Women in Iowa Politics
Representation Over Time
Representation over time
In the visualization below, drag the time slider to see how many women of each party were elected to the state House and Senate in a given session. You can also press play to watch a time series animation. The names of the active women legislators for that session and the years they served in that chamber are listed below.
1921
- Democrat Women
- Republican Women
- Men
House Representatives
Year: 1921
Senators
Map
Drag the time slider in the map below to see the home counties of elected women over time. Click on the county to see its name and the women who have served in that county at any given session.
State Legislators
Women in the Iowa State Legislature
Janet L. Adams
Webster County, Democrat
House: 1987-1992
Mayor of Webster City
Marti Anderson
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2013-2023
Staci Appel
Warren County, Democrat
Senate: 2007-2011
Andra Atteberry
Delaware County, Democrat
House: 2001-2002
Donna M. Barry
Harrison County, Republican
House: 1995-2001
Elaine Baxter
Des Moines County, Democrat
House: 1982-1986
Secretary of State: 1985-1992
Linda L. Beatty
Warren County, Democrat
House: 1985-1994
Liz Bennett
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2015-2023
Senate: 2023-2027
Deborah L. Berry
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 2003-2016
Amy M. Bloom
Webster County, Republican
House: 1947-1948
Jane Bloomingdale
Worth County, Republican
House: 2017-2025
Carmine R. Boal
Polk County, Republican
House: 1999-2008
Lenabelle Bock
Hancock County, Republican
House: 1961-1964
Brooke Boden
Warren County, Republican
House: 2021-2025
Nancy J. Boettger
Shelby County, Republican
Senate: 1995-2014
Mattie B. Bogenrief
Polk County, Democrat
House: 1965-1966
Effie Lee Boggess
Taylor/Page County, Republican
House: 1995-2004
Christina Bohannan
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 2021-2023
Diane Brandt
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 1975-1983
Holly Brink
Mahaska County, Republican
House: 2019-2023
Timi Brown-Powers
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 2015-2025
Molly Buck
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2023-2025
Florence D. Buhr
Polk County, Democrat
House: 1983-1990
Senate: 1991-2004
Cecelia S. Burnett
Story County, Democrat
House: 1995-2000
Polly Bukta
Clinton County, Democrat
House: 1997-2010
Sue Cahill
Marshall County, Democrat
House: 2021-2025
Janet A. Carl
Poweshiek County, Democrat
House: 1982-1985
Dorothy F. Carpenter
Polk County, Republican
House: 1981-1994
Claire Celsi
Polk County, Democrat
Senate: 2019-2027
Kay Halloran Chapman
Linn County, Democrat
House: 1983-1992, 1997-1999
Mayor of Cedar Rapids: 2006-2009
Betty Jean Clark
Cerro Gordo County, Republican
House: 1977-1990
Gertrude S. Cohen
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 1965-1966
Willa Charlene Conklin
Black Hawk County, Republican
House: 1967-1968
Senate: 1969-1972
Joy C. Corning
Black Hawk County, Republican
Senate: 1985-1990
Lt. Governor: 1990-1998
Chris Cournoyer
Scott County, Republican
Senate: 2019-2027
Helen Margaret Crabb
Guthrie County, Democrat
House: 1949-1952
Swati A. Dandekar
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2003-2008
Senate: 2009-2011
Betty R. De Boef
Keokuk County, Republican
House: 2001-2013
Karin Derry
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2018-2020
Minnette Fredrichs Doderer
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 1964-1968, 1981-2000
Senate: 1969-1978
Molly Donahue
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2019-2023
Senate: 2023-2027
Jo Ann M. Douglas
Adair County, Republican
Senate: 1995-2002
Dawn Driscoll
Iowa County, Republican
Senate: 2021-2027
Lucile Duitscher
Wright County, Democrat
House: 1969-1970
Nancy Dunkel
Dubuque County, Democrat
House: 2013-2017
Sonja Egenes
Story County, Republican
House: 1971-1982
Tracy Ehlert
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2019-2025
Isabel M. Elliott
Woodbury County, Democrat
