Debra Jensen

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

Debra Jensen

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Jefferson, Iowa

Religion

Lutheran

Profession

Registered nurse

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Personal Facebook

Debra Jensen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 7. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

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

Jensen was a 2018 Democratic candidate for District 7 of the Iowa House of Representatives. She was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Biography

Debra Jensen was born in Jefferson, Iowa. She earned a degree from the Des Moines Area Community College in 1983. Jensen's career experience includes working as a registered nurse.

Elections

2020

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 7

Henry Stone defeated Debra Jensen in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry Stone (R)	61.8	9,464
		Debra Jensen (D)	38.2	5,847
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	13

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,324
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 7

Debra Jensen advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Jensen	99.5	2,058
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	10

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,068
= 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 House of Representatives District 7

Henry Stone advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Henry Stone	99.5	2,823
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	13

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,836
= 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.

2018

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 7

Incumbent Tedd Gassman defeated Debra Jensen in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tedd Gassman (R)	56.9	7,153
		Debra Jensen (D)	43.0	5,404
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	8

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,565
= 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 House of Representatives District 7

Debra Jensen advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debra Jensen	100.0	867

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 867
= 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 House of Representatives District 7

Incumbent Tedd Gassman advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 7 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tedd Gassman	100.0	844

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 844
= 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

Debra Jensen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jensen'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 have devoted my professional life to nursing and advocating for persons who cannot advocate for themselves. When I entered a home as a public health nurse - a position I held for 23 years - I never gave a thought to whether the person was a Republican or a Democrat. I was there to serve and meet needs. That's the role of a public servant; that is how I will represent Iowans.

I recognize the many ways this pandemic has harmed our communities and the families who make them their home. The toll of this public health crisis is already dramatic and will, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better. I am confident, however, that our communities can emerge from this stronger if we act together in a comprehensive and strategic way to protect our livelihoods.

I owned a bridal shop for 11 years. As small businesses struggle, I understand firsthand what they are facing. My husband, Paul, is a retired teacher of three decades, therefore, I also had a front seat to the struggles educators face. We need to support schools as they prepare to accept children back into their buildings. Healthy children learn better. Healthy children make for healthy families and strong communities. We owe it to them to always respond in their best interests. Working together is the only way.

Paul and I have four children and recently celebrated 36 years of marriage. I'm a quilter who is active in my church, and I enjoy traveling to activities to cheer on my six grandchildren.

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?

• Adequate healthcare leads to quality of life in rural Iowa. Without health, little else matters. Iowans deserve access to affordable, quality healthcare. Too many now have to drive great distances for medical care. We can do better for Iowans.
• Our communities are shaped by our local schools, that's why children must be our priority. Healthy children learn better. Healthy children make for healthier families and stronger communities. Public education must be a priority again.
• The term "livelihoods" describes all the elements needed for living: jobs and economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, and the environment. I liked to talk about them together because our economic recovery will depend on a coordinated, comprehensive plan that addresses all of them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I've lived my life passionate about healthcare, education, and agriculture. These areas of public policy impact Iowans on a daily basis. Because I've been inside homes during times of personal crisis, I have witnessed how government services have the power to support Iowans when they need it most. I entered the nursing profession more than 30 years ago to help preserve and sustain life. I will always be passionate about that mission. Likewise, I'm passionate about making certain people have access to an education. My nursing degree came as a second chance in life when I was a homeless, single mother. I will forever be grateful for the Iowa community college system for launching my nursing career and life in public service. I'm passionate about preserving and expanding those opportunities for others. As for agriculture, I've witnessed Iowa relatives farm thousands of acres and caretake herds of livestock while always balancing factors out of their control. Often policies become as unpredictable as nature as they fight for margins that will keep their livelihood not just alive but poised for growth. Our Iowa economy must have a thriving agricultural economy if our state hopes to be a healthy place for children and families now and into future generations.

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

I look up to my mother-in-law, Marge Jensen, who raised 11 children. I knew her for over 30 years, and not once did she say a mean thing or criticize anyone. She would say, "We don't know what's going on in their life." She would always paint someone's situation in the best light. She lost her husband very young and raised her five youngest as a widowed mother. She worked incredibly hard.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official needs to be an active listener and have the capacity for empathy. It's necessary to be able to place yourself inside someone else's life situation in order to understand how legislation that is being crafted will impact them and their families.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have had years of practice being an active listener, hearing what their problems and concerns are. Then, I helped them and empowered them to implement a plan of treatment to return to health. There was always a component of education; then, the plan was centered on them and what they wanted. My role was to help them direct their recovery.

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

My first memory that I can recall vividly is the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was in 4th Grade. But I also remember sitting on the front porch of my childhood home and watching with my family as the motorcade carrying the body of Nikita Khrushchev drove by. I was five years old. We sat and waited and waited and waited. My parents wanted me there to witness this important development in the history of the United States relationship with Russia. My uncle sold Pioneer seed corn, and the opening relationship with Russia was my family's hope of opening up seed corn markets to sell to Russia.

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

My very first job job was as a waitress in a sandwich and ice cream shop in a community restaurant. There was always a special of the day for people who stopped in over their lunch hour. I also worked babysitting, datasseling, and walking beans.

