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Iowa House of Representatives District 42
Iowa House of Representatives District 42 is represented by Heather Matson (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Iowa state representatives represented an average of 31,924 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 30,538 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Iowa House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Iowa state representatives always assume office the first day of January after their election.[1][2]
Qualifications
The Iowa Constitution states, "No person shall be a member of the house of representatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, be a citizen of the United States, and shall have been an inhabitant of this state one year next preceding his election, and at the time of his election shall have had an actual residence of sixty days in the county, or district he may have been chosen to represent."[3]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $25,000/year | $178/day for legislators who live outside of Polk County. $133.50/day for legislators who live within Polk County. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Iowa General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. The governor of Iowa is required within five days of a vacancy in the General Assembly to call for a special election. If the vacancy happens in session or within 45 days of the session convening, the governor must call for an election as soon as possible with at least an 18-day notice. All other special elections require a 40-day notice as long the election does not happen on the same day as a school election within the district.[5]
See sources: Iowa Code § 69.14
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On November 4, 2021, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed new congressional and state legislative maps into law after the state's Legislative Services Agency had proposed them on October 21, 2021. The Iowa legislature approved the maps on October 28, 2021, by a vote of 48-1 in the state Senate and 93-2 in the state House.[6] The legislature could only vote to approve or reject the maps and could not make any amendments. These maps took effect for Iowa's 2022 congressional and legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Iowa work? The Legislative Services Agency prepares redistricting plans for approval by the Iowa State Legislature. According to All About Redistricting, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) consists of "civil servants committed to nonpartisanship and otherwise charged with tasks like legal and fiscal analysis of state legislation and state government oversight." The LSA is assisted by a commission, which consists of the following members:[7]
- one member selected by the majority leader of the Iowa State Senate
- one member selected by the majority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives
- one member selected by the minority leader of the Iowa State Senate
- one member selected by the minority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives
- one member selected by the first four members
The members of this commission cannot "hold partisan public office or an office in a political party, and none may be a relative or employee of a federal or state legislator (or the legislature as a whole)."[7]
Working with this commission, the LSA drafts congressional and state legislative district lines. The maps are presented as a single bill to the state legislature, which may approve or reject the bill without altering it (the legislature can provide feedback). If the legislature rejects the plan, the LSA must draft a second proposal. If the legislature rejects the second proposal, the LSA must draft a third, and final, set of maps. If the legislature rejects this plan, it may then approve its own maps. Since the implementation of this process in 1980, the state legislature has never chosen not to approve an LSA proposal. Redistricting plans are also subject to gubernatorial veto. In addition, the legislature may repeal or revise the maps at any time, though it has never done so.[7]
State law establishes the following criteria for both congressional and state legislative districts:[7]
- Districts must be "convenient and contiguous."
- Districts must "preserve the integrity of political subdivisions like counties and cities."
- Districts must "to the extent consistent with other requirements, [be] reasonably compact–defined in terms of regular polygons, comparisons of length and width, and overall boundary perimeter."