House: 1937-1940
Joni Ernst
Montgomery County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2011-2014
U.S. Senate: 2015-2027
Katherine Mull Falvey
Monroe County, Republican
House: 1959-1964
Barbara A. Finch
Story County, Republican
House: 2001-2002
Abby Finkenauer
Dubuque County, Democrat
Iowa House: 2015-2019
U.S. House: 1st District, 2019-2021
A. June Franklin
Polk County, Democrat
House: 1967-1972
Mary Lou Freeman
Buena Vista County, Republican
Senate: 1994-2002
House: 2003-2006
Marcella R. Frevert
Palo Alto County, Democrat
House: 1997-2010
Ruth Ann Gaines
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2011-2025
Teresa A. Garman
Story County, Republican
House: 1987-2002
Ada Lucille Garner
Butler County, Democrat
House: 1933-1934
Mary Gaskill
Wapello County, Democrat
House: 2003-2020
Elesha L. Gayman
Scott County, Democrat
House: 2007-2010
Julia B. Gentleman
Polk County, Republican
House: 1975-1978
Senate: 1979-1990
Willie Stevenson Glanton
Polk County, Democrat
House: 1965-1966
First African American woman elected to the Iowa General Assembly
First African American woman to become an Assistant County
Attorney in Polk County
Cindy Golding
Linn County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Polly A. Granzow
Hardin/Marshall County, Republican
House: 2003-2008
Mary Pat Gregerson
Pottawatamie County, Democrat
House: 1965-1966
Jane L. Greimann
Story County, Democrat
House: 1999-2004
Sandra Greiner
Washington County, Republican
House: 1993-2000, 2003-2008
Senate: 2001-2002, 2011-2014
Josephine K. Gruhn
Dickinson County, Democrat
House: 1983-1992
Betty Grundberg
Polk County, Republican
House: 1993-2002
Kristi Hager
Allamakee County, Republican
House: 2017-2019
Frances Gilchrist Hakes
Pocahontas County, Republican
House: 1961-1964
Johnie Hammond
Story County, Democrat
House: 1983-1994
Senate: 1995-2002
Beverly A. Hannon
Jones County, Democrat
Senate: 1985-1992
Mary Ann Hanusa
Pottawattamie County, Republican
House: 2011-2021
Mattie Harper
Davis County, Democrat
House: 1973-1978
Patricia M. Harper
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 1987-1994
Senate: 1995-2002
Rita Hart
Clinton County, Democrat
Senate: 2013-2019
Helena Hayes
Mahaska County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Lisa Heddens
Story County, Democrat
House: 2003-2021
Joan L. Hester
Pottawattamie County, Republican
House: 1985-1994
Ashley Hinson
Linn County, Republican
Iowa House: 2017-2021
U.S. House: 1st District, 2021-2023; 2nd District, 2023-2025
Betty A. Hoffmann
Muscatine County, Republican
House: 1977-1985
Heather Hora
Washington County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Julie M. Hosch
Jones County, Republican
Senate: 2003-2004
Geri D. Huser
Polk County, Democrat
House: 1997-2010
Elizabeth S. Jacobs
Polk County, Republican
House: 1995-2006
Lindsay James
Dubuque County, Democrat
House: 2019-2025
Pam Jochum
Dubuque County, Democrat
House: 1993-2009
Senate: 2009-2025
President of the Senate: 2013-2017
JoAnn Johnson
Adair/Dallas County, Republican
Senate: 1995-2003
Megan Jones
Clay County, Republican
House: 2013-2025
Patty Judge
Monroe County, Democrat
Senate: 1993-1998
Secretary of Agriculture: 1999-2006
Lt. Governor: 2007-2010
Anesa Kajtazovic
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 2011-2015
Doris Kelley
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 2007-2011
Kathlyn M. Kirketeg
Adams County, Republican
House: 1947-1948
Emma Jean Kiser
Scott County, Republican
House: 1973-1974
Carrie Koelker
Dubuque County, Republican
Senate: 2019-2027
Jennifer Konfrst
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2019-2025
Minority Leader: 2021-2025
Mary E. Kramer
Polk County, Republican
Senate: 1997-2004
Ambassador to Barbados 2004-2006
Monica Kurth
Scott County, Democrat
House: 2017-2025
Sonja Larsen
Wapello County, Republican
House: 1979-1980
Shannon Latham
Franklin County, Republican
House: 2021-2025
Edna C. Lawrence
Wapello County, Republican
House: 1947-1950
Vicki S. Lensing
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 2001-2020
