The 16th District of the Iowa Senate is located in central Iowa, and is currently composed of part of Polk and Dallas counties.
Current elected officials The 16th District has been vacant since October 6, 2025, following the death of Senator Claire Celsi. Prior to her death, Celsi had represented the district since 2023. In December 2025, a special election was held. Democrat Renee Hardman won the election.
The area of the 16th District contains two Iowa House of Representatives districts: The 31st District (represented by Mary Lee Madison) The 32nd District (represented by Jennifer Konfrst)
The district is also located in Iowa's 3rd congressional district, which is represented by Zach Nunn.
List of representatives
Representative Party Dates Residence Notes Democrat1852-1853Davenport, Iowa Whig1854-1855Davenport, Iowa Republican1856-1859Oskaloosa, Iowa Republican1860-1861Richland, Iowa Republican1862-1863Sigourney, Iowa Republican1864-1867Washington County, Iowa Republican1868-1869Muscatine, Iowa Republican1870-1873Muscatine, Iowa Anti-Monopoly1874-1875Dallas County, Iowa Republican1876-1877Dallas County, Iowa Democrat1878-1879Knoxville, Iowa Republican1880-1883Marion County, Iowa Republican1884-1887Winterset, Iowa Republican1888-1891Winterset, Iowa Republican1892Greenfield, IowaElected to the U.S. House of Representatives is 1892. Republican1893-1899Greenfield, Iowa Republican1900-1908Winterset, Iowa Republican1909-1916Adair, Iowa Republican1917-1924Winterset, Iowa Republican1925-1932Adair, IowaDied in office in 1932. Republican1933-1940Winterset, Iowa Republican1941-1946Bridgewater, IowaResigned before the end of his term to accept appointment to the State Board of Social Welfare. Republican1947-1948Greenfield, Iowa Democrat1949-1952Winterset, Iowa Republican1953-1956Winterset, Iowa Democrat1957-1960Winterset, IowaDied in office in 1960. Republican1961-1964Winterset, Iowa Republican1965-1966Muscatine, Iowa Republican1967-1970Clinton, Iowa Republican1971-1972Steamboat Rock, Iowa Democrat1973-1982Vail, Iowa Republican1983-1992Elkader, Iowa Republican1993-2000Postville, Iowa Republican2001-2002Postville, Iowa Republican2003-2004Cascade, Iowa Democrat2005-2012Dubuque, Iowa Democrat2013-2016Des Moines, Iowa Democrat2017-2022Des Moines, Iowa Democrat2023-2025Des Moines, Iowa Democrat2025-Present West Des Moines, Iowa
Historical District Boundaries
Source:
Map Description Years effective NotesScott County1852-1855From 1846 to 1857, district numbering was not utilized by the Iowa State Legislature. This convention was added with the passing of the 1857 Iowa Constitution. Numbering of districts pre-1857 is done as a matter of historic convenience.Mahaska County1856-1859Keokuk County1860-1863Washington County1864-1867Muscatine County1868-1873Dallas County Madison County1874-1877Marion County1878-1883Madison County Warren County1884-1887Adair County Madison County1888-1962Cedar County Muscatine County1963-1966Clinton County1967-1970Franklin County (partial) Hamilton County Hardin County Wright County (partial)1971-1972In 1970, the Iowa Legislature passed an amendment to the Iowa Constitution setting forth the rules for legislative redistricting in order to abide by the rules established by the Reynolds v. Sims Supreme Court case. The first reapportionment map created by the Republican controlled legislature was deemed unconstitutional, but was still used for the 1970 election.Benton County (partial) Black Hawk County (partial) Buchanan County Linn County (partial) Tama County (partial)1973-1982Allamakee County Clayton County Winneshiek County1983-1992Allamakee County Clayton County Fayette County (partial) Winneshiek County (partial)1993-2002Delaware County (partial) Excluding Coffins Grove Township Delaware Township Elk Township Honey Creek Township Oneida Township Richland Township Delaware Dundee Earlville Edgewood Greeley Masonville Dubuque County (partial) Excluding Dubuque Township (partial) Portions of Dubuque Township north of the city of Dubuque are part of District 16. Table Mound Township Washington Township Dubuque Jones County2003-2012Polk County (partial) Des Moines (partial) Consisting primarily of the central city north and east of the Des Moines River Pleasant Hill2013-2022Dallas County (partial) Northeasternmost corner of the county, bounded by Jordan Creek Pkwy and Ashworth Rd Polk County (partial) Bloomfield Township (partial) Section West of IA-28 only Walnut Township Clive (partial) Region south of US-6 Windsor Heights
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 52–47%2012 PresidentObama 51–49%2016 PresidentClinton 51–41% SenateGrassley 54–42%2018 GovernorHubbell 57–41% Attorney GeneralMiller 79–21% Secretary of StateDeJear 53–44% TreasurerFitzgerald 65–33% AuditorSand 57–40%2020 PresidentBiden 59–39% SenateGreenfield 56–42%2022 SenateFranken 57–43% GovernorDeJear 54–44% Attorney GeneralMiller 63–37% Secretary of StateMiller 51–49% TreasurerFitzgerald 64–36% AuditorSand 64–36%2024 PresidentHarris 58–40%
See also Iowa General Assembly Iowa Senate
References