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

I would want to be Superman or Captain Marvel. I would love to be able to help people and fly. In fact, when I was a child, I had a repetitive dream where I would fly from the front yard at my house to Des Moines and land on top of the gold dome at the Capitol building. In my dream I could even see the view. It was incredibly beautiful looking out at all of Des Moines.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I hold Rep. Sharon Steckman and Sen. Amanda Regan in highest esteem. They work tirelessly on education and healthcare issues. What's more, they work for all regardless of political affiliation. They take calls and visit with constituents who disagree with them as they fight to get legislation through that will truly improve the conditions Iowans face.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. I have no inclination to run for a higher office. Serving as a state legislator and representing people in the 7th district mirrors the public service I did as a county health nurse. I enjoy the one-to-one interactions with people and want to serve in an office where relationships with constituents help inform how I will work for them. Traveling the three counties of the 7th District to meet voters and hear their stories is an honor and a privilege.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

When I ran in 2018, I met a woman who didn't participate in the campaign until the end. I was at a Meet and Greet, and met a women who had not participated in any of the question and answers. But before I left, she came up to me and shared her personal life struggles with health issues and handed me $2.67. That was all the money she had left until her next Social Security check arrived. She said, "This is all I have, and you can put it with other money to help your campaign." That has always stuck with me. How much people are hurting and yet still have a capacity to give everything they have.

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

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Government

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Newsletters

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See also

• State legislative elections, 2018
• Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2018
• Iowa House of Representatives

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• The Iowa Legislature

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Iowa House of Representatives

Leadership

Majority Leader:Bobby Kaufmann

Representatives

District 1

J.D. Scholten (D)

District 2

Robert Henderson (R)

District 3

Thomas Jeneary (R)

District 4

Skyler Wheeler (R)

District 5

Zach Dieken (R)

District 6

Megan Jones (R)

District 7

Vacant

District 8

Ann Meyer (R)

District 9

Henry Stone (R)

District 10

John Wills (R)

District 11

Craig Williams (R)

District 12

Steven Holt (R)

District 13

Travis Sitzmann (R)

District 14

Jacob Bossman (R)

District 15

Matt Windschitl (R)

District 16

David Sieck (R)

District 17

Devon Wood (R)

District 18

Tom Moore (R)

District 19

Brent Siegrist (R)

District 20

Josh Turek (D)

District 21

Brooke Boden (R)

District 22

Samantha Fett (R)

District 23

Ray Sorensen (R)

District 24

Sam Wengryn (R)

District 25

Hans Wilz (R)

District 26

Austin Harris (R)

District 27

Kenan Judge (D)

District 28

David Young (R)

District 29

Brian Meyer (D)

District 30

Megan Srinivas (D)

District 31

Mary Madison (D)

District 32

Jennifer Konfrst (D)

District 33

Ruth Gaines (D)

District 34

Rob Johnson (D)

District 35

Sean Bagniewski (D)

District 36

Austin Baeth (D)

District 37

Barb McCulla (R)

District 38

Jon Dunwell (R)

District 39

Rick Olson (D)

District 40

Bill Gustoff (R)

District 41

Ryan Weldon (R)

District 42

Heather Matson (D)

District 43

Eddie Andrews (R)

District 44

Larry McBurney (D)

District 45

Brian Lohse (R)

District 46

Dan Gehlbach (R)

District 47

Carter Nordman (R)

District 48

Chad Behn (R)

District 49

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D)

District 50

Ross Wilburn (D)

District 51

Brett Barker (R)

District 52

David Blom (R)

District 53

Dean Fisher (R)

District 54

Joshua Meggers (R)

District 55

Shannon Latham (R)

District 56

Mark Thompson (R)

District 57

Pat Grassley (R)

District 58

Charley Thomson (R)

District 59

Christian Hermanson (R)

District 60

Jane Bloomingdale (R)

District 61

Timi Brown-Powers (D)

District 62

Jerome Amos (D)

District 63

Michael Bergan (R)

District 64

Jason Gearhart (R)

District 65

Shannon Lundgren (R)

District 66

Steven Bradley (R)

District 67

Craig Johnson (R)

District 68

Chad Ingels (R)

District 69

Tom Determann (R)

District 70

Norlin Mommsen (R)

District 71

Lindsay James (D)

District 72

Jennifer Smith (R)

District 73

Elizabeth Wilson (D)

District 74

Eric Gjerde (D)

District 75

Bob Kressig (D)

District 76

Derek Wulf (R)

District 77

Jeff Cooling (D)

District 78

Angel Ramirez (D)

District 79

Tracy Ehlert (D)

District 80

Aime Wichtendahl (D)

District 81

Daniel Gosa (D)

District 82

Bobby Kaufmann (R)

District 83

Cindy Golding (R)

District 84

Thomas Gerhold (R)

District 85

Amy Nielsen (D)

District 86

David Jacoby (D)

District 87

Jeff Shipley (R)

District 88

Helena Hayes (R)

District 89

Elinor Levin (D)

District 90

Adam Zabner (D)

District 91

Judd Lawler (R)

District 92

Heather Hora (R)

District 93

Gary Mohr (R)

District 94

Mike Vondran (R)

District 95

Taylor Collins (R)

District 96

Mark Cisneros (R)

District 97

Ken Croken (D)

District 98

Monica Kurth (D)

District 99

Matthew Rinker (R)

District 100

Blaine Watkins (R)

Republican Party (66)

Democratic Party (33)

Vacancies (1)