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Fresh off a resounding election night victory, Iowa GOP lawmakers select their leadership

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1 year ago

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Fresh off a resounding election night victory, Iowa GOP lawmakers select their leadership


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Iowa Republican lawmakers have reelected Sen. Jack Whitver as Senate majority leader and Rep. Pat Grassley as House speaker, they announced Tuesday.

Republicans expanded their majorities in last week’s election and are set to enter the 2025 legislative session with a 67-33 majority in the Iowa House and a 35-15 advantage in the Iowa Senate, if results hold. A few races could see recounts.

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A 67-member Republican supermajority will be the largest majority the party has held in the Iowa House since 1970. The 35-seat Senate supermajority is also the largest since 1970.

More: Republicans expand majorities in Iowa Legislature to historic levels after strong election

Whitver, of Grimes, has led Senate Republicans as majority leader since 2018.

Grassley, of New Hartford, has led House Republicans as speaker since 2019.

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Senate Republicans keep Jack Whitver as majority leader, Amy Sinclair as president

In a statement, Whitver called his reelection as majority leader “an honor.”

“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,” he said. “I look forward to working on important issues facing our state like lowering the cost of living and easing the property tax burden.”

Whitver announced in May that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and was receiving radiation therapy. A statement from Senate Republicans on Tuesday said Whitver began drug therapy following his radiation treatment. He “is responding well to the treatments and continues to see forward progress,” the statement says.

“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,” the statement says.

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Whitver was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011 and previously served as Republican whip, and Senate president.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Republicans reelected Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, as president of the Iowa Senate. Sinclair has held the post since November 2022. She was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2013 and has served as majority whip and chair of the Education Committee.

“It is humbling to be chosen to serve another term as president of the Iowa Senate,” Sinclair said in a statement. “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.”

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Senate Republicans also elected. Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella, to serve as president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate, replacing Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, who lost to Democrat Matt Blake in last week’s election.

Rozenboom was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2012. For the past two years he has chaired the Senate Education Committee, leading passage of high-profile laws including Gov. Kim Reynolds’ private school education savings accounts program and a law banning books depicting sex acts from schools and banning teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through sixth grade.

And Senate Republicans chose Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, to serve as majority whip, replacing former Sen. Waylon Brown, R-Osage, who resigned in July to take a private sector job. Klimesh was first elected to the Senate in 2020 and has chaired the Transportation Committee for the past two years.

Sens. Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville, Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood, Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia; and Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, were elected assistant majority leaders.

House Republicans keep Pat Grassley as speaker, Matt Windschitl as majority leader

In a statement, Grassley touted the fact that House Republicans protected every incumbent running for reelection and flipped three Democratic-held seats to increase their majority to 67 seats.

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“Since Republicans became the majority party in the Iowa House in 2011, we introduced sound budgeting practices, reduced burdensome red tape, innovated new ways to grow a strong workforce and kept our common sense on social issues,” Grassley said. “In response to our agenda, Iowa voters have continued to grow our majority.”

Grassley was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 and previously chaired the Appropriations, Agriculture and Economic Growth committees.

House Republicans also reelected Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, as majority leader, a post he has held since 2019.

“The message we received from Iowans this election cycle is loud and clear,” Windschitl said in a statement. “Iowans support our agenda to protect their freedoms, lower their taxes, eliminate government waste and fight for the return to common sense. Iowans know they can trust this caucus to deliver on the promises we make. And we are ready to get back to work for our constituents.”

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Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, was reelected as speaker pro tempore of the Iowa House, a position he’s held since 2019.

And House Republicans reelected Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, as majority whip.

On Saturday, House Democrats reelected Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, as minority leader. Konfrst has led House Democrats since 2021.

Senate Democrats will need to choose a new minority leader after Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, retires at the end of the year. But they have not yet held leadership elections as they await the possibility of recounts in a few close races.

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Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.





