About the office
Iowa senators help write and vote on state laws as part of the General Assembly; the Senate has 50 members, one from each Senate district.
Term: 4 years (Terms are staggered; half of the Senate is elected every two years.).
Pay: $25,000 annual salary, plus a daily allowance during the legislative session and a monthly expense allowance (Iowa Code 2.10).
Surveillance & privacy Anti-Flock
Has centered digital privacy and opposition to government surveillance in her legislative work.
- SAIDShe co-authored a data-privacy commentary with Rep. Wichtendahl and, as ranking member of the Senate Technology Committee, has centered digital privacy and opposition to government surveillance in her legislative work.newsBleeding Heartland · Feb. 13, 2025
Quick facts
- Office: State Senator District 39
- Incumbent: Yes
- Opponent: R Edward Bernie Hayes (Republican)
- Raised this cycle: $20,618; all years on file: $207,602
- Votes on file: 8
At a glance
Recent statement
Campaign site says Bennett stands for combating climate change, raising the minimum wage and education for Iowa's youth.
Biography
The race
- Liz Bennett is the Democratic candidate for State Senator District 39 in the Nov. 3, 2026, Linn County general election.
- They currently hold the office.
- Also on the ballot for this office: Edward Bernie Hayes (Republican).
Background
- The 2014 profile lists her hometown as Cedar Rapids, a native of Silvis, Illinois, and says she attended Cornell College and stayed in the area after graduation.
- Said she moved to Iowa 14 years earlier, first attended Kirkwood Community College, then earned a scholarship to Cornell College, worked for the nonprofit One Iowa, and was a new-hire trainer for GoDaddy.
- Campaign site says Bennett graduated from Cornell College in 2010 with a double major in Politics and Women's Studies.
Record in office
- The Iowa Legislature lists Bennett as Democratic State Senator for District 39, serving on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environment committees and as Ranking Member of the Technology committee.
- In the 2014 Iowa House District 65 Democratic primary, Bennett, then 31 and a technical support worker for GoDaddy.com, ran against Gary Anhalt for the seat held by retiring Rep. Tyler Olson.
- She was a 2012 delegate at the Democratic National Convention.
- Iowa Senate Democrats say Bennett was elected to her first term in the Iowa Senate in 2022 after serving four terms in the Iowa House.
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- Her official Facebook page identifies her as the State Senator for Iowa Senate District 39, based in Cedar Rapids.
- 8 roll-call votes on bills HF 2788, HF 639, SF 167, SF 2201, SF 2263, SF 2422, SF 2472 and SF 607 are on file (listed under Record in office).
- The Iowa Legislature's BillBook lists 79 bills sponsored or floor-managed (listed by issue under Record in office).
- Iowa Legislature: Iowa Legislature member page (Senate District 39).
Positions & statements
- She co-authored a data-privacy commentary with Rep. Wichtendahl and, as ranking member of the Senate Technology Committee, has centered digital privacy and opposition to government surveillance in her legislative work.
- Listed her 2016 priorities as world-class education funding, raising the minimum wage statewide, better access to mental health care, oversight of Iowa's Medicaid program, and action for clean water.
- Campaign site says Bennett stands for combating climate change, raising the minimum wage and education for Iowa's youth.
- Shared an Iowa Senate Democrats post stating the caucus stands with UAW Local 1024 workers on strike at the Novolex plant in Cedar Rapids since July 28.
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- Posted that "every child deserves to participate" in team sports and that the Supreme Court "got it wrong" on transgender students in sports — defending transgender students' participation in athletics against the Court's ruling.
Endorsements
- Campaign site lists endorsements from elected and community leaders.
Campaign money
- Liz Bennett's campaign committee is Iowans for Liz Bennett (IECDB id 2120).
- The committee has reported $207,601.84 in contributions across 2520 contributions in filings through Oct. 13, 2026, $20,617.50 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
- The largest individual donors include Andrew Peterson ($4,379.00), David Maier ($3,325.00), Un-itemized ($3,032.00), Emily Rosenberg ($2,425.00), Harvey S. Ross ($2,361.78), Dennis Smith ($2,225.00), Aiko Materkowski ($2,100.00), Dorothy Pizzella ($2,000.00), Ann Brown ($1,975.00), Michelle A. LeCompte ($1,900.00).
