C.J. Petersen

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

C.J. Petersen

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Atlantic, Iowa

Religion

Episcopalian

Profession

Sales

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

C.J. Petersen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Iowa State Senate to represent District 6. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Petersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

C.J. Petersen was born in Atlantic, Iowa. His career experience includes working in sales.

Elections

2020

See also: Iowa State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Iowa State Senate District 6

Craig Williams defeated C.J. Petersen in the general election for Iowa State Senate District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Craig Williams (R)	69.1	18,919
		C.J. Petersen (D)	30.8	8,418
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	34

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,371
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 6

C.J. Petersen advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa State Senate District 6 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		C.J. Petersen	99.7	2,787
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	8

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,795
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 6

Craig Williams defeated Heath Hansen in the Republican primary for Iowa State Senate District 6 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Craig Williams	60.7	3,132
		Heath Hansen	38.9	2,007
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	22

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,161
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

C.J. Petersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Petersen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in western Iowa, where I experienced firsthand the benefits of a quality early childhood education in Denison and later graduated from Atlantic High School. I've spent the last ten years working with the public in sales, solving problems and earning the trust of my clientele. I currently work in Carroll.

Since 2018, I've lived in Breda with my fiancé, Luke. We share our home with their beloved Boston Terrier, Pumbaa, and two rescue cats, Lucky and Lieutenant Dan.

I am an active congregant of Trinity Episcopal Church in Denison, where I regularly serve as a worship leader.

In what spare time I can find, I am an avid reader. I attribute my love of books and learning to my grandparents, Soren and Judith Petersen, who owned and operated the Atlantic Bookbinding Company for nearly fifty years. I am fluent in American Sign Language and speak un poco de español.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I support quality education and affordable healthcare.
• I support a strong democracy, fiscal responsibility, and accountability.
• I will fight for all children and families.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare is too damn expensive. It is no secret our country spends nearly twice what other countries do, and yet we have some of the lowest life expectancy and highest infant mortality rates in the developed world. There are still over 100,000 Iowans without medical insurance, and an estimated 230,000 more would lose their coverage if Obamacare is repealed without a suitable replacement. We must put an end to surprise medical bills and lower prescription drug prices. I will be a strong voice for rural Iowans who want affordable and accessible healthcare. The closure of hospitals, especially in rural areas, has led to a shortage of psychiatric beds. We must also expand substance abuse treatment programs and treat addiction like the health issue it is.

Iowa has excellent schools - some of the best in the nation. Our public schools consistently rank #1 for high school graduation rates, and that number has only been going up (while dropouts decline). Our teachers are doing incredible, innovative work to prepare the next generation of Iowans for success. But as poverty grows, student needs increase, and operating costs rise, we must ensure our state continues to fund schools equitably, adequately, and responsibly. As your State Senator, I will be committed to advancing public education from early childhood to vocational training to to colleges and universities.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my grandmother, Rose. She has taught me so much about life, love, and leadership and I will always be grateful for that. I'd like to follow my father's example: he's a smart man, willing to listen despite our political differences, and always respectful and capable of reaching out and touching everyone he meets.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. I was 11 years old, in the 6th grade.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at Starbucks. I worked there for nearly four years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway. I first chose to read it when reading a memoir from one of my political heroes, John McCain. I find the graphic description of the cost of war and the bravery exhibited by the characters to be extraordinarily poignant in today's world. We often forget that so many before us have sacrificed so that we can have it a little easier the next time around. It reminds me that my generation has a lot of work to do as we navigate our roles in our society and government--and that the responsibility we have is enormous.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I'd love to be Ron Swanson from the Office. He says what a lot of us are thinking, and keeps us all laughing!

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Kick the Dust Up" by Luke Bryan

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Everyone is shaped by their journey through life. Like Governor Kim Reynolds, mine has included a struggle with alcoholism. It's not been an easy road, and there were stops along the way I am not proud of and do not condone. Still, the process of recovery has made me a better person, and I am proud of the happy, productive, and sober life I live today. And I am grateful mine was a path that led me back to faith in God and strengthened my resolve to help others. In fact, one of the primary reasons I am in this race is because of my experience with addiction and my subsequent journey to sobriety.

