announced some leadership changes on February 26. Trone Garriott stepped down as minority whip to focus on “serving my constituents, my 2024 reelection campaign, and most importantly my family.” Quirmbach also stepped down down as an assistant leader.

Jochum remains minority leader, though Democrats will need to elect a new leader later this year, because Jochum is not seeking re-election.

Boulton and Giddens remain assistant minority leaders, joined by Izaah Knox (first elected in 2022 from Senate district 17, covering part of Des Moines in Polk County) and Janice Weiner (first elected in 2022 from Senate district 45, covering the Iowa City area of Johnson County).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ranking member: Janet Petersen was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and represents Senate district 18, covering parts of Des Moines.

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 appropriations subcommittee

Chair: Dave Rowley won a special election in 2021 and was re-elected in 2022 in Senate district 5, covering Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, and Palo Alto counties, plus a small area in Clay County.

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.

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 appropriations subcommittee

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.

Ranking member: Eric Giddens (see above)

Other members: Tom Shipley (R), Janice Weiner (D)

Economic Development appropriations subcommittee

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.

Vice Chair: Adrian Dickey was first elected in a 2021 special election and was re-elected in 2022 in Senate district 44, covering Keokuk, Jefferson, and Van Buren counties and parts of Henry and Mahaska counties.

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 appropriations subcommittee

Chair: Jeff Taylor was first elected in 2020 and represents Senate district 2, covering Lyon and Sioux counties and part of Plymouth County.

Vice Chair: Chris Cournoyer (see above)

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.

Other members: Lynn Evans (R), Izaah Knox (D)

Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee

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.

Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

Justice Systems appropriations subcommittee

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.

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 re-elected in 2022 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 appropriations subcommittee

Chair: Carrie Koelker (see above)

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.

Ranking member: Janet Petersen (see above)

Other members: Rocky De Witt (R), Liz Bennett (D)

Commerce

Chair: Waylon Brown (see above)

Vice Chair: Mike Bousselot (see above)

Ranking member: Eric Giddens (see above)

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), Zach Wahls (D), Tony Bisignano (D), Izaah Knox (D), Janet Petersen (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

Education

Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above)

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), Chris Cournoyer (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Jesse Green (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.

Vice Chair: Mark Costello (see above)

Ranking member: Cindy Winckler (see above)

Other members: Lynn Evans (R), Janice Weiner (D), Todd Taylor (D)

Government Oversight

Chair: Amy Sinclair (see above)

Vice Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above)

Ranking member: Claire Celsi (see above)

Other members: Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Zach Wahls (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)

Other members: Waylon Brown (R), 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), Zach Wahls (D)

Judiciary

Chair: Brad Zaun (see above)

Vice Chair: Julian Garrett (see above)

Ranking member: Nate Boulton (see above)

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.

Vice Chair: Mark Lofgren (see above)

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.

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)

Ranking member: Izaah Knox was elected for the first time in 2022 and represents Senate district 17, covering part of Des Moines.

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)

Ranking member: Pam Jochum (see above) Last year Zach Wahls was ranking member.

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.

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), Cindy Winckler (D)

Technology (new committee)

Chair: Chris Cournoyer (see above)

Vice Chair: Carrie Koelker (see above) Last year Tim Kraayenbrink was vice chair.

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), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Scott Webster (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Izaah Knox (D), Zach Wahls (D)

Transportation

Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above)

Vice Chair: Adrian Dickey (see above)

Ranking member: Todd Taylor (see above)

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)

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)

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), Zach Wahls (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)

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.

Ranking member: Molly Donahue (see above)

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, ranking member), Cindy Winckler (D)