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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling

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6 days ago

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December 29, 2025

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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling


The first month of the Iowa high school wrestling season has been filled with scintillating individual performances. Here’s a look at seven standouts who have been racking up bonus points in December. 

Drew Anderson (Riverside)  

The Class 1A state runner-up last year at 132 is up to 144 this season and he’s 14-0 with 11 technical falls, a pair of pins and a forfeit win. Anderson, a junior in his second season at the school, already owns the Riverside school record for technical falls with 28. Anderson is on pace to more than double the previous Riverside tech record of 23. 

Urijah Courter (West Marshall)

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Courter won the 2A title last season at 113 after placing third as a freshman at 106. He’s up to 120 this season. Courter is 14-0 this season with 10 pins and two technical falls. His ledger also includes a 6-5 win against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Simon Bettis in a rematch of last season’s state title bout. 

Cooper Hinz (Jesup)

Entering the holiday break, Michigan commit and two-time state medalist Cooper Hinz is 22-0 with 21 wins via pin, technical fall or forfeit. His other victory was a 4-1 overtime decision against returning state placewinner Cain Rodgers of North Fayette Valley. More impressively, all of Hinz’s pins and technical falls have all come in the first period. 

Lincoln Jipp (Bettendorf)

Jipp placed fifth at 138, third at 165 and second at 175 in Class 3A during his first three seasons. Now he’s up to 215 — 77 pounds more than where he started his career as a freshman. The North Carolina recruit pinned his way through the prestigious Dan Gable Donnybrook. He’s 16-0 with 10 pins, four technical falls and a forfeit.   

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Mason Koehler (Glenwood)

The returning 2A champ at 215 is 20-0 with 18 pins and a major decision. His only two matches that went the distance came at the Council Bluffs Classic, where he defeated Nebraska standout Ryan Boehle of Grand Island 14-4 and Minnesota hammer Joe Kruse of Totino-Grace 9-2. The rest of Koehler’s matches this season ended in first-period pins. He has already registered a six-second pin and another in nine seconds this season. 

Jaxon Miller (Carlisle)  

Miller is a three-time state medalist, a two-time finalist and returning state champ in Class 3A. He placed fourth as a freshman at 145 before making trips to the finals at 157 and 165. He’s 16-0 this season with 13 first-period pins, two technical falls and a forfeit. 

Keaton Moeller (Starmont)

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Moeller placed third in 1A as a freshman at 145 before winning a state title at 150 as a sophomore. He missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in football. Now he’s back as a senior at 190 and Moeller hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 13-0 with five pins, six technical falls and a pair of forfeits. He has yet to wrestle a full period this season. 

Iowa High School Premium Rankings

Check out the Iowa High School Wrestling Premium Rankings, which are generated by using an athlete’s complete match history to predict a wrestler’s performance against others in their weight class by considering factors such as win-loss records, the quality of their victories (pins, technical falls, major decisions), the strength of their opponents and overall historical performance patterns. The data is updated every Monday, sourced from the Trackwrestling season results. Since each team is responsible for maintaining their season results, any data discrepancies for a wrestler should be addressed by contacting their coach to manage the information within the season. This includes the weight class assigned. Wrestlers are eligible to be ranked after competing in five matches at a single weight.





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Iowa women’s basketball vs. Penn State today: Live updates, score

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6 days ago

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December 28, 2025

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Iowa women’s basketball vs. Penn State today: Live updates, score


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As No. 14-ranked Iowa women’s basketball (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) returns from the Christmas break, the Hawkeyes will begin the bulk of their Big Ten slate today as they welcome Penn State (7-5, 0-1 Big Ten) to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa looks to rebound from its 90-64 loss against No. 1 UConn on Dec. 20, where its sloppy play (26 turnovers leading to 41 UConn points) ultimately proved to be its undoing against the Huskies.

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Entering today’s game, sophomore center Ava Heiden leads the team in scoring with 14.6 points per game on 64.4% shooting from the floor, with senior forward Hannah Stuelke (13.4) and sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright (11.7) also averaging double-figure scoring.

