Who's who in the Iowa Senate for 2025

Who’s who in the Iowa Senate for 2025

The Iowa Senate convened in Des Moines on January 13 for the first day of the 2025 legislative session, with 34 Republicans, fifteen Democrats, and one vacancy to be filled by the winner of the January 28 special election in Senate district 35. UPDATE: Democrat Mike Zimmer won that election, so Republicans had a 34-16 majority for the remainder of the 2025 session.

Seven senators (four Republicans, three Democrats) were elected to the chamber for the first time in 2024. One of them (Democrat Art Staed) previously served in the Iowa House.

Thirteen senators are women (seven Democrats and six Republicans), down from fifteen women in the chamber following the 2022 election. Depending on the election result in Senate district 35, a fourteenth woman may be sworn in next month.

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.

In 2023, Democrat Janice Weiner became the first Jewish person to serve in the Iowa Senate since Ralph Rosenberg left the legislature after 1994. She became the first Jewish person to lead an Iowa legislative caucus when her peers elected her minority leader in November.

Democrat Liz Bennett is the only out LGBTQ member of the Iowa Senate.

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.

Some non-political trivia: the 50 Iowa senators include four men named Mike (three Republicans and a Democrat), two Toms (a Democrat and a Republican), a Dave and a David (both Republicans), and two men each named Jeff, Mark, and Dan (all Republicans).

Senate Republicans

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: Dan Dawson, Mark Lofgren

First elected in a 2018 special election: Annette Sweeney

First elected in the 2018 general election: 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

First elected in 2024: Doug Campbell, Mike Pike, Dave Sires, Kara Warme

Senate Democrats

First elected in 2002: Bill Dotzler (six years in Iowa House), Herman Quirmbach

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 2018: Claire Celsi, Zach Wahls

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), Izaah Knox, Janice Weiner, Cindy Winckler (22 years in Iowa House)

First elected in 2024: Matt Blake, Art Staed (16 years in Iowa House), Tom Townsend

First elected in a 2025 special election: Mike Zimmer

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 five female colleagues now. She currently represents Senate district 12, covering Adair, Madison, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, and Wayne counties, along with small areas in Dallas, Union, and Appanoose counties.

Ken Rozenboom is president pro tempore. He 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. Brad Zaun previously held that position, but he lost his re-election bid in 2024.

Mike Klimesh is majority whip. He 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. Waylon Brown previously held this position, but he resigned from the Senate in the summer of 2024.

The four assistant majority leaders are:

Adrian Dickey was first elected in 2018 and represents Senate district 35, covering Clinton County and parts of Scott and Jackson counties.
Lynn Evans was first elected in 2022 and represents Senate district 3, covering Osceola, O’Brien, and Buena Vista counties, and parts of Clay and Cherokee 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.
Tim Kraayenbrink was first elected in 2014 and represents Senate district 4, covering Webster, Calhoun, Sac, and Pocahontas counties.

Last year’s assistant majority leaders were Chris Cournoyer (who resigned from the Senate in December 2024 to become lieutenant governor), Klimesh, Koelker, and Jeff Reichman.

Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team

Janice Weiner became minority leader in November 2024. She was first elected in 2022 from Senate district 45, covering the Iowa City area of Johnson County. Last year Pam Jochum led the caucus, but she didn’t seek re-election in 2024.

Bill Dotzler is minority whip. He was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2002 and represents Senate district 31, covering most of Waterloo in Black Hawk County. Last year Sarah Trone Garriott was minority whip.

The four assistant minority leaders are:

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.
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.
Izaah Knox was first elected in 2022 and represents Senate district 17, covering part of Des Moines.
Cindy Winckler served in the Iowa House for 20 years and was first elected to the Senate in 2022. She represents Senate district 49, covering part of Davenport and Buffalo in Scott County.

Last year Nate Boulton, Eric Giddens, Knox, and Herman Quirmbach were assistant minority leaders. Boulton and Giddens lost their 2024 re-election bids.

