Women in Iowa Politics

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2009-2011

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2003-2005

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2003-2005

Assistant Minority Leader: 2007-2011

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

Assistant Minority Leader: 2003-2007

Speaker Pro Tempore: 2007-2011

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

Assistant Minority Leader: 2023-2027

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2021-2024

Lieutenant Governor: 2025-2027

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

Senate Assistant Minority Leader: 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

Assistant Minority Leader, 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: 1967-1973

Minority Whip: 1969-1973

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: 2003-2021

Assistant Minority Leader: 2013-2015

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

Assistant Minority Leader: 2017-2019

Helena Hayes

Mahaska County, Republican

House: 2023-2025

Lisa Heddens

Story County, Democrat

House: 2003-2021

Assistant Minority Leader: 2005-2007

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: 1995-2009

House Majority Whip: 2003-2007

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

Senate Assistant Minority Leader: 2019-2021, 2023

Senate Minority Leader: 2023-2024

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2021-2027

Jennifer Konfrst

Polk County, Democrat

House: 2019-2025

Minority Leader: 2021-2025

Mary E. Kramer

Polk County, Republican

Senate: 1997-2004

President of the Senate: 1997-2003

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

Senate Republican Leader: 2005-2007

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

Assistant Minority Leader: 2011-2014

Liz Mathis

Linn County, Democrat

Senate: 2011-2023

Assistant Minority Leader: 2017-2021

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: 2003-2019

Assistant Minority Leader: 2005-2007

Assistant Majority Leader: 2007-2009

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: 2001-2023

Assistant Minority Leader: 2003-2005

Assistant Democratic Leader (evenly divided Senate): 2005-2007

Assistant Majority Leader: 2007-2017

Minority Whip: 2017-2023

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: 2013-2029

Assistant Majority Leader: 2017-2018

Majority Whip: 2018-2023

President of the Senate: 2023-2027

Jackie Smith

Woodbury County, Democrat

Senate: 2019-2023

Assistant Minority Leader: 2021-2023

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2009-2011

Assistant Minority Leader: 2011

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

Minority Whip: 2023-2024

Joan Trucano

Polk County, Republican

House: 1981-1982

Jodi Tymeson

Scott County, Republican

House: 2001-2011

Assistant Majority Leader: 2009

Linda Upmeyer

Cerro Gordo County, Republican

House: 2003-2021

Speaker of the House: 2015-2021

House Republican Whip: 2009-2011

House Majority Leader: 2010-2015

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

Assistant Minority Leader: 2007-2012

Janice Weiner

Johnson County, Democrat

Senate: 2023-2027

Assistant Minority Leader: 2024

Minority Leader: 2024-2027

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

Assistant Majority Leader: 2015-2017

Elizabeth Wilson

Linn County, Democrat

House: 2023-2025

Cindy Winckler

Scott County, Democrat

House: 2001-2023

Senate: 2023-2027

Senate Assistant Minority Leader: 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

Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate: 1987-1991

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

Assistant Minority Leader, 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

President of the Senate: 1997-2003

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

Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate: 1987-1991