Iowa

Iowa entered the Union on December 28, 1846 as the 29th state. Iowa entered the Union as the upper Midwest was being rapidly settled, and its public life has long been tied to agriculture, river trade, education, and highly visible presidential politics. Today its state government is centered in Des Moines and operates through a governor and a bicameral General Assembly composed of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Median household income$71,433
Poverty rate11.3%
Median age39.1
GovernorKim Reynolds (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026

Government & Representation

Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.

Iowa organizes state government through an elected governor and a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The state’s structure places major lawmaking and budget authority in Des Moines, while district representation ties statewide policy to local communities.

GovernorKim Reynolds (Republican)governor.iowa.gov

Lieutenant governorgovernor.iowa.gov

LegislatureIowa Legislature

Legislature structureBicameral

Legislative chambersSenate and House of Representatives

State legislature websitelegis.iowa.gov

Legislative searchlegis.iowa.gov

State constitutionlegis.iowa.gov

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U.S. Senators

Each state elects two U.S. senators to represent it in the Senate.

Senator Chuck Grassley

Iowa

Republican Party

Chuck has served in Congress since 1981.

Senator Joni Ernst

Iowa

Republican Party

Joni has served in Congress since 2015.

U.S. House delegation

House seats are apportioned by population and organized by congressional district, except for at-large delegations where applicable.

Representative Ashley Hinson

Iowa District 2

Republican Party

Ashley has served in Congress since 2021.

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Iowa District 1

Republican Party

Mariannette has served in Congress since 2021.

Representative Randy Feenstra

Iowa District 4

Republican Party

Randy has served in Congress since 2021.

Representative Zachary Nunn

Iowa District 3

Republican Party

Zachary has served in Congress since 2023.