- PAC and other committee contributions total $67,050.00, led by Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 125 Political Education Fund, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC IBEW, Cedar Rapids Trades Council CR IC Building Trades PAC, Credit Union PAC, Alliant Energy Employees' Iowa PAC, RPAC Iowa - REALTORS Political Action Committee, Use 8836 - Principal Life Insurance Company PAC (PRINPAC), #SCPA50264 Cedar Rapids Development Group PAC, Iowa Telecommunications Assoc - PAC.
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- Party committee contributions total $2,000.00, led by Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
- Reported expenditures total $204,551.08 across 847 payments, $21,075.92 of it since Jan. 1, 2025.
- The largest outside payees include Iowa Democratic Party ($95,410.00), Adcraft Printing ($24,403.93), Sage Consulting ($10,202.00), US Post Office ($6,206.40), Christian Edwards ($5,599.31), Reverbal Communications ($4,635.32), GoDaddy ($3,928.39), Linn County Democratic Central Committee ($3,088.36), Act Blue Non-Federal ($2,175.73).
- Payments listed to Liz Bennett total $20,693.19.
In the news
- Bleeding Heartland reported Bennett announced on June 28, 2021 that she may join the Democratic field in an Iowa Senate district covering part of the Cedar Rapids area.
- LGBTQ+ Victory Fund said Bennett won the 2022 Democratic primary for Iowa Senate District 39.
- The Gazette reported Bennett faced Republican Bernie Hayes in the 2022 Senate District 39 race.
Where they stand
Surveillance & privacy1 statement
She co-authored a data-privacy commentary with Rep. Wichtendahl and, as ranking member of the Senate Technology Committee, has centered digital privacy and opposition to government surveillance in her legislative work.newsBleeding Heartland · Feb. 13, 2025
None found.
Energy & power plants1 vote Y
None found.
Voted yes on HF 639, a bill limiting hazardous liquid pipelines and restricting the use of eminent domain; it passed 27-22 on 2025-05-12.newsIowa Ledger · May 12, 2025
Property taxes & budget1 vote Y · 1 other record
None found.
Voted yes on SF 2472, a property tax reform bill capping local government levy growth at 2%; it passed the Senate 41-1 on 2026-05-03.officialIowa Legislature · Oct. 18, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2360: relating to partial payments of property taxes and including applicability provisions.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Government efficiency & transparency1 other record
None found.
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2210: relating to sexual abuse by fraud, concealment, or artifice regarding marital status, and providing penalties.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Mental health1 statement1 other record
Listed her 2016 priorities as world-class education funding, raising the minimum wage statewide, better access to mental health care, oversight of Iowa's Medicaid program, and action for clean water.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 16, 2016
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2415: relating to provider requirements concerning the mental health of users of an artificial intelligence chatbot, and providing civil penalties.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Abortion1 vote N · 1 other record
None found.
Voted no on HF 2788, a bill on abortion, including informed consent requirements and the dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed 30-11 on 2026-05-03.newsIowa Ledger · May 3, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SJR 1: proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Health care1 statement1 vote N · 3 other records
Listed her 2016 priorities as world-class education funding, raising the minimum wage statewide, better access to mental health care, oversight of Iowa's Medicaid program, and action for clean water.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 16, 2016
Voted no on SF 2422, a bill changing public assistance programs, including Medicaid and the Iowa health and wellness plan; it passed 27-16 on 2026-04-30.newsIowa Ledger · April 30, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 132: relating to Medicaid coverage of maternity care including doula care.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 339: relating to eligibility of pregnant women and infants for the Medicaid program.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2048: relating to insurance coverage and Medicaid coverage for annual lung cancer screenings for at-risk individuals.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Jobs & economy1 vote N · 2 other records
None found.
Voted no on SF 607, a bill cutting the unemployment insurance tax paid by employers; it passed 32-16 on 2025-05-14.newsIowa Ledger · May 14, 2025
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 157: relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 358: relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable during a benefit year to an individual laid off due to an employer going out of business.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Housing1 other record
None found.
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 357: establishing a neighborhood housing revitalization assistance program within the Iowa finance authority.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Eminent domain1 vote Y
None found.
