Janet Petersen
Iowa State Senator, District 18 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 0
- 112 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 9.5%
- Chamber median 2.9%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +38.3
- Won 2012
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations · ranking member
- Administrative Rules Review
- Capital Projects
- Commerce
- Ethics
- Fiscal
- Health and Human Services
- Judiciary
- Subacute Mental Health Care Services Interim Study
- Ways and Means
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
county government · Failed in committee Feb 2026
accessibility · Failed in committee Feb 2026
appropriations · Failed in committee Feb 2026
driving · Failed in committee Feb 2026
boards, commissions, and councils · Failed in committee Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Petersen sits in the Iowa State Senate
Petersen is closer to the center than 11% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Herman Quirmbach, Liz Bennett,
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Petersen’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Iowa State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Petersen’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Petersen | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | HF 2801: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program, and including… | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–19 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2770: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, providing… | No | No | Yes | Passed 29–17 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2787: A bill for an act prohibiting warrant resolution clinics, including enforcement… | No | No | Yes | Passed 31–12 |
| May 2, 2026 | SF 2490: A bill for an act relating to oil and gas production, including filing requirements, the… | No | No | Yes | Passed 35–11 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2781: A bill for an act relating to allocations of moneys from the juvenile detention home fund. | No | No | Yes | Passed 34–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Petersen was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Iowa State Senate, District 18 | Won | — |
| 2020 | Iowa State Senate, District 18 | Won | — |
| 2016 | Iowa State Senate, District 18 | Won | — |
| 2012 | Iowa State Senate, District 18 | Won | D+38.3 |
| 2010 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 | Won | D+25.9 |
| 2008 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 | Won | D+34.2 |
| 2006 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 | Won | — |
| 2004 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 | Won | D+26.2 |
| 2002 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 | Won | — |
| 2000 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 72 | Won | D+29.2 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Petersen has held
- Iowa State Senate, District 18 · since 2012
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 64 · 2002–2012
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 72 · 2000–2002
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Petersen has run against
- Vicki Stogdill (R) · 2012 general, won
- Dan Kennedy (R) · 2010 general, won
- Steve Svejda (R) · 2008 general, won
- Eric Goranson (R) · 2004 general, won
- Jeff Chavannes (R) · 2000 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Petersen
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/3089e8af-0071-4298-822c-2d16ac01fe9f
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET