Photo credit: Iowa House Republicans
(Des Moines, Iowa) Today, Iowa House Republicans elected new leadership to lead the caucus into the 2017 legislative session.
State Representative Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) was re-elected as Speaker of the House. Upmeyer has served as Speaker of the House since 2015, and previously served as House Majority Leader from 2010-2015 and House Minority Whip from 2008-2010. She was just elected to serve her seventh term in the Iowa House. She served as a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center for many years.
State Representative Chris Hagenow (R-Windsor Heights) was chosen to continue as House Majority Leader, a position he has held since August 2015. First elected in 2008, Hagenow was just elected to serve his fifth term in the Iowa House. He has previously served as House Majority Whip and Chair of the Government Oversight Committee. He is an attorney and founding partner of the Des Moines law firm, Whitaker, Hagenow & Gustoff, LLP.
State Representative Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) was chosen to continue serving as Speaker Pro Tempore. Windschitl was first elected in 2006 and has previously served as an Assistant Leader. He works as a switchman for Union Pacific Railroad.
State Representative Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant) was chosen to serve as House Majority Whip. Nunn was first elected in 2014 and previously served as an Assistant Leader and as Vice Chair of the Economic Growth Committee and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. He is a small business owner.
Assistant Leaders elected were:
- State Representative Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids)
- State Representative Jarad Klein (R-Keota)
- State Representative Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City)
- State Representative John Wills (R-Spirit Lake)
“It is an honor to be chosen by this caucus to continue as Speaker of the House,” said Upmeyer. “House Republicans are eager to get to work next session to make Iowa the premier place to raise a family or grow a business. House Republicans are committed to pursuing an agenda that continues responsible budgeting practices, provides more economic opportunities, and returns more power to local school districts.”
“I am humbled to be chosen once again by House Republicans to serve as Majority Leader,” said Hagenow. “I look forward to the upcoming General Assembly where House Republicans will continue to make Iowa a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Iowa House Republicans will open the 87th General Assembly with a 59 seat majority, including 11 new members. The 2017 legislative session begins Monday, January 9, 2017.