Voted yes on HF 639, a bill limiting hazardous liquid pipelines and restricting the use of eminent domain; it passed 27-22 on 2025-05-12.newsIowa Ledger · May 12, 2025
Water & environment1 statement2 other records
Campaign site says Bennett stands for combating climate change, raising the minimum wage and education for Iowa's youth.campaignBennett for Senate · Oct. 17, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 183: relating to water quality standards, including by providing for the regulation of animal feeding operations, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2269: appropriating moneys to Iowa state university of science and technology for use by the Iowa nutrient research center in supporting the Iowa water quality information systems.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Guns1 vote N
None found.
Voted no on SF 2263, a bill on the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons; it passed 35-12 on 2026-02-24.newsIowa Ledger · Feb. 24, 2026
Schools & education2 statements2 votes NN · 4 other records
Campaign site says Bennett stands for combating climate change, raising the minimum wage and education for Iowa's youth.campaignBennett for Senate · Oct. 17, 2026
Listed her 2016 priorities as world-class education funding, raising the minimum wage statewide, better access to mental health care, oversight of Iowa's Medicaid program, and action for clean water.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 16, 2016
Voted no on SF 2201, a bill setting a 2% growth rate in state school funding; it passed 28-20 on 2026-02-10.newsIowa Ledger · Feb. 10, 2026
Voted no on SF 167, a bill setting a 2% growth rate in state school funding; it passed 29-18 on 2025-02-11.newsIowa Ledger · Feb. 11, 2025
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 58: relating to school lunch and breakfast programs provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 485: establishing requirements related to nonpublic schools that receive tuition payments from parents or guardians whose students are participating in the education savings account program.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
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Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2241: relating to charter school requirements, including reporting requirements, governance standards, financial accountability, and oversight by the state board of education.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Sponsor or floor manager of SF 2244: relating to the education savings account program, including the establishment and requirements of qualified nonpublic schools.officialIowa Legislature (BillBook) · Oct. 19, 2026
Votes on file
- YESVoted yes on HF 639, a bill limiting hazardous liquid pipelines and restricting the use of eminent domain; it passed 27-22 on 2025-05-12.Energy & power plants · Iowa Ledger · May 12, 2025
- YESVoted yes on SF 2472, a property tax reform bill capping local government levy growth at 2%; it passed the Senate 41-1 on 2026-05-03.Property taxes & budget · Iowa Legislature · Oct. 18, 2026
- NOVoted no on HF 2788, a bill on abortion, including informed consent requirements and the dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs; it passed 30-11 on 2026-05-03.Abortion · Iowa Ledger · May 3, 2026
- NOVoted no on SF 2422, a bill changing public assistance programs, including Medicaid and the Iowa health and wellness plan; it passed 27-16 on 2026-04-30.Health care · Iowa Ledger · April 30, 2026
- NOVoted no on SF 607, a bill cutting the unemployment insurance tax paid by employers; it passed 32-16 on 2025-05-14.Jobs & economy · Iowa Ledger · May 14, 2025
- NOVoted no on SF 2263, a bill on the carrying, transportation, and possession of weapons; it passed 35-12 on 2026-02-24.Guns · Iowa Ledger · Feb. 24, 2026
- NOVoted no on SF 2201, a bill setting a 2% growth rate in state school funding; it passed 28-20 on 2026-02-10.Schools & education · Iowa Ledger · Feb. 10, 2026
- NOVoted no on SF 167, a bill setting a 2% growth rate in state school funding; it passed 29-18 on 2025-02-11.Schools & education · Iowa Ledger · Feb. 11, 2025
The race
DLiz BennettThis profile- Edward Bernie Hayes
Past races
- 2014In the 2014 Iowa House District 65 Democratic primary, Bennett, then 31 and a technical support worker for GoDaddy.com, ran against Gary Anhalt for the seat held by retiring Rep. Tyler Olson.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · May 24, 2014
Campaign money
- Campaign committee: Iowans for Liz Bennett (IECDB id 2120).officialIowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (committees) · Oct. 13, 2026
Filings through Oct. 13, 2026
| Contributions since Jan. 1, 2025 | $20,618 |
|---|---|
| Contributions, all years on file | $207,602 |
| Individuals and other organizations | $138,552 |
| PACs and other committees | $67,050 |
| Party committees | $2,000 |
| Spending since Jan. 1, 2025 | $21,076 |
| Spending, all years on file | $204,551 |
Largest contributors
Record in office
Votes
- YesSF 2472 A property tax reform bill capping local government levy growth at 2%Passed in the Senate 41-1 · May 3, 2026 · Iowa LegislatureProperty taxes & budget
