Iowa's New State Legislative Leaders

posted on Monday, November 23, 2020 in Government Affairs

The Iowa House and Senate caucuses have chosen their respective leadership teams for the coming legislative session. The GOP will head into the 89th General Assembly with a 59-41 advantage in the House and a 32-18 majority in the Senate. The 2021 legislative session will convene January 11.

Iowa State Senate

Senate Republicans:

• Re-elected Jack Whitver of Ankeny as the Majority Leader
• Selected Jake Chapman of Adel to serve as the president for the 89th General Assembly.
• Brad Zaun of Urbandale will be the President Pro Tempore. 
• Amy Sinclair of Allerton remains the Majority Whip 
• Assistant Leaders:
  • Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire,
  • Carrie Koelker of Dyersville,
  • Zach Whiting of Spirit Lake
  • Mark Lofgren of Muscatine 

Senate Democrats

• Chose Zach Wahls of Coralville as the new Minority Leader - he replaces Janet Petersen of Des Moines.  
• Amanda Ragan of Mason City remains the Minority Whip. 
• Assistant leaders 
  • Nate Boulton of Des Moines
  • Bill Dotzler of Waterloo
  • Pam Jochum of Dubuque
  • Herman Quirmbach of Ames
  • Jackie Smith of Sioux City. 

Iowa State House of Representatives

House Republicans re-elected their current leadership team. 

• Pat Grassley of New Hartford will continue as Speaker of the House
• Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley as Majority Leader
• John Wills of Spirit Lake as Speaker Pro-Tempore
• Mike Sexton of Rockwell City as Majority Whip. 
• They will elect their assistant leaders at a future date.

House Democrats

• Todd Prichard of Charles City was re-elected as the Minority Leader 
• Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights will serve as the Minority Whip. 
• Assistant leaders
  • Brian Meyer of Des Moines
  • Lindsay James of Dubuque
  • Eric Gjerde of Cedar Rapids
  • Charlie McConkey of Council Bluffs.