Hogg chosen to lead Iowa Senate Democrats

DES MOINES - Rob Hogg has been chosen by his Democratic colleagues in the Iowa Senate to lead them out of a time of significant upheaval.

Senate Democrats in a closed-door meeting Saturday at the Iowa Capitol elected Hogg to be the group's leader in the Iowa Legislature, which convenes for the 2017 session in January.

As a result of the Nov. 8 election, Democrats will be the minority party in the Iowa Senate for the first time since 2004. They also will be without Sen. Mike Gronstal, their leader - as both a majority and minority party - since 1997.

'It's really quite an honor, personally,” Hogg said Saturday.

The election was unanimous, Hogg said.

Hogg, a lawyer from Cedar Rapids, has served as a state legislator since 2003. Earlier this year he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary, losing to Patty Judge.

Hogg will lead Iowa Senate Democrats into a new era at the Iowa Capitol, where for at least the next two years Republicans have complete control of the state's agenda - the GOP now has majorities in the Senate and House, and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has two years remaining on his term.

Hogg said Senate Democrats will speak on behalf of Iowans 'who need state government to work” and attempt to prevent Republicans from implementing policies that could damage the state's economy or adversely affect its residents.

'I'm hopeful we can stop Republicans from going down a knee-jerk, partisan pathway,” Hogg said.

Perhaps bracing for Republican attempts to change the state's collective bargaining laws for public employees, Hogg said Senate Democrats will make clear how Iowans rely on state government services.

'We've got lots of great public employees in this state who help make Iowa the great place to live that it is, very dedicated people,” Hogg said, listing teachers, correctional officers, state police, health and human services workers, and natural resources workers. 'They help Iowans every day with real problems, and we need to stand up for the Iowans who need help and the public employees who do such a good job helping Iowans. ...

'State government does a lot of important things in people's lives.”

Senate Democrats also elected Sen. Amanda Ragan, of Mason City, as whip, and six assistant leaders: Sens. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo; Liz Mathis of Robins; Rita Hart of Wheatland; Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City; Matt McCoy of Des Moines; and Herman Quirmbach of Ames.