Molly Donahue
Iowa State Senator, District 37 since 2022. Ran in 4 elections between 2016 and 2022, winning 3. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 0
- 136 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 6.6%
- Chamber median 2.9%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +24.8
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Workforce · ranking member
- Appropriations
- Area Education Agency Task Force
- Education
- Health Policy Oversight
- Health and Human Services
- Rules and Administration
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
county government · Failed in committee Feb 2026
driving · Failed in committee Feb 2026
boards, commissions, and councils · Failed in committee Feb 2026
contracts · Failed in committee Feb 2026
animal feeding operations · Failed in committee Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Donahue sits in the Iowa State Senate
Donahue is closer to the center than 39% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Cindy Winckler, Janice Weiner, Claire Celsi
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Donahue’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
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: Donahue’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Donahue | 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… | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 29–17 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2787: A bill for an act prohibiting warrant resolution clinics, including enforcement… | Not voting | 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… | Not voting | 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. | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 34–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Donahue 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 | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Iowa State Senate, District 37 | Won | D+24.8 | D+11.5 | +13.3 |
| 2022 | Iowa State Senate, District 37 | Won | D+12.1 | D+13.9 | −1.8 |
| 2020 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 68 | Won | D+9.2 | — | — |
| 2018 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 68 | Won | D+10.4 | — | — |
| 2016 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 68 | Lost | R+8.1 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Iowa Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $16.4K
- Spent
- $5K
Source: Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board filings through May 14, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Donahue for State Senate State | Active |
Source: Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board filings through May 14, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Seats Donahue has held
- Iowa State Senate, District 37 · since 2022
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 68 · 2018–2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Donahue has run against
- Randy Marzen (R) · 2026 election, won
- Kurt Alan Bendixen (R) · 2022 election, won
- Lou Rogers (R) · 2020 election, won
- Randy Ray (R) · 2018 election, won
- Ken Rizer (R) · 2016 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Iowa Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Donahue
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/d675a03b-f474-4e1c-b48a-b78b399488c4
- Wikidata Q98597147
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET