Iowa Legislature

Martin Luther King Jr. Day during a pandemic means lots of virtual celebrations. And these celebrations come at a tumultuous time in U.S. history.

The Republican Party of Iowa's State Central Committee has reelected Jeff Kaufmann as chair and elected former Speaker of the Iowa House Linda Upmeyer as co-chair.

The new Iowa Senate minority leader said Thursday that Democrats have promoted a senator previously accused of sexual harassment to a leadership position because he was reelected and is knowledgeable about labor issues.

The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case that challenges the legislature’s voluntary approach to regulating nutrient pollution in the Raccoon River from farm runoff.

Democrats in the Iowa Senate have elected Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, to serve as the new Senate Minority Leader. Sen. Janet Petersen stepped down from the position last week.

Republicans in the Iowa Senate voted Friday to select Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, as the new Senate president and to keep Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, as the Senate majority leader.

Republicans appear to have kept control of the Iowa House of Representatives after Democrats thought this was their year to flip the chamber and break the GOP’s hold on the Iowa Capitol.

Republicans currently hold a majority in the Iowa Senate with 32 seats to the Democrats’ 18. Democrats hope to get closer to a majority in the chamber, as Republicans defend 19 of the 25 seats on the ballot this year.

Republicans hold a slim majority in the Iowa House with 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47, and Democrats see this as their year to break the Republican Party’s control over the Iowa Capitol.

Republicans have controlled the Iowa House of Representatives, Senate, and governor’s office since 2016. Democrats see this as their year to flip the Iowa House and break the Republican Party’s control over the Iowa Capitol.