Iowa Senate News Release
For immediate release: November 11, 2018
Democratic members of the Iowa Senate re-elected Sen. Janet Petersen today to serve as the Democratic Leader of the Iowa Senate.
Senator Petersen released this statement:
“I am honored to have the continued support of my fellow Democratic Senators.”
“For the past two years, the Republican-led Senate pushed through damaging policies that helped out-of-state companies and special interests instead of hard-working Iowa families.
“Senate Democrats will continue standing up for Iowans. We believe every Iowan – regardless of whether they live in rural areas, small towns, urban or suburban parts of our state – deserves access to affordable health care, strong public schools, and the chance to get ahead in life.
“We will work with the Governor and Republican legislators on issues where we can find common ground over the next two years. But, if we continue to see Republicans push an agenda that hurts the health care, education, and financial security of working Iowans, we will be fierce in our opposition.”
The new Democratic leadership team consists of these Senators:
- Democratic Leader, Senator Janet Petersen, Des Moines
- Democratic Whip, Senator Amanda Ragan, Mason City
- Assistant Leaders:
- Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City
- Senator Bill Dotzler, Waterloo
- Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque
- Senator Liz Mathis, Hiawatha
- Senator Herman Quirmbach, Ames
- Senator Rich Taylor, Mount Pleasant
Petersen is in her second term in the Iowa Senate after serving six terms in the Iowa House. She represents Senate District 18 in northwest Des Moines.
In 2008, Petersen founded a nonprofit organization with four other central Iowa women called Healthy Birth Day. The organization, best known for its Count the Kicks campaign, is devoted to preventing stillbirths and improving birth outcomes.
Petersen and her husband Brian Pattinson have three children.
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