Cedar Rapids community organizer to run for Iowa Senate

CEDAR RAPIDS — Sami Scheetz of Cedar Rapids, a political activist who has worked in state and presidential campaigns, will run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Rob Hogg in 2022.

Scheetz, 25, will run as a Democrat for the Senate District 33 seat in the Iowa Legislature.

“I came back to Iowa to fight for working families, and I’ve heard from families across District 33 they feel like the middle class has been shrinking,” Scheetz said in a news release.

“The state Legislature has made it harder and harder for working families to earn a good living and make ends meet. We need new leaders that are intent on changing this reality, making Iowa a place with a strong middle class, where all people can thrive.”

Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids,, announced earlier this week he would not seek re-election in 2022.

Scheetz most recently worked on the Iowa campaign staff for Joe Biden in 2020, serving as the