Defensively, Wright leads the team in steals per game with 1.6, while Heiden tops the squad in blocks with 1.2 denials per contest.

As tipoff nears between the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions, follow along for live updates, the latest score, and highlights of the action:

Hawkeyes are on fire offensively through the first quarter of play (shooting 10-for-16 from the floor), while also dominating the defensive glass (leading 7-2 in defensive rebounds) and keeping Penn State off-synch.

Chit-Chat Wright leads everyone with 12 points on 4-for-4 from the floor, 2-for-2 from 3-point territory, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.

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Timeout Penn State.

Hawkeyes are on a roll offensively since the Nittany Lions’ appeal, with a 14-0 scoring run that forces a Penn State timeout.

Penn State’s appeal was successful on the foul call, but the shot clock violation on the Nittany Lions still stands.

Nittany Lions retain their timeout.

Timeout Penn State.

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The Nittany Lions are appealing the foul call on Gracie Merkle and the ensuing shot clock violation.

Both teams are shooting well to start the game.

On its game day availability report, sophomore Emely Rodriguez remains out. Graduate starting guard Kylie Feuerbach is also “questionable.”

Watch Iowa vs. Penn State

TV: Big Ten Network

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Tip-off Time: 3 p.m. CT

Iowa women’s basketball schedule

All times CT

  • Nov. 3 vs. Southern: Iowa 86, Southern 51
  • Nov. 9 vs. Evansville: Iowa 119, Evansville 43
  • Nov. 13 vs. Drake: Iowa 100, Drake 58
  • Nov. 16 at Northern Iowa: Iowa 74, UNI 41
  • Nov. 20 vs. Baylor (WBCA Showcase in Orlando): Iowa 57, Baylor 52
  • Nov. 22 vs. Miami (WBCA Showcase in Orlando): Iowa 64, Miami 61
  • Nov. 26 vs. Western Illinois: Iowa 86, Western Illinois 69
  • Nov. 30 vs. Fairfield: Iowa 86, Fairfield 72
  • Dec. 6 at Rutgers: Iowa 79, Rutgers 36
  • Dec. 10 at Iowa State: Iowa State 74, Iowa 69
  • Dec. 13 vs. Lindenwood: Iowa 102, Lindenwood 68
  • Dec. 20 vs. UConn (Champions Classic): UConn 90, Iowa 64
  • Dec. 28 vs. Penn State: Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
  • Jan. 1 vs. Nebraska: Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 5 at Northwestern: Big Ten Network, 7:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 11 at Indiana: Big Ten Network, 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 15 vs. Oregon: FS1, 8 p.m.
  • Jan. 18 vs. Michigan State: Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 22 at Maryland: NBC, 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 25 vs. Ohio State: Peacock, 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 29 at USC: Peacock, 8 p.m.
  • Feb. 1 at UCLA: Fox, 3 p.m.
  • Feb. 5 vs. Minnesota: Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 11 vs. Washington: BTN+, 6:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 16 at Nebraska: Fox, 11 a.m.
  • Feb. 19 at Purdue: BTN+, 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 22 vs. Michigan: Fox or FS1, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.
  • Feb. 26 vs. Illinois: Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.
  • March 1 at Wisconsin: BTN+, 2 p.m.
  • March 4-8 Big Ten Tournament

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews



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The Top Stories In Iowa High School Sports In 2025

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7 days ago

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December 28, 2025

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The Top Stories In Iowa High School Sports In 2025


Records have fallen, stars have shined and there has also been plenty of heartbreak, heartache and sadness along the way.

Here is a look at some of the top sports stories that made headlines throughout 2025 in Iowa high school athletics.

The Rams swept both the state wrestling duals and traditional team titles in Class 3A this past winter, scoring a state tournament record 259.5 points. They clinched the traditional crown before the final day when Cooper Martinson, Justis Jesuroga, Nico DeSalvo and Eddie Woody all won individual championships.