In addition, state House districts are required to be contained within state Senate districts "where possible, and where not in conflict with the criteria above." It is explicit in state law that district lines cannot be drawn "to favor a political party, incumbent, or other person or group."[7]
Iowa House of Representatives District 42
until December 31, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Iowa House of Representatives District 42
starting January 1, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42
Incumbent Heather Matson defeated Heather Stephenson in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Heather Matson (D) | 50.3 | 9,108 |
| Heather Stephenson (R) | 49.5 | 8,959 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 27 | ||
| Total votes: 18,094 | |||
 = 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 42
Incumbent Heather Matson advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Matson | 99.8 | 652 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 1 | ||
| Total votes: 653 | |||
| = 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 42
Heather Stephenson advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Heather Stephenson | 99.3 | 699 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 704 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42
Heather Matson defeated incumbent Garrett Gobble in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Matson (D) | 50.0 | 6,991 |
 | Garrett Gobble (R) | 49.8 | 6,968 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 13,980 | |||
| = 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 42
Heather Matson advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Matson | 99.7 | 1,776 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 1,781 | |||
| = 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 42
Incumbent Garrett Gobble advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Garrett Gobble | 99.4 | 1,569 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 9 | ||
| Total votes: 1,578 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42
Incumbent Kristin Sunde defeated Aaron Sewell in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kristin Sunde (D) | 56.0 | 10,102 |
 | Aaron Sewell (R) | 43.8 | 7,896 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 30 | ||
| Total votes: 18,028 | |||
| = 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 42
Incumbent Kristin Sunde advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Sunde | 99.5 | 3,822 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 18 | ||
| Total votes: 3,840 | |||
| = 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 42
Aaron Sewell defeated Jacqueline Riekena in the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Sewell | 60.7 | 1,016 |
 | Jacqueline Riekena | 38.6 | 646 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 1,674 | |||
| = 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
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42
Kristin Sunde defeated incumbent Peter Cownie in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Sunde (D) | 53.8 | 8,346 |
 | Peter Cownie (R) | 46.1 | 7,155 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 10 | ||
| Total votes: 15,511 | |||
| = 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 42
Kristin Sunde advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Sunde | 100.0 | 2,535 |
| Total votes: 2,535 | |||
| = 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 42
Incumbent Peter Cownie advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Peter Cownie | 100.0 | 658 |
| Total votes: 658 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.
Incumbent Peter Cownie defeated Claire Celsi in the Iowa House of Representatives District 42 general election.[8][9]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Peter Cownie Incumbent |
53.28% | 9,065 | |
| Democratic | Claire Celsi | 46.72% | 7,948 | |
| Total Votes | 17,013 | |||
| Source: Iowa Secretary of State | ||||
Claire Celsi ran unopposed in the Iowa House of Representatives District 42 Democratic primary.[10][11]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Claire Celsi (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Peter Cownie ran unopposed in the Iowa House of Representatives District 42 Republican primary.[10][11]
| Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Peter Cownie Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Daniel Fessler was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Peter Cownie was unopposed in the Republican primary. Fessler faced Cownie in the general election.[12][13][14] Incumbent Cownie defeated challenger Fessler in the general election.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Peter Crownie Incumbent |
60.2% | 7,419 | |
| Democratic | Daniel Fessler | 39.8% | 4,911 | |
| Total Votes | 12,330 | |||
2012
Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 16, 2012. Incumbent Peter Cownie (R) defeated Mike McRae (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[16][17]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Peter Cownie Incumbent |
56.6% | 9,581 | |
| Democratic | Mike McRae | 43.4% | 7,341 | |
| Total Votes | 16,922 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Iowa House of Representatives District 42 raised a total of $5,317,392. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $189,907 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Iowa House of Representatives District 42 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $755,479 | 2 | $377,739 |
| 2022 | $781,592 | 2 | $390,796 |
| 2020 | $111,979 | 2 | $55,989 |
| 2018 | $1,750,313 | 2 | $875,156 |
| 2016 | $763,284 | 2 | $381,642 |
| 2014 | $197,801 | 2 | $98,901 |
| 2012 | $151,248 | 2 | $75,624 |
| 2010 | $181,444 | 4 | $45,361 |
| 2008 | $154,842 | 2 | $77,421 |
| 2006 | $119,630 | 1 | $119,630 |
| 2004 | $113,824 | 2 | $56,912 |
| 2002 | $150,315 | 2 | $75,158 |
| 2000 | $85,642 | 3 | $28,547 |
| Total | $5,317,392 | 28 | $189,907 |
See also
- Iowa State Legislature
- Iowa State Senate
- Iowa House of Representatives
- Iowa state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Iowa Constitution, "Article III, Legislative Department, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Terms of Offices for Elected Officials," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Iowa Constitution, "Article 3, Section 4," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Iowa General Assembly, "Iowa Code - 2021," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 69.14)
- ↑ Des Moines Register, "Iowa lawmakers accept second redistricting plan, setting up next decade of politics," October 28, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 All About Redistricting, "Iowa," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "General Candidate List, 2016," accessed August 24, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Canvass Summary," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," March 21, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Canvass Summary," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 1, 2014
- ↑ "Iowa Secretary of State - Official Primary Election Results," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ "Iowa Secretary of State - Official General Election Results," accessed October 16, 2013
