Pat Grassley

Patrick Lynn Grassley He was elected Speaker of the state's House in 2020.

Early life and education Grassley was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was raised in New Hartford, Iowa. His father Robin is a farmer, and his mother Diane is a T.A. in the Dike-New Hartford School District in Dike, Iowa. Grassley has two younger sisters, and is the grandson of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.

He graduated from Dike-New Hartford High School in 2002 and received an associate of arts degree in agribusiness from Hawkeye Community College in 2004. He has taken courses toward a bachelor's degree at the University of Northern Iowa, where he unsuccessfully ran for student body president.

Iowa House of Representatives

Elections In 2006, Grassley ran for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives. He defeated Alek Wipperman, 57% to 43%. In 2008, Grassley won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Cayla Baresel, 66% to 34%. In 2010, he won re-election to a third term unopposed.

In 2012, after redistricting, he decided to run in the newly redrawn 50th district, which included a southern portion of Butler County, a northern portion of Hardin County, and all of Grundy County. Fellow Republican State Representative Annette Sweeney also decided to run in the district. Grassley defeated Sweeney 61% to 39%, and won a fourth term in the general election unopposed.

In 2022, after redistricting, he decided to run in the newly redrawn 57th district. He had previously chaired the budget-writing committee.

Personal life Grassley and his wife Amanda married in 2005. According to court records, they were divorced in 2022. The Grassleys have two daughters and a son. In 2013 however, Chuck Grassley said, "[Pat] and I have never had that discussion and he's never told me that he wanted to run for the United States Senate."

Electoral history