For the first time, the Democratic leadership in the Iowa House will be made up of women.
“I’m proud and honored to lead with these extraordinary women in the Iowa House,” said Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst in a press release. “They are each amazing leaders in their own communities who understand Iowans are fed up with politics as usual and are ready to do things differently in Des Moines.”
Konfrst (Windsor Heights) was reelected as minority leader and Rep. Lindsay James (Dubuque) as minority whip last month.
Reps. Sue Cahill (Marshalltown), Heather Matson (Ankeny), Amy Nielsen (North Liberty), and Sharon Steckman (Mason City) were elected as assistant minority leaders on Monday.
Konfrst was the first woman to lead the Iowa House Democrats. With the new elections, she’ll be the first to oversee the first all-women leadership team in the upcoming session, which starts on Jan. 9, 2023.
“It is a humbling experience to be part of this historic team in Iowa,” James said. “There is not a doubt in my mind that this group of women will lead with the courage of conviction, confront our state’s greatest challenges and put people before politics every step of the way.”
On Twitter, Matson tweeted, “Yesterday I had the privilege of being chosen by my colleagues to serve as an Assistant Democratic Leader for the 90th IA General Assembly! I’m on honored to be in this historic all-women leadership team.”
Yesterday I had the privilege of being chosen by my colleagues to serve as an Assistant Democratic Leader for the 90th IA General Assembly! I'm honored to be in this historic all-women leadership team w/ @KonfrstForHouse, @Lindsay4Iowa, @RepAmyNielsen, @SSteckman, @Cahill4Iowa! https://t.co/KxqTG7H4f6
— State Rep. Heather Matson (@MatsonForHouse) December 5, 2022
Next session, House Democrats are working on an agenda emphasizing lower costs, protecting reproductive rights, investing in Iowa’s public schools, and joining neighboring states in legalizing marijuana.
After the November elections, Republicans hold a bigger majority in both chambers with 64 Republicans compared to 36 Democrats in the House. Republicans outnumber Democrats 34 to 16 in the Senate. Republicans also have a supermajority in the Senate, which means they can confirm all state agency leaders and board and commission members nominated by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democrats cannot vote to block those appointments.
But Democrats have vowed to continue representing Iowan’s interests.
“The choices are be defeated, be down, or get ready to fight and I’m ready to fight,” Konfrst told Radio Iowa, “and I’m ready to build back.”
Nikoel Hytrek
12/6/22
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