- No
- NoSF 2422 Changing public assistance programs, including Medicaid and the Iowa health and wellness planPassed 27-16 · April 30, 2026 · Iowa LedgerHealth care
- No
- NoSF 2201 Setting a 2% growth rate in state school fundingPassed 28-20 · Feb. 10, 2026 · Iowa LedgerSchools & education
- NoSF 607 Cutting the unemployment insurance tax paid by employersPassed 32-16 · May 14, 2025 · Iowa LedgerJobs & economy
- YesHF 639 Limiting hazardous liquid pipelines and restricting the use of eminent domainPassed 27-22 · May 12, 2025 · Iowa LedgerEnergy & power plantsEminent domain
- NoSF 167 Setting a 2% growth rate in state school fundingPassed 29-18 · Feb. 11, 2025 · Iowa LedgerSchools & education
Timeline
- 2026The Iowa Legislature lists Bennett as Democratic State Senator for District 39, serving on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environment committees and as Ranking Member of the Technology committee.officialIowa Legislature · Oct. 17, 2026
- 2022Iowa Senate Democrats say Bennett was elected to her first term in the Iowa Senate in 2022 after serving four terms in the Iowa House.partyIowa Senate Democrats · Oct. 17, 2026
- 2012She was a 2012 delegate at the Democratic National Convention.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · May 24, 2014
Undated
- Iowa Legislature member page (Senate District 39)officialIowa Legislature
Bills sponsored
Schools & education4
- SF 58School lunch and breakfast programs provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools
- SF 485Establishing requirements related to nonpublic schools that receive tuition payments from parents or guardians whose students are participating in the education savings account program
- SF 2241Charter school requirements, including reporting requirements, governance standards, financial accountability, and oversight by the state board of education
- SF 2244The education savings account program, including the establishment and requirements of qualified nonpublic schools
Health care3
Jobs & economy2
Water & environment2
Abortion1
- SJR 1Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care
Government efficiency & transparency1
- SF 2210Sexual abuse by fraud, concealment, or artifice regarding marital status
Housing1
- SF 357Establishing a neighborhood housing revitalization assistance program within the Iowa finance authority
Mental health1
- SF 2415Provider requirements concerning the mental health of users of an artificial intelligence chatbot
Property taxes & budget1
- SF 2360Partial payments of property taxes
Other bills63
- SF 63The creation of an Iowa cancer research program
- SF 65Background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer
- SF 66Testimony by certain witnesses by two-way closed-circuit equipment
- SF 99The regulation of tanning facilities
- SF 101Increasing the state minimum hourly wage and providing for subsequent increases by the same percentage as the increase in federal social security benefits
- SF 109A family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers
- SF 122The eligibility of children of a minor parent for the state child care assistance program
- SF 123Funding of approved local preschool programs
- SF 124The issuance of a subpoena or search warrant for menstrual health data
- SF 129The submission and posting of certain hospital policies
- SF 130Health insurance coverage for infertility
- SF 131Evidence-based maternal and infant home visiting services
- SF 133The provision of period products
- SF 134Requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on pregnancy or childbirth
- SF 144The creation of land redevelopment trusts
- SF 147Wage payment collection issues arising between employers and employees
- SF 184Modifying the periods of time to bring civil actions by victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, or sexual exploitation
- SF 185Establishing a retirement savings plan trust
- SF 187Wage discrimination under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965
- SF 188Health insurance coverage for contraceptive devices, drugs, and services
- SF 189Medical malpractice by exempting claims involving sexual assault from the limitations on noneconomic damages
- SF 190Establishing certain privileges for communications made regarding incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination and creating a special motion for expedited relief in such actions
- SF 191Sexual abuse evidence collection kits, including testing, retention, and inventory requirements
- SF 192Authorized uses of moneys in the victim compensation fund
- SF 223Appropriating moneys to the department of health and human services for refugee resettlement assistance
- SF 263Employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, and city civil service requirements, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions
- SF 264Prescription drug affordability, including the creation of a prescription drug affordability board
- SF 352State child care assistance program benefits
- SF 353State child care assistance income eligibility requirements, and child care provider reimbursement rates
- SF 355Overtime pay earned by state employees
