House Democrats have chosen state Rep. Brian Meyer as minority leader after former leader Jennifer Konfrst said she would step down after the legislative session adjourns to run for Congress.

Meyer represents House District 29, which includes southeast Des Moines. He was first elected to the Iowa House in 2013 and is serving his seventh term. He currently serves as the House Democratic whip.

“Iowa House Democrats are united and will keep fighting to lower costs for Iowans,” Meyer said in a statement. “We remain focused on the priorities of Iowans, and I’m excited to begin my work leading Iowa House Democrats after the session adjourns.”

Brian Meyer

Meyer is an attorney at the Hope Law Firm in Des Moines and formerly worked as an assistant Iowa attorney general and assistant Polk County attorney.

Before being elected to the Iowa Legislature, Meyer served on the Des Moines City Council.

He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University Law School and served in the Iowa National Guard.

Meyer promises emphasis on economic issues, competing in mid-sized cities

Speaking to reporters after his election, Meyer laid out his vision as House Democratic leader, including a focus on the economy, competing for mid-sized cities that have slipped away from Democrats and being more aggressive in offering a contrast with Republicans.

Economic issues will be key to Democrats’ message heading into the 2026 election, Meyer said.

“We need to talk about kitchen table issues,” he said. “People are living paycheck to paycheck, there’s no relief in sight and we need to address those things.”

He said he will get to work beginning Saturday to start traveling around the state recruiting Democratic candidates to run in 2026.

“We are going to be focusing on some of the smaller communities where we’ve lost seats in the last couple of years: the Marshalltowns of the world, the Newtons of the world, the smaller industrial towns,” Meyer said. “And I think we are going to have a message that’s going to resonate with people like that.”

“And I think that the next couple of years is going to be reflective of a different conversation and more direct to people about economic issues and not social issues,” he added.

He said Democrats will work harder to offer their own policies as alternatives to Republican legislation by proposing amendments to most major GOP bills that the House debates.

“We will make our voice heard,” he said. “And I think you’ll see us be a little more aggressive on alternatives with amendments and that sort of thing.”

Konfrst will step down as House Democratic leader after session adjourns

Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, who has led House Democrats since 2021, announced on May 8 that she is running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd District, where she’s seeking to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn.

Konfrst will remain as House Democratic leader until the end of the 2025 legislative session, which is expected to conclude in the coming days. She will complete her term as a state representative.

“It’s been an honor to serve Iowans and my caucus as Iowa House Democratic Leader,” Konfrst said in a statement. “I’m excited for the new opportunities ahead to keep serving Iowans and look forward to working with Rep. Meyer through the transition when session adjourns.”

Republicans hold a 67-seat supermajority in the House while Democrats have a 33-seat minority.

Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, congratulated Meyer and thanked Konfrst for her service as leader.

“Congratulations to the House Democratic Caucus on today’s leadership election,” Weiner said. “I look forward to working closely with Leader Brian Meyer as our caucuses continue to work together to move Iowa forward and focus on lowering costs for all Iowans.”

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rep. Brian Meyer of Des Moines chosen to lead Iowa House Democrats

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