Iowa Senate Democrats announce committee chairs

One day after a special election confirmed there will be 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans in the Iowa Senate next year, Senate Democrats released updated committee assignments. After the jump I’ve posted the full list of committee chairs as well as the leadership team chosen a few weeks ago. Most committees have the same leaders as in 2012, but where relevant I’ve noted changes.

Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team

Majority Leader Mike Gronstal was first elected to the Iowa House in 1982 and won his first Senate election in 1984. He was just re-elected in Senate district 8, covering most of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County.

Senate President Pam Jochum represented part of Dubuque in the Iowa House from 1993 through 2008 before winning her first term in the Senate that year. She was just re-elected in Senate district 50.

President Pro Tempore Steve Sodders was first elected to the legislature in 2008 and was just re-elected in Senate district 36, covering Marshall and Tama counties and part of Black Hawk County.

Majority Whip Joe Bolkcom was first elected in 1998 from a district covering most of Iowa City in Johnson County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 43.

Assistant majority leaders:

Wally Horn was first elected in 1978 from Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 35.

Amanda Ragan was first elected in 2002 from a Senate district covering Floyd and Mitchell counties and part of Cerro Gordo, including Mason City. She is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 27, which still includes Mason City and most of Cerro Gordo but now covers Franklin and most of Butler County.

Matt McCoy has represented parts of Des Moines in the Iowa Senate since 1997. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 21, covering much of the south side of Des Moines and part of West Des Moines in Polk County.

Bill Dotzler was first elected in 2002 from a district covering a large area in Waterloo in Black Hawk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 31.

Leaders of standing committees

Agriculture

Joe Seng was first elected in 2002 from district 43, covering Davenport in Scott County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 45.

Appropriations

Bob Dvorsky was first elected in a 1994 special election and currently represents parts of Johnson and Linn Counties, including Coralville. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 37, covering Coralville and a large area in Johnson County as well as Cedar County.

Commerce

Matt McCoy (see bio above)

Economic Growth

Steve Sodders (see bio above)

Education  

Herman Quirmbach was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2002 from a district covering Ames and immediate surroundings in Story County, as well as a portion of eastern Boone County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 23, covering Ames and some rural areas in Story County.

Ethics

Co-chair: Wally Horn (see bio above) Last year Jack Kibbie co-chaired this committee, but he retired.

Human Resources

Amanda Ragan (see bio above)

Judiciary

Rob Hogg was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2006 from a district covering northeast and southeast Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 33, covering a slightly different area in Cedar Rapids. Last year Hogg was vice chair of this committee; the previous chair, Gene Fraise, retired.

Labor and Business Relations

Wally Horn (see bio above)

Local Government

Mary Jo Wilhelm was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008 and just re-elected in Senate district 26, covering Worth, Mitchell, Howard, and Chickasaw counties, plus parts of Winneshiek and Cerro Gordo counties.

Natural Resources and Environment

Dick Dearden was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and was just re-elected in Senate district 16, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County.

Rules and Administration

Mike Gronstal (see bio above)

State Government  

Jeff Danielson was first elected in 2004 from district 10, covering Cedar Falls, part of Waterloo and some rural areas in Black Hawk County. He was just re-elected in Senate district 30, covering a similar area.

Transportation

Tod Bowman was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 29, covering Jackson County, most of Dubuque County (but not the city of Dubuque) and a large area in Jones County. Last year Bowman was vice chair of this committee. The previous chair, Tom Rielly, retired.

Ways & Means

Joe Bolkcom (see bio above)

Veterans Affairs

Daryl Beall was first elected in 2002 from the old district 25, covering most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge, Greene and Calhoun Counties. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 5, covering Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties and most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge.

Leaders of budget subcommittees

Administration and Regulation

Liz Mathis was first elected in a 2011 special election in Senate district 18 and just re-elected in Senate district 34, covering suburban areas in Linn County. Last year Jochum chairs this subcommittee, but she is now Senate president.

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Dennis Black has served in the Senate since 1995 and now represents most of Jasper County and part of southeast Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 15, also covering most of Jasper and a large area in eastern Polk County.

Economic Development

Bill Dotzler (see bio above)

Education

Brian Schoenjahn was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004 and was just re-elected in Senate district 32, covering Bremer County and parts of Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk.

Health and Human Services

Jack Hatch was first elected in 2002 from district 33, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 17, covering a similar area.

Justice Systems



Tom Courtney was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2000. He was just re-elected in Senate district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a large area in Muscatine County. Last year Tom Hancock chaired this subcommittee, but he retired.

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals

Matt McCoy (see bio above)

Government Oversight

Janet Petersen served in the Iowa House for 12 years and was just elected to the Iowa Senate for the first time from Senate district 18, covering parts of northern and eastern Des Moines. Last year Tom Courtney chaired this subcommittee.

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