Elinor Levin
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 2023-2025
Joan Miller Lipsky
Linn County, Republican
House: 1967-1978
Jean Hall Lloyd-Jones
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 1979-1986
Senate: 1987-1994
Joyce Lonergan
Boone County, Democrat
House: 1975-1986
Mary A. Lundby
Linn County, Republican
House: 1987-1995
Senate: 1995-2009
Co-Majority Leader: 2006
Minority Leader:2006-2007
Shannon Lundgren
Dubuque County, Republican
House: 2017-2025
Mae A. Lynch
Pocahontas County, Democrat
House: 1943-1946
Mary Madison
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2023-2025
Karen Mann
Greene County, Republican
House: 1981-1982
Mona L. Martin
Scott County, Republican
House: 1993-2000
Mary Mascher
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 1995-2023
Liz Mathis
Linn County, Democrat
Senate: 2011-2023
Heather Matson
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2019-2021; 2023-2025
Barb Kniff McCulla
Marion County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Lillian McElroy
Fremont County, Republican
House: 1971-1977
Dolores M. Mertz
Kossuth County, Democrat
House: 1989-2010
Janet S. Metcalf
Polk County, Republican
House: 1985-2002
Katheryn C. Metz
Decatur County, Republican
House: 1949-1952
Ann Meyer
Webster County, Republican
House: 2019-2025
Elizabeth Ruby Miller
Marshall County, Republican
House: 1969-1972
Senate: 1973-1980
Helen Miller
Webster County, Democrat
House: 2003-2018
Linda J. Miller
Scott County, Republican
House: 2007- 2016
Opal Louise Miller
Calhoun County, Democrat
House: 1975-1978
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Mahaska County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2019-2021
U.S. House: 2nd District, 2021-2023; 1st District, 2023-2025
Sue B. Mullins
Kossuth County, Republican
House: 1979-1988
Beverly J. Nelson
Marshall County, Republican
House: 1995-2000
Gladys Shand Nelson
Jasper County, Republican
House: 1951-1956
Linda M. Nelson
Pottawattamie County, Democrat
House: 1993-1996
Mary C. Neuhauser
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 1987-1994
Senate: 1995-1998
Amy Nielsen
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 2017-2025
Joyce Nielsen
Linn County, Democrat
House: 1989-1992
Mary T. O’Halloran
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 1973-1978
Jo Oldson
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2003-2023
Joann Yessler Orr
Poweshiek County, Democrat
Senate: 1969-1970, 1973-1980
Anne Osmundson
Clayton County, Republican
House: 2019-2025
Kim L. Pearson
Polk County, Republican
House: 2011-2012
Doris Ann Peick
Linn County, Democrat
House: 1983-1986
Carolyn Campbell Pendray
Jackson County, Democrat
House: 1929-1932
Senate: 1933-1936
First Woman Elected to House & Senate
Janet A. Petersen
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2001-2013
Senate: 2013-2025
Senate Minority Leader 2017-2021
Dawn E. Pettengill
Benton County, Democrat and Republican
House: 2005-2018
Virginia J. Poffenberger
Dallas County, Republican
House: 1979-1982
Amanda Ragan
Cerro Gordo County, Democrat
Senate: 2009-2023
Jackie Reeder
Buchanan County, Democrat
House (Special Election): 2002-2003
Kathleen “Kitty” Rehberg
Black Hawk County, Republican
Senate: 1995-2008
Kim Reynolds
Clarke County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2009-2010
Lt. Governor: 2011-2017
Governor: 2017-2027
Rebecca Reynolds
Van Buren County, Democrat
House: 1997-2002
Patti Ruff
Clayton County, Democrat
House 2013-2017
Kirsten Running-Marquardt
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2009-2023
Sandy Salmon
Black Hawk County, Republican
House: 2013-2023
Senate: 2023-2027
Hallie Sargisson
Woodbury County, Democrat
House 1971-1973
Becky Schmitz
Keokuk County, Democrat
Senate: 2007-2010
Renee Schulte
Linn County, Republican
House: 2009-2012
Elizabeth Shaw
Scott County, Republican
House: 1967-1972
Nancy Shimanek (Boyd)
Delaware County, Republican
House: 1977-1982
Vera Shivvers
Marion/Monroe County, Republican
Senate 1963-1966
Amy Sinclair
Wayne County, Republican
