Michael Gronstal

Michael Gronstal


Member of the Iowa Senate from the 8th district 42nd (1993–2003)
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 1985
Preceded by	Tom Slater
Succeeded by	Dan Dawson (elect)
Personal details
Born	(1950-01-29) January 29, 1950 Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Connie Meisenbach
Children	Kate Sarah
Alma mater	Loyola University, Chicago Antioch College
Website	Government website

Michael E. Gronstal (born January 29, 1950) is the Iowa State Senator representing the 8th District in the Iowa Senate. He has served since 1985 and is currently the majority leader and chairman of the Rules and Administration committee. He is also chairman of the DLCC, the national organization to elect Democratic state legislators.

Gronstal has supported efforts to increase renewable fuels in Iowa and in 2006, Iowa passed the nation’s strongest ethanol legislation in 2006. In addition, he is working to bring more biotechnology jobs and businesses to Iowa. Senator Gronstal has supported legislation to increase funding for community colleges and school districts. After the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage in the Varnum v. Brien decision in April 2009, Gronstal blocked a Republican attempt to overturn the Court's decision with a constitutional amendment. He released a YouTube video in which he quoted his daughter's statement that opponents of same-sex marriage in Iowa had already lost because her generation does not care about the issue.^[1]

Gronstal was re-elected in 2004 with 12,480 votes (54%), defeating Republican opponent Loren Knauss.^[2] He won re-election again in 2008 with 58% of the votes.^[3]

Gronstal received his B.A. from Antioch College. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives. He also served as the chair of the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party from 1986 to 1988. Senator Gronstal and his wife, Connie, have two daughters: Kate, who is a transportation engineer at Stantec in Chicago; and Sara, who is currently Director of Forensics at Eastern Illinois University.

References

↑ Iowa Senate Debate: Gronstal blocks amendment to reverse Iowa marriage equality, Hannah Garden-Monheit, Iowa Senate News, April 6, 2009
↑ 2004 General Election Results Iowa Secretary of State
↑ Iowa Secretary of State. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results".

External links

Senator Michael E. Gronstal official Iowa Legislature site
Senator Michael E. Gronstal official Iowa General Assembly site
State Senator Mike Gronstal official constituency site

Profile at Project Vote Smart

Iowa Senate
Preceded by Tom Slater	Member of the Iowa Senate from the 50th district 1985–1993	Succeeded by Gene Fraise
Preceded by Elaine Szymoniak	Member of the Iowa Senate from the 42nd district 1993–2003	Succeeded by Bryan Sievers
Preceded by Gene Fraise	Member of the Iowa Senate from the 50th district 2003–present	Incumbent

Members of the Iowa Senate

86th General Assembly (January 12, 2015 – January 8, 2017) President of the Senate: Pam Jochum (D) President pro Tempore: Steve Sodders (D) Majority Leader: Michael Gronstal (D) Minority Leader: Bill Dix (R)

David Johnson (I) Randy Feenstra (R) Bill Anderson (R) Dennis Guth (R) Tim Kraayenbrink (R) Mark Segebart (R) Rick Bertrand (R) Michael Gronstal (D) Jason Schultz (R) Jake Chapman (R) Tom Shipley (R) Mark Costello (R) Julian Garrett (R) Amy Sinclair (R) Chaz Allen (D) Dick Dearden (D) Tony Bisignano (D) Janet Petersen (D) Jack Whitver (R) Brad Zaun (R) Matt McCoy (D) Charles Schneider (R) Herman Quirmbach (D) Jerry Behn (R) Bill Dix (R) Mary Jo Wilhelm (D) Amanda Ragan (D) Michael Breitbach (R) Tod Bowman (D) Jeff Danielson (D) William Dotzler (D) Brian Schoenjahn (D) Rob Hogg (D) Liz Mathis (D) Wally Horn (D) Steve Sodders (D) Robert Dvorsky (D) Tim Kapucian (R) Kevin Kinney (D) Ken Rozenboom (R) Mark Chelgren (R) Rich Taylor (D) Joe Bolkcom (D) Thomas Courtney (D) Vacant Chris Brase (D) Roby Smith (R) Dan Zumbach (R) Rita Hart (D) Pam Jochum (D)

Democratic (26) Republican (23) Independent (1) Iowa General Assembly Iowa House of Representatives Iowa Senate

Elected statewide political officials of Iowa

U.S. Senators	Chuck Grassley Joni Ernst

State government	Terry Branstad, Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Paul Pate, Secretary of State Tom Miller, Attorney General Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture Mary Mosiman, Auditor Michael Fitzgerald, Treasurer

Senate	Pam Jochum, President Michael Gronstal, Majority Leader Bill Dix, Minority Leader

House	Kraig Paulsen, Speaker Linda Upmeyer, Majority Leader Mark Smith, Minority Leader

Supreme Court (appointed, retained by election)	Mark Cady, Chief Justice David Wiggins Daryl Hecht Brent Appel Bruce Zager Edward Mansfield Thomas Waterman, Associate Justices

Current Senate Majority Leaders of the United States

United States Senate Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)

AL Greg Reed (R) AK John Coghill (R) AZ Steve Yarbrough (R) AR Jim Hendren (R) CA Bill Monning (D) CO Mark Scheffel (R) CT Bob Duff (D) DE David McBride (D) FL Bill Galvano (R) GA Bill Cowsert (R) HI J. Kalani English (D) ID Bart Davis (R) IL James Clayborne Jr. (D) IN Brandt Hershman (R) IA Michael Gronstal (D) KS Terry Bruce (R) KY Damon Thayer (R) LA Danny Martiny (R) ME Garrett Mason (R) MD Catherine E. Pugh (D) MA Harriette L. Chandler (D) MI Arlan Meekhof (R) MN Tom Bakk (D) MS Terry C. Burton (R) MO Mike Kehoe (R) MT Matthew Rosendale (R) NE Galen Hadley (I) NV Michael Roberson (R) NH Jeb Bradley (R) NJ Loretta Weinberg (D) NM Michael Sanchez (D) NY John J. Flanagan (R) NC Harry Brown (R) ND Rich Wardner (R) OH Tom Patton (R) OK Mike Schulz (R) OR Diane Rosenbaum (D) PA Jake Corman (R) RI Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) SC A. Shane Massey (R) SD Tim Rave (R) TN Mark Norris (R) TX Dan Patrick (R) UT Ralph Okerlund (R) VT Philip Baruth (D) VA Tommy Norment (R) WA Mark Schoesler (R) WV Mitch Carmichael (R) WI Scott L. Fitzgerald (R) WY Eli Bebout (R) DC Phil Mendelson (D)

italics indicate no majority leader, closest equivalent is shown

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