Republicans in the Iowa Senate voted Friday to select Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, as the new Senate president.
Chapman will preside over Senate debate starting in January, when he will officially take the second-most powerful role in the chamber. Chapman said it’s an honor to be chosen as Senate president.
“And I think what our colleagues are very excited about is to get back to work and to improve our economy,” Chapman said. “We’re seeing it come back now, five straight months in a row where the unemployment rate has dropped, and that’s going to continue to be the focus. But I’m just really thrilled and excited to help lead this [Senate Republican] caucus.”
Chapman helps run his family’s private ambulance service and was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2012.
Chapman will replace Senate President Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, who did not run for re-election this year.
Senate Republicans appear to have maintained their 32-18 majority in the 2020 elections, with two races still too soon to call, according to the AP.
Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, will continue as Senate majority leader, the most powerful position in the chamber. He said Senate Republicans are excited about the election results.
“I think more than anything, it shows that the people of Iowa are fully supportive of the agenda we have put forward, supportive of the leadership that the governor and the legislature has shown over the last several years,” Whitver said.
House Republicans grew their majority, but the exact numbers are not yet clear.
Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, was selected to be Senate president pro tempore. Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, is majority whip. The assistant majority leaders are Sen. Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire, Sen. Carrie Koelker of Dyersville, Sen. Mark Lofgren of Muscatine and Sen. Zach Whiting of Spirit Lake.