Down in Class 1A, Don Bosco remained the premier program in the state, winning a seventh consecutive state championship. The Dons, who have claimed 17 titles all-time, also won state duals. Hayden Schwab, Hendrix Schwab, Kaiden Belinsky and Dawson Youngblut were all individual champs.

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By winning a third state wrestling championship each last year, Fort Dodge’s Dreshaun Ross and Blake Fox from Osage moved closer to joining the exclusive four-timers club. Ross and Fox will both be going for a fourth individual state wrestling championship this winter.

Jenica Lewis, Johnston, Iowa, girls basketball

Johnston’s Jenica Lewis (10) takes the ball down the court on Dec. 16, 2025, at Johnston High School. / Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Johnston girls basketball team ended last year with a second consecutive Class 5A state championship, besting Dowling Catholic in the finals. The Dragons came into this season having won 52 consecutive games, as Notre Dame commit Jenica Lewis now leads them. In the finals last year, Kelli Kalb scored 13 points and Amani Jenkins grabbed 18 rebounds.

A loaded Valley boys basketball team captured its third consecutive Class 4A state championship this past winter, besting Waukee Northwest in the finals, 61-47. They became just the second 4A team to win three consecutive titles, as Jayden McGregory scored 26, Zay Robinson 15 and Trevin Jirak had 13 with 10 rebounds. McGregory is now headed to Missouri to play football, Robinson entered the transfer portal after playing one season of football at Iowa State and Jirak is at Iowa playing basketball.

Western Dubuque runner and future Oregon Duck Quentin Nauman has been virtually untouchable when it comes to distance running. Back in the spring, Nauman completed the distance triple crown at the Drake Relays, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. He again did the same at state, setting multiple records in the process. In the fall, Nauman won another state cross country title, again setting a meet record.

Ranked as one of the best players in the country for her grade, Sophia Schlader showed why to the rest of Iowa by leading Waukee Northwest to the Class 5A state softball title this past summer. Schlader and the Wolves bested Linn-Mar in the finals, 1-0 in eight innings. The freshman struck out 15 batters, tying her own 5A state mark, as she finished the week with 35 strikeouts. Her 15th K of the finals came with the bases loaded and two outs.

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In the span of 24 hours, Pella won the first state baseball championship in program history and first state softball title in school history. The Dutch baseball team did it first, besting Dubuque Wahlert in the Class 3A finals, 3-1, on a game-winning hit by Landyn Bethards. Teagan Hoekstra pitched a complete game, striking out seven. The No. 8 seed in softball, Pella took out No. 1 Cedar Rapids Xavier in the quarterfinals and North Polk in the finals for head coach Katie Banowetz, who was to be married one day later.

Marissa Ferebee, Pella, cross country, Iowa

Pella’s Marissa Ferebee celebrates as finishing her race In the 3A girls state cross country meet at Lakeside Golf Course on Oct. 31, 2025, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Ferebee won the 3A girls state cross country state title. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Pella’s Marissa Ferebee cemented her own place in the history books, winning a third consecutive Class 3A state cross country championship this past fall. The future Arkansas Razorback also was a state champion in track and field in the spring in the 3,000-meter run. She helped the Dutch earn a fourth consecutive team state cross country title, as well.

The Iowa high school football season was hit hard by a number of forfeits, as teams cited too few of healthy players to compete on the gridiron. One of those was defending eight-player state champion Remsen St. Mary’s, as the Hawks called a game at halftime and sat on the sidelines for multiple weeks to get enough healthy and experienced players ready to continue. Others called the season off entirely or did not even field a varsity team this past fall.

For the first time since the classification was created, someone other than Southeast Polk won the Class 5A title. That somebody? Ten-time state champion Dowling Catholic, as Ian Middleton led the Maroons past Iowa City Liberty, 27-10. Middleton ran for 206 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries in the finals.



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