Senator Renee Hardman

Senator Renee Hardman was elected to her first term in the Iowa Senate in a 2025 special election. She represents Senate District 16, which includes portions of Clive, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights.

Renee moved to West Des Moines in 1979 to pursue her education and has since built a career focused on organizational leadership, workforce development, and community engagement. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA from Drake University. She is the President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services. She has served on close to 20 non-profit boards throughout the past 30 years. 

Renee has served as an At-Large Member of the West Des Moines City Council, where she has worked on issues including infrastructure, housing, economic development, public safety, and community inclusion in one of Iowa’s fastest-growing suburban cities.

In 2017, she became the first African-American woman elected to the Council and later served as Mayor Pro Tem. Her leadership has been recognized with honors including Forty Under 40 Alumna of the Year (2020) and Top 25 Business Leaders in the Metro.

She is the recipient of President Obama and Biden’s Community Service Awards, and was named a Women of Influence by the Business Record, among other accolades.

You can contact Renee at Renee.Hardman@iowa.legis.gov