Party control of Iowa state government

Party control in Iowa
Governor	Republican
Senate	Republican
House	Republican

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As a result of the 2018 election, Republicans retained trifecta control of Iowa state government. Republicans established trifecta control in the 2016 election cycle.

Trifectas

Trifectas influence how hard a party must work to advance its agenda.

When one party controls the three vital centers of state political power—the office of the governor, the state House, and the state Senate —Ballotpedia considers that party to control a "trifecta." Trifectas make it easier for the dominant party to pursue its agenda, and more difficult for opposition parties to challenge it.

There are currently 36 trifectas: 21 Republican trifectas and 15 Democratic trifectas. Iowa is one of the 21 state governments under Republican control.

Trifectas in Iowa

Since 1992, both Democrats and Republicans have, at various times, established trifecta control of Iowa state government. Democrats held a trifecta from 2007 to 2010. Republicans held a trifecta from 1997 to 1998, establishing their present trifecta in the 2016 election cycle. In all other years, control of state government was divided.

Current leadership of key offices

Governor

Kim Reynolds

Secretary of State

Paul Pate

Speaker of the House

Pat Grassley

Chief Justice

David Wiggins

Historical party control

Iowa Party Control: 1992-2020
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Six years of Republican trifectas

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	S	S	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R
House	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

2011-2016

Republicans retook the governorship and state House in 2011. Democrats held the state Senate.

2007-2010: Democratic trifecta

In 2007, Democrats retook the legislature and established trifecta control of state government.

1999-2006

Democrats retook the governorship in 1999. Republicans held the state house until 2006 and the state senate until 2005, when the chamber was evenly divided.

1997-1998: Republican trifecta

Republicans gained a trifecta in 1997.

1992-1996

From 1992 to 1996, control of state government in Iowa was divided. Republicans held the governorship. Democrats held the state Senate from 1992 to 1996 and the state House in 1992. Republicans took the state house in 1993.

See also

• Iowa
• Gubernatorial and legislative party control of state government
• Who runs the states
• Who runs the states, Iowa