Senate Republicans reelected Jack Whitver, as Majority Leader. Amy Sinclair was again chosen as President of the Iowa Senate for the 91st General Assembly.
“It is an honor to continue to lead the most productive, conservative Republican caucus in the country,” said Senator Whitver. “To again be reelected as Senate Majority Leader is a privilege and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues. 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. I look forward to working on important issues facing our state like lowering the cost of living and easing the property tax burden.”
Senator Whitver was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011. Through his tenure in the Iowa Senate, he has held leadership positions including Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and Republican Whip. After the November 2016 election, when Republicans gained control of the Iowa Senate, Senator Whitver was elected as the Iowa Senate President by his colleagues. In March 2018 he became Senate Majority Leader. During his tenure as Majority Leader the Senate Republican caucus has grown for 29 to 35 members.
In May, Senator Whitver was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He underwent radiation treatment and began drug therapy treatment since his diagnosis. He is responding well to the treatments and continues to see forward progress. Multiple recent scans this fall have shown a steady and continued reduction in the size of the tumor, many of his symptoms have improved, and optimism abounds about his recovery.
Senate Republicans also chose Amy Sinclair to continue to serve as Senate President. Senator Sinclair was first elected Senate President in 2021.
“It is humbling to be chosen to serve another term as President of the Iowa Senate,” said Senator Sinclair. “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.”
Senator Sinclair was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2013. Previously she has served as the Majority Whip and as chair of the Senate Education Committee. She has also been a member of several important committees in the Senate, such as Ways and Means, Commerce, and Judiciary.
Ken Rozenboom was chosen as President Pro Tempore-select of the Iowa Senate. Senator Rozenboom was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2012. He has been a leader on agriculture and natural resource issues since being elected. One of his high-profile legislative achievements was leading the passage of the voluntary water quality initiative in 2018. Senator Rozenboom previously chaired the Education Committee, helping pass Educational Savings Accounts for all Iowa students, a major education deregulation bill, and a law empowering parents in the education of their children.
Mike Klimesh was elected as Senate Majority Whip. Klimesh was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2020. Senate Republicans elected Senator Klimesh to be an Assistant Majority Leader in 2023. He also served as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee during the 90th Iowa General Assembly. Senator Klimesh managed Graphics Inc. for 22 years and served a total of 20 years as the mayor of Spillville.
Senators Carrie Koelker, Adrian Dickey, Lynn Evans, and Tim Kraayenbrink were elected as Assistant Majority Leaders.
Adrian Dickey is a lifelong Packwood resident and has worked in the family business his grandfather started in 1959 since he was 13, progressing throughout his time with the company to become president of Dickey Transport. Senator Dickey was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2021, reelected in 2022, 2024, and has served as chair of the Senate Workforce Committee.
Lynn Evans was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022. He spent his career in education, including as superintendent of four different school districts in northwest Iowa. Senator Evans served on the Education, Judiciary, Ethics, Health and Human Services, and Natural Resources and Environment committees.
Through her work at the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce and Travel Dubuque, Senator Carrie Koelker has over two decades of experience strengthening communities in eastern Iowa. She was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and has served as an assistant leader since 2020. Koelker was reelected in 2022 to another four-year term.
Tim Kraayenbrink was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2014. He has been a financial advisor in Fort Dodge since 1988, and has owned Kraayenbrink Financial Services since 2007, serving as a business leader in the community. Senator Kraayenbrink was reelected in 2024 and has chaired Senate Appropriations Committee.
