Iowa Government

Iowa State Government

Iowa’s state government operates under a tripartite system, comprising the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, each with distinct roles and responsibilities.

Executive Branch

Governor. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, has been serving as Iowa’s 43rd governor since May 2017. She was elected to a full term in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Governor Reynolds has focused on issues such as tax reform, education, and workforce development.

Lieutenant Governor. In December 2024, Governor Reynolds appointed State Senator Chris Cournoyer as her new lieutenant governor, following the resignation of Adam Gregg. Cournoyer, elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, has a background in technology and has chaired the Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Attorney General. Brenna Bird, a Republican, serves as Iowa’s Attorney General. She is responsible for representing the state in legal matters and providing legal advice to state agencies.

Legislative Branch. The Iowa General Assembly is a bicameral legislature consisting of the:

Iowa Senate. Comprising 50 members serving four-year terms, the Senate is led by President Amy Sinclair, a Republican.

Iowa House of Representatives. Consisting of 100 members serving two-year terms, the House is led by Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican.

As the start of the 2025 legislative session, the Republican Party held a supermajority in both chambers, enabling them to advance their legislative agenda with greater ease. However, in late August 2025 Catelin Drey’s Senate election win gave Democrats an additional seat. That brought the number of Democrats in the upper chamber to 17, which ended the Republicans’ two-thirds Senate supermajority.

Judicial Branch. The judicial branch is headed by the Iowa Supreme Court, which consists of seven justices appointed by the governor. The court interprets state laws and the Iowa Constitution, ensuring justice is administered fairly across the state.

Congressional Delegation

As of January 2025, Iowa’s congressional delegation to the United States Congress is composed entirely of Republicans, reflecting the state’s recent political alignment.

U.S. Senate

Senator Chuck Grassley. Serving since 1981, Senator Grassley is one of the longest-serving members in the Senate. He was re-elected in 2022, and his current term extends until January 2029.

Senator Joni Ernst. Elected in 2014, Senator Ernst was re-elected in 2020. Her term runs through January 2027.

U.S. House of Representatives

Iowa is represented by four members in the House, each serving two-year terms.

District 1 Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. First elected in 2020, Representative Miller-Meeks secured re-election in 2024 after a closely contested race against Democrat Christina Bohannan.

District 2 Representative Ashley Hinson. Serving since 2021, Representative Hinson was re-elected in 2024, continuing her focus on issues such as border security and economic development.

District 3 Representative Zach Nunn. Elected in 2022, Representative Nunn won re-election in 2024, defeating Democrat Lanon Baccam. A former Air Force pilot, Nunn emphasizes national security and veterans’ affairs.

District 4 Representative Randy Feenstra. Since his election in 2020, Representative Feenstra has represented Iowa’s 4th District, a region known for its strong Republican base. He was re-elected in 2024.

This unified Republican representation underscores Iowa’s political landscape as of 2025.