- SF 381Youth employment
- SF 401The defenses of justification and diminished capacity for certain violent crimes
- SF 437Certain persons who leave legislative or executive branch service, including prohibiting certain employment, lobbying activities, and use of influence
- SF 441The payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds
- SF 452Employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions
- SF 463Drug paraphernalia
- SF 505Codifying a firsthome program administered by the Iowa finance authority
- SF 2045Increasing the state minimum hourly wage and providing for subsequent increases by the same percentage as the increase in federal social security benefits
- SF 2046Wage payment collection issues arising between employers and employees
- SF 2047Insurance coverage for prescription insulin drugs
- SF 2104Water usage reporting requirements for large water use facilities
- SF 2106Residential rental property price fixing
- SF 2108Facial coverings worn by peace officers
- SF 2110The natural organic reduction of human remains
- SF 2226The use of automated adjudication systems by health carriers
- SF 2239A family leave and medical leave insurance program that provides for paid, job-protected leave for certain family leave and medical leave reasons for eligible employees of specified employers
- SF 2243The operation of state government, including the commencement of audits, information made available to the auditor of state, and disputes between governmental agencies
- SF 2245Audits of governmental subdivisions by the state auditor concerning suspected embezzlement, theft, or other significant financial irregularities
- SF 2249Customer classes for large energy use facilities
- SF 2259Regulating confinement feeding operations by providing for construction permits
- SF 2260Providing for county control of the siting and management of confinement feeding operations
- SF 2261Confinement feeding operations by requiring the installation and operation of pollution monitoring systems
- SF 2262The regulation of confinement feeding operations, including by providing for partially roofed structures and prohibiting the construction, including expansion, of structures
- SF 2266Clean water monitoring by requiring agencies to publish disaggregated data, including data associated with contributions by nonpoint sources
- SF 2267Clean water projects and programs by requiring agencies to publish data regarding progress in meeting certain benchmarks
- SF 2270Regulating animal feeding operations, including rulemaking requirements
- SF 2272Providing for a veterans’ benefits and services poster for employers to display in the workplace
- SF 2381Nonmedical pregnancy resource centers
- SF 2397A public entity’s purchase or collection of health information from an entity not subject to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- SF 2398The defense of justification for violent crimes
- SF 2414Automated decision systems used by employers
- SJR 2009Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to corporate participation in the political process
- SR 101Honoring Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, and their families
Positions & statements
3 statements are grouped above under Surveillance & privacy, Mental health, Health care, Water & environment, Schools & education. Also said:
- Campaign site lists endorsements from elected and community leaders.campaignBennett for Senate · Oct. 17, 2026
- Facebook · Oct. 17, 2026
- Shared an Iowa Senate Democrats post stating the caucus stands with UAW Local 1024 workers on strike at the Novolex plant in Cedar Rapids since July 28.
- Posted that "every child deserves to participate" in team sports and that the Supreme Court "got it wrong" on transgender students in sports — defending transgender students' participation in athletics against the Court's ruling.
Background
- 2026Her official Facebook page identifies her as the State Senator for Iowa Senate District 39, based in Cedar Rapids.Facebook · Oct. 17, 2026
- 2016Said she moved to Iowa 14 years earlier, first attended Kirkwood Community College, then earned a scholarship to Cornell College, worked for the nonprofit One Iowa, and was a new-hire trainer for GoDaddy.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · Oct. 16, 2016
- 2014The 2014 profile lists her hometown as Cedar Rapids, a native of Silvis, Illinois, and says she attended Cornell College and stayed in the area after graduation.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · May 24, 2014
- 2010Campaign site says Bennett graduated from Cornell College in 2010 with a double major in Politics and Women's Studies.campaignBennett for Senate · Oct. 17, 2026
In the news
- LGBTQ+ Victory Fund said Bennett won the 2022 Democratic primary for Iowa Senate District 39.orgLGBTQ+ Victory Fund · June 7, 2022
- Bleeding Heartland reported Bennett announced on June 28, 2021 that she may join the Democratic field in an Iowa Senate district covering part of the Cedar Rapids area.newsBleeding Heartland · June 29, 2021
- The Gazette reported Bennett faced Republican Bernie Hayes in the 2022 Senate District 39 race.newsThe Gazette · Oct. 5, 2022