Do I regret my past mistakes? Yes, and I strive every day to make amends for them. Will I hide from my record? Absolutely, unequivocally no. This is a part of who I am and a part of why I want to be your State Senator. The best leaders are those with experience. And whether you or someone you love has struggled with addiction or you are one of the fortunate few whose life has not been touched by this disease, please know it has given me the perspective, the wisdom, and the drive to fight for others - no matter their struggle.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

I think the most important distinction between the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives is that Senators have a greater responsibility to remain responsive to a larger and more diverse group of constituents. Life in Storm Lake is not the same as life in Exira. Neighborhoods in one part of the district do not always share the same cultural backgrounds, experiences, or economic status as the others.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think that sometimes, government experience can be helpful. But the framers of our federal and state constitutions knew what they were doing. They didn't intend for public service to be a full-time career. That's why I support term limits and public oversight of the legislative process.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our state has many challenges, some of which are presently known and others which we can only hope to prepare for.

Our Medicaid system will face continued strain and pressure to deliver results for the Iowans it serves. Unless we move back to state management of Medicaid, and roll back privatization, we can expect to see greater gaps in mental health parity, a wider lack of access to OB-GYN and family planning services, and longer commutes and wait times to see specialists.

Unless we reform the way we fund our schools, and then fund them like we mean it, Iowa will continue to see the consolidation of rural school districts and the decline in vital services like psychiatric care, special education, and the arts. Rural schools are integral to our communities' identities; we must work to make them financially sustainable by reforming the way we think about funding. As agriculture property values decline, we will need to look at our priorities in the state budget to close the funding gap. We must be a place where our teachers can teach, and our students can learn, regardless of their zip code.

Our state budget is a moral document, and it needs to reflect our belief in the resilience, dignity, and worth of all people. That will be a challenge over the next decade, but it is one we will meet if we are willing to meet the moment with policy over platitudes.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

An ideal relationship is based upon trust and mutual respect. If the governor and state legislature have diverging priorities, a breakdown in that trust can occur. As a State Senator, I will endeavor to seek out understanding wherever possible and meet in the middle where we can come together. But relationships are two-way interactions, and the governor must also bear the responsibility of seeking mutual respect with the legislature.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

While the short answer is, yes, of course, I'm a firm believer in an old adage that goes, "politicians make strange bedfellows." If you refuse to share the space you occupy as one member of a legislative body (or "hog the covers" in keeping with the analogy), you will likely be an ineffective legislator. As the Senator from the Sixth District, I will seek common ground with anyone who is willing to work together with me on behalf of all Iowans. To me, it's less important who gets the credit than making sure the job gets done.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

Coronavirus Weekly Updates Documenting America's Path to Recovery The Heart of the Primaries The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Iowa State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Amy Sinclair

Minority Leader:Janice Weiner

Senators

District 1

Catelin Drey (D)

District 2

Jeff Taylor (R)

District 3

Lynn Evans (R)

District 4

Tim Kraayenbrink (R)

District 5

Dave Rowley (R)

District 6

Jason Schultz (R)

District 7

Kevin Alons (R)

District 8

Mark Costello (R)

District 9

Tom Shipley (R)

District 10

Dan Dawson (R)

District 11

Julian Garrett (R)

District 12

Amy Sinclair (R)

District 13

Cherielynn Westrich (R)

District 14

Sarah Trone Garriott (D)

District 15

Tony Bisignano (D)

District 16

Vacant

District 17

Izaah Knox (D)

District 18

Janet Petersen (D)

District 19

Ken Rozenboom (R)

District 20

Mike Pike (R)

District 21

Mike Bousselot (R)

District 22

Matt Blake (D)

District 23

Jack Whitver (R)

District 24

Jesse Green (R)

District 25

Herman Quirmbach (D)

District 26

Kara Warme (R)

District 27

Annette Sweeney (R)

District 28

Dennis Guth (R)

District 29

Sandy Salmon (R)

District 30

Doug Campbell (R)

District 31

William Dotzler (D)

District 32

Michael Klimesh (R)

District 33

Carrie Koelker (R)

District 34

Dan Zumbach (R)

District 35

Mike Zimmer (D)

District 36

Thomas Townsend (D)

District 37

Molly Donahue (D)

District 38

Dave Sires (R)

District 39

Liz Bennett (D)

District 40

Art Staed (D)

District 41

Kerry Gruenhagen (R)

District 42

Charlie McClintock (R)

District 43

Zach Wahls (D)

District 44

Adrian Dickey (R)

District 45

Janice Weiner (D)

District 46

Dawn Driscoll (R)

District 47

Scott Webster (R)

District 48

Mark Lofgren (R)

District 49

Cindy Winckler (D)

District 50

Jeffrey Reichman (R)

Republican Party (33)

Democratic Party (16)

Vacancies (1)