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), Dave Sires (R), Tom Shipley (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Jesse Green (R), Dennis Guth (R), Mark Costello (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Dan Zumbach (R), Liz Bennett (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Izaah Knox (D), Herman Quirmbach (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), Mike Bousselot (R), Dave Rowley (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Mark Costello (R), Dave Sires (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Jesse Green (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Tom Shipley (R), Kara Warme (R), Art Staed (D), Molly Donahue (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Matt Blake (D), Izaah Knox (D), Cindy Winckler (D)

Appropriations Subcommittees

Administration and Regulation appropriations subcommittee

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 Dave Rowley led this panel.

Vice 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. Last year Dennis Guth was vice chair.

Ranking member: Matt Blake was elected for the first time in 2024 in Senate district 22, covering some suburban areas in Polk County.

Other members: Mike Pike (R), Claire Celsi (D)

Agriculture/Natural Resources appropriations subcommittee

Chair: Tom Shipley was first elected in 2014 and now represents Senate district 9, covering Cass, Montgomery, Adams, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold counties, and part of Union County. Last year Ken Rozenboom was chair.

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: Art Staed was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2024 after a long tenure in the House. He represents Senate district 40, covering parts of Cedar Rapids and some suburbs in Linn County. Last year Eric Giddens was ranking member.

Other members: Dan Zumbach (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: Dave Sires (R), Herman Quirmbach (D)

Education appropriations subcommittee

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 Jeff Taylor led this subcommittee.

Vice Chair: Lynn Evans (see above) Last year Chris Cournoyer was vice chair.

Ranking member: Cindy Winckler (see above)

Other members: Sandy Salmon (R), Zach Wahls (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: Mike Klimesh (see above) Last year Jeff Edler was vice chair.

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: Kara Warme (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: Izaah Knox (see above) Last year Todd Taylor was ranking member, but he retired from the Senate in 2024.

Other members: Jeff Reichman (R), Tom Townsend (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: Doug Campbell (R), Liz Bennett (D)

Commerce

Chair: Mike Bousselot (see above) Last year Waylon Brown was the chair.

Vice Chair: Carrie Koelker (see above) Last year Mike Bousselot was chair.

Ranking member: Izaah Knox (see above) Last year Eric Giddens was ranking member.

Other members: Dan Zumbach (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Kara Warme (R), Dave Rowley (R), Jason Schultz (R), Scott Webster (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Zach Wahls (D), Tony Bisignano (D), Matt Blake (D), Janet Petersen (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

Education

Chair: Lynn Evans (see above) Last year Ken Rozenboom was chair.

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

Ranking member: Herman Quirmbach (see above)

Other members: Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Julian Garrett (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Doug Campbell (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Jesse Green (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Tom Shipley (R), Cindy Winckler (D), Mike Zimmer (D), Molly Donahue (D), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

Ethics

This committee has three members from each party in accordance with Iowa law.

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. Last year Tom Shipley was chair.

Vice Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above) Last year Mark Costello was vice chair.

Ranking member: Cindy Winckler (see above)

Other members: Cherielynn Westrich (R), Janet Petersen (D), Art Staed (D)

Government Oversight

Chair: Kerry Gruenhagen was first elected in 2022 and represents Senate district 41, covering part of Scott County, all of Cedar County, and a small area in Muscatine County.

Vice Chair: Lynn Evans (see above) Last year Mike Klimesh was 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: Rocky De Witt (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Bill Dotzler (D)

Health and Human Services (formerly called Human Resources)

Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above) Last year Jeff Edler was the chair.

Vice Chair: Mark Costello (see above)

Ranking member: Sarah Trone Garriott was first elected in 2020 and defeated Jake Chapman in Senate district 14, covering part of Dallas County, in 2022.

Other members: Mike Pike (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dave Rowley (R), Kevin Alons (R), Doug Campbell (R), Dennis Guth (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Kara Warme (R), Molly Donahue (D), Claire Celsi (D), Janet Petersen (D), Zach Wahls (D)

Judiciary

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 Brad Zaun led this panel, but he lost his 2024 re-election bid.

Vice Chair: Julian Garrett (see above)

Ranking member: Matt Blake (see above) Last year Nate Boulton was the ranking member, but he lost his re-election bid.

