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DES MOINES — Jack Whitver will continue to lead Republicans in the Iowa Senate as treatment on his brain tumor continues, Iowa Senate Republicans announced Tuesday.
The 44-year-old Whitver, from Grimes, was reelected Iowa Senate Majority Leader on Tuesday by his colleagues in the majority. Whitver has held the post since 2018.
Whitver was diagnosed with a brain tumor after the legislative session ended in late April and announced the diagnosis in May. Since then, he has received radiation treatment and drug therapy, according to a Senate Republicans news release.
Whitver is responding well to the treatments and recent scans have showed a steady and continued reduction in the tumor’s size, according to Senate Republicans. Whitver’s symptoms have improved and, according to the news release, “optimism abounds about his recovery.”
When he announced his diagnosis, Whitver said he did not plan to step down from his leadership role or resign from the Iowa Senate.
“It is an honor to continue to lead the most productive, conservative Republican caucus in the country,” Whitver said in a statement in the news release. “I am proud of our accomplishments like implementing a flat income tax, eliminating the tax on retirement income, fighting off excessive spending, and providing law enforcement the legal protection and equipment they need to safely do their jobs.”
Whitver, a former Iowa State University football player, was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011. As Majority Leader, he is largely responsible for setting the legislative agenda in the Iowa Senate, where Republicans hold the majority.
Senate Republicans go into the 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature with a supermajority of 35 seats to Democrats’ 15. Senate Republicans expanded their majority in the 2024 election by flipping two districts while losing one.
“I look forward to working on important issues facing our state like lowering the cost of living and easing the property tax burden,” Whitver said in his statement.
Sinclair continues as Senate President
Senate Republicans also reelected Sen. Amy Sinclair, of Allerton, as Senate President. She has served in that position since 2021.
As Senate President, Sinclair is currently next-in-line to Gov. Kim Reynolds until she names a new lieutenant governor. Reynolds has not yet named a replacement for former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, who resigned in September to take a leadership position with the Iowa Bankers Association.
“I look forward to working together with our even larger supermajority to continue implementing pro-growth, pro-taxpayer, pro-family policies to make Iowa the best state in the country,” Sinclair said in the news release.
Sen. Ken Rozenboom, of Pella, was elected President Pro Tempore. He replaces Brad Zaun, of Urbandale, who lost his re-election bid.
Rozenboom has served in the Iowa Senate since 2012 and recently led the Senate Education Committee, which placed him in the thick of debates on private school financial assistance and restructuring the state’s system of Area Education Agencies.
Sen. Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, was elected Senate Majority Whip, and Sens. Carrie Koelker, Adrian Dickey, Lynn Evans, and Tim Kraayenbrink were elected assistant majority leaders.
Senate Democrats will conduct their leadership elections Nov. 22, according to a caucus spokesman.
The 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature starts Jan. 13.
Republicans re-elect Grassley as Iowa House Speaker
Pat Grassley will continue to serve as Iowa House Speaker after being re-elected by his colleagues Tuesday.
Grassley, from New Hartford, has been House Speaker since 2020.
House Republicans also grew their majority in the election; they went into the elections representing 64 out of 100 House districts, and as of the unofficial election results — and pending a few possible recounts — they appear on track to hold 67 seats starting in 2025.
“Since Republicans became the majority party in the Iowa House in 2011, we introduced sound budgeting practices, reduced burdensome red tape, innovated new ways to grow a strong workforce, and kept our common sense on social issues. In response to our agenda, Iowa voters have continued to grow our majority,” Grassley said in a news release. “
Iowa House Republicans also re-elected Rep. Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, as House Majority Leader; Rep. John Willis, of Spirit Lake, as Speaker Pro Tem; and Rep. Henry Stone, of Forest City, as Majority Whip.
Assistant leaders will be elected at a later date, House Republicans said.
Iowa House Democrats conducted their leadership elections this past weekend and re-elected Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, of Windsor Hights, as House Minority Leader.
Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com
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