Bill Dotzler
Iowa State Senator, District 31 since 2002. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 10 elections between 1996 and 2022, winning 10.
- In office
- 24 yrs
- Since 2002
- Bills became law
- 0
- 82 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 2.9%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +26.1
- Won 2010
- Elections
- 10
- 1996–2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Veterans Affairs · ranking member
- Appropriations
- International Relations
- Natural Resources and Environment
- Ways and Means
- Workforce
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Dotzler sits in the Iowa State Senate
Dotzler is closer to the center than 44% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Renee Hardman, Molly Donahue, Cindy Winckler
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Dotzler’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats94%
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: Dotzler’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Dotzler | 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. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 34–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Dotzler 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 | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Iowa State Senate, District 31 | Won | — | D+22.2 | — |
| 2018 | Iowa State Senate, District 31 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Iowa State Senate, District 31 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Iowa State Senate, District 31 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Iowa State Senate, District 11 | Won | D+26.1 | — | — |
| 2006 | Iowa State Senate, District 11 | Won | D+40.1 | — | — |
| 2002 | Iowa State Senate, District 11 | Won | D+32.7 | — | — |
| 2000 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 26 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 26 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 26 | Won | D+9.9 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Dotzler has held
- Iowa State Senate, District 31 · since 2014
- Iowa State Senate, District 11 · since 2002
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 26 · 1996–2002
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Dotzler has run against
- Ron Welper (R) · 2010 election, won
- Jim Buschkamp (R) · 2006 election, won
- Melvina B. Scott (R) · 2002 election, won
- Steve Jordan (R) · 1996 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Dotzler
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/c1174a56-68c9-4103-aaee-fa3f1a2b25ca
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET