Janice Weiner

Janice Weiner
Minority Leader of the Iowa Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2025
Preceded byPam Jochum
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 45th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byJim Lykam
Personal details
Born1957 (age 67–68)
Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
Stanford University (JD)

Janice Weiner (born 1957)[1] is an American politician and member of the Iowa Senate representing the 45th District.

Early life and career

Weiner was born in 1957 in Iowa City, and raised in Coralville, Iowa.[1][2] After graduating from Iowa City West High School, followed by Princeton University in 1980,[1] and Stanford Law School in 1984,[1] she worked for 26 years in the United States Foreign Service.[1][3][4][2] Upon retirement, she returned to Coralville, working as a substitute teacher in 2015 and 2016.[3][4]

Political career

Weiner first ran for public office in 2016, but did not win the Iowa City Community School Board seat vacated by Tom Yates.[4][5][6] She then ran for an open seat in District 37 of the Iowa Senate in 2018,[3] losing a Democratic Party primary to Zach Wahls.[7] Weiner was elected to an at-large seat on the Iowa City city council in 2019.[8][2] She began campaigning for the state senate seat in District 45 in November 2021.[9][10] Due to redistricting, incumbent state senator Joe Bolkcom was eligible to represent this seat, but had previously announced his retirement.[11][12] Weiner defeated John Raley in the Democratic Party primary in June 2022,[13][14] and won the general election against Republican candidate Harold Weilbrenner.[15][16] After winning the Iowa Senate election for District 45, Weiner resigned her seat on the Iowa City city council on 9 November 2022.[17] After the resignation becomes effective on 31 December 2022,[17] a successor will be appointed in January 2023.[18]

On November 22, 2024, Weiner was elected Senate Minority Leader for the upcoming legislative session.[19]

Election History

2018 District 37 Primary Election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Zach Wahls 3,902 57.68% {{{change}}}
Democratic Eric Dirth 189 2.80%
Democratic Imad Youssif 169 2.50%
Democratic Janice Weiner 2,281 33.72%
Write-ins, Under and Over Votes 223 3.30% {{{change}}}
Turnout 6,764 100% {{{change}}}
2022 Iowa 45th District Senate General Election Results [21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Janice Weiner 20,273 80.20%
Democratic Party (United States) Harold R. Weilbrenner 4,428 17.52%
Write-ins, Under and Over Votes 577 2.28%
Turnout 25,278 100%

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Iowa Official Register, 2023-2024" (PDF). Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Shillcock, George (19 October 2022). "Where Harold Weilbrenner and Janice Weiner stand on issues in the Senate District 45 race". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Gruber-Miller, Stephen (18 December 2017). "Former diplomat, school board candidate Janice Weiner to run for Dvorsky's Iowa Senate seat". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Hines, Holly (9 July 2016). "Janice Weiner touts diplomacy, work experience in school board election". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  5. ^ Duffy, Molly (27 June 2016). "Third candidate joins race for Iowa City school board seat". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Paul Roesler wins seat on Iowa City school board". The Gazette. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Zach Wahls wins Senate District 37 primary". Iowa City Press-Citizen. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  8. ^ Hermiston, Lee (5 November 2019). "Janice Weiner, Laura Bergus win Iowa City Council seats". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  9. ^ Shillcock, George (16 November 2021). "Iowa City Councilor Janice Weiner will run for Iowa Senate, hoping to lead Democratic comeback". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  10. ^ Kuiper, Maria. "Janice Weiner announces candidacy for Iowa Senate". KWWL. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  11. ^ Brennan, Paul (15 November 2021). "Janice Weiner is running for Iowa State Senate". Little Village. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  12. ^ White, Lauren (7 June 2022). "From Iowa City Councilor to Iowa Senator: Janice Weiner wins Democratic nomination for Iowa Senate District 45". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Primary win clears Janice Weiner's path to Senate District 45 ..." Iowa City Press-Citizen. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  14. ^ Jordan, Erin (7 June 2022). "Janice Weiner wins big in Iowa Senate District 45". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  15. ^ Libert, Sydney (8 November 2022). "Janice Weiner to represent District 45 in Iowa Senate". Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  16. ^ Barraza, Paris (8 November 2022). "Democrat Janice Weiner wins Iowa Senate District 45". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  17. ^ a b Foland, Isabelle (13 November 2022). "Councilor Janice Weiner to resign following Iowa Senate victory". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  18. ^ Delgado, Emily (16 November 2022). "Iowa City Council votes to fill Janice Weiner's seat by appointment. Here's what's next". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  19. ^ Halawith, Liam. "Iowa Sen. Janice Weiner elected as Senate Democrats leader". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  20. ^ "2022 Senate Primary Election" (PDF). Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "2022 Senate General Election" (PDF). Retrieved August 12, 2025.
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