Iowa House Democrats on Saturday reelected Rep. Jennifer Konfrst as minority leader to lead the caucus as lawmakers gear up for the 2025 legislative session with their share of seats on track to shrink.
Republicans are expected to hold a 67-seat majority in the 100-member Iowa House and a 35-seat majority in the 50-member Iowa Senate after Democrats lost ground in the Nov. 5 election. These supermajorities are the largest majorities Republicans have held in both chambers since 1970.
Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, has led the Democratic caucus since 2021. She was first elected in 2018 and was elected Tuesday to her fourth two-year term. She is an associate professor at Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The 2025 Iowa legislative session starts on Jan. 13.
“While Tuesday’s election results were disappointing and there is a lot of uncertainty ahead, our caucus will never stop fighting for the values we share as Iowans,” Konfrst said in a statement. “When the session begins in January, we’re going to work together on every issue we can to improve the lives of Iowans and put people over politics.”
Voters this week elected four new Iowa House Democrats: Dan Gosa of Davenport, Rev. Rob Johnson of Des Moines, Larry McBurney of Urbandale and Aime Wichtendahl of Hiawatha.
More: Hiawatha’s Aime Wichtendahl makes history as Iowa’s first openly transgender lawmaker
Senate Democrats will have to elect a new leader after the chamber’s Democratic leader Pam Jochum, who is serving her fourth term representing Dubuque, did not seek reelection this year. She was elected to lead the caucus in 2023 following the abrupt ouster of Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville.
House and Senate Republicans have not elected their leaders. Currently, GOP lawmakers are led by Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley.
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa House Democrats keep Jennifer Konfrst as minority leader