Other members: Dan Dawson (R), Tom Shipley (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Lynn Evans (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Dave Rowley (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Jesse Green (R), Scott Webster (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Izaah Knox (D), Janet Petersen (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Janice Weiner (D)

Local Government

Chair: Scott Webster was first elected in 2022 and represents Senate district 47, covering Bettendorf and some other areas in Scott County. Last year Jesse Green was the chair.

Vice Chair: Mike Klimesh (see above) Last year Mark Lofgren was the vice chair.

Ranking member: Janice Weiner (see above)

Other members: Dawn Driscoll (R), Dave Sires (R), Dennis Guth (R), Tom Shipley (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Herman Quirmbach (D), Izaah Knox (D), Zach Wahls (D)

Natural Resources and Environment

Chair: Annette Sweeney (see above)

Vice Chair: Tom Shipley (see above)

Ranking member: Art Staed (see above)

Other members: Mike Pike (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Dan Zumbach (R), Lynn Evans (R), Dave Sires (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: Janice Weiner (see above) Last year Pam Jochum was ranking member.

Other members: Ken Rozenboom (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Tim Kraayenbrink (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Molly Donahue (D)

State Government

Chair: Ken Rozenboom (see above) Last year Jason Schultz was the chair.

Vice Chair: 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. Last year Chris Cournoyer was vice chair

Ranking member: Cindy Winckler (see above)

Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Doug Campbell (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Jason Schultz (R), Jesse Green (R), Dennis Guth (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Scott Webster (R), Cherielynn Westrich (R), Claire Celsi (D), Tony Bisignano (D), Matt Blake (D), Art Staed (D), Tom Townsend (D)

Technology

Chair: Charlie McClintock served a term in the Iowa House and was first elected in 2022 in Senate district 42, covering most of Benton County and most of rural Linn County. Last year Chris Cournoyer was the chair.

Vice Chair: Kevin Alons was first elected in 2022 in Senate district 7, covering most of Woodbury County, all of Monona County, and parts of Plymouth and Cherokee counties. Last year Carrie Koelker 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: Doug Campbell (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Dave Sires (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Kara Warme (R), Art Staed (D), Izaah Knox (D), Zach Wahls (D)

Transportation

Chair: Dan Zumbach (see above) Last year Mike Klimesh was the chair.

Vice Chair: Scott Webster (see above) Last year Adrian Dickey was vice chair

Ranking member: Tom Townsend was first elected in 2024 from Senate district 36, covering the city of Dubuque. Last year Todd Taylor was ranking member.

Other members: Kara Warme (R), Mike Pike (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Tom Shipley (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Rocky De Witt (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Kerry Gruenhagen (R), Tony Bisignano (D), Liz Bennett (D), Claire Celsi (D), Matt Blake (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), Mike Pike (R), Kara Warme (R), Mark Costello (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Doug Campbell (R), Liz Bennett (D), Matt Blake (D), Tom Townsend (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: Dave Rowley (see above) Last year Carrie Koelker was vice chair.

Ranking member: Tony Bisignano (see above) Last year Pam Jochum was ranking member.

Other members: Jesse Green (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Carrie Koelker (R), Mike Klimesh (R), Jason Schultz (R), Adrian Dickey (R), Dawn Driscoll (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Jeff Reichman (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Claire Celsi (D), Janet Petersen (D), Tom Townsend (D), Herman Quirmbach (D)

Workforce (formerly Labor and Business Relations)

Chair: Adrian Dickey (see above)

Vice Chair: Jason Schultz (see above) Last year Charlie McClintock was vice chair.

Ranking member: Molly Donahue (see above)

Other members: Dawn Driscoll (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Charlie McClintock (R), Dave Sires (R), Jeff Taylor (R), Kevin Alons (R), Mike Pike (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Tom Townsend (D), Zach Wahls (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 Dave Rowley (R, chair), Dan Dawson (R), Mike Bousselot (R), Cindy Winckler (D, ranking member), Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

International Relations

Co-chair: Annette Sweeney (see above)

Other members: Kevin Alons (R), Jesse Green (R), Janice Weiner (D), Bill Dotzler (D)