Senate: 2013-2025
Jackie Smith
Woodbury County, Democrat
Senate: 2019-2023
Joan Smith
Polk County, Republican
House: 1981-1982
Betty Soukup
Cerro Gordo County, Democrat
Senate: 1999-2002
Megan Srinivas
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2023-2025
Sharon Steckman
Cerro Gordo County, Democrat
House: 2009-2025
Luana Stoltenberg
Scott County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Sally Stutsman
Johnson County, Democrat
House: 2013-2016
Kristin Sunde
Polk County, Democrat
House: 2019-2023
E. Jane Svoboda
Black Hawk/Tama County, Democrat
House: 1987-1992
Linda Svoboda
Iowa County, Democrat
House: 1975-1979
Annette Sweeney
Marshall/Hardin County, Republican
House: 2009-2013
Senate: 2018-2027
Elaine Szymoniak
Polk County, Democrat
Senate: 1989-2002
Jane Teaford
Black Hawk County, Democrat
House: 1985-1992
Phyllis Thede
Scott County, Democrat
House: 2009-2023
Patricia Thompson
Polk County, Republican
House: 1977-1981
Rosemary Thomson
Polk County, Republican
House: 1995-2001
Maggie Tinsman
Scott County, Republican
Senate: 1989-2004
Janice Torrence Laughlin
Muscatine County, Republican
House: 1983-1985
Sarah Trone Garriott
Polk County, Democrat
Senate: 2021-2027
Joan Trucano
Polk County, Republican
House: 1981-1982
Jodi Tymeson
Scott County, Republican
House: 2001-2011
Linda Upmeyer
Cerro Gordo County, Republican
House: 2003-2021
Majority Leader: 2010
Speaker of the House: 2016-2020
Percie Van Alstine
Humboldt County, Republican
House: 1961-1964
Marcia Walter
Pottawattamie County, Democrat
House: 1981-1983
Pat Ward
Polk County, Republican
Senate: 2003-2013
Janice Weiner
Johnson County, Democrat
Senate: 2023-2027
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Story County, Democrat
House: 2005-2025
Cherielynn Westrich
Wapello County, Republican
House: 2021-2023
Senate: 2023-2027
Tami Wiencek
Black Hawk County, Republican
House: 2007-2009
Mary Jo Wilhelm
Howard County, Democrat
Senate: 2009-2017
Elizabeth Wilson
Linn County, Democrat
House: 2023-2025
Cindy Winckler
Scott County, Democrat
House: 2001-2023
Senate: 2023-2027
Olga Wolcott
Cerro Gordo County, Democrat
House: 1965-1967
Mary Wolfe
Clinton County, Democrat
House: 2011-2023
Devon Wood
Taylor County, Republican
House: 2023-2025
Sue Yenger
Wapello/Davis County, Republican
Senate: 1979-1982
Jo Ann Zimmerman
Dallas County, Democrat
House: 1983-1987
Lt. Governor: 1987-2000
State Executives and Federal Officials
Women Elected to State Executive and Federal Office
Cindy Axne
Polk County, Democrat
U.S. House of Representatives: 3rd District, 2019-Present
Ola Babcock Miller
Washington County, Democrat
Iowa Secretary of State: 1932-1937
Founder of the Highway Patrol
Elaine Baxter
Des Moines County, Democrat
House: 1982-1986
Secretary of State: 1985-1992
Bonnie Campbell
Polk County, Democrat
State Attorney General: 1991-1995
Joy C. Corning
Black Hawk County, Republican
Senate: 1985-1990
Lt. Governor: 1990-1998
Joni Ernst
Montgomery County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2011-2014
U.S. Senate: 2015-2027
Abby Finkenauer
Dubuque County, Democrat
Iowa House: 2015-2019
U.S. House: 1st District, 2019-2021
Ashley Hinson
Linn County, Republican
Iowa House: 2017-2021
U.S. House: 1st District, 2021-2023; 2nd District, 2023-2025
Patty Judge
Monroe County, Democrat
Senate: 1993-1998
Secretary of Agriculture: 1999-2006
Lt. Governor: 2007-2010
Mary E. Kramer
Polk County, Republican
Senate: 1997-2004
Ambassador to Barbados 2004-2006
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Mahaska County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2019-2021
U.S. House: 2nd District, 2021-2023; 1st District, 2023-2025
Mary Mosiman
Story County, Republican
State Auditor: 2013-2019
Mary Jane Odell
Polk County, Republican
Iowa Secretary of State: 1980-1986
Sally Pederson
Polk County, Democrat
Lt. Governor: 1999-2006
Kim Reynolds
Clarke County, Republican
Iowa Senate: 2009-2010
Lt. Governor: 2011-2017
Governor: 2017-2027
Jo Ann Zimmerman
Dallas County, Democrat
House: 1983-1987
Lt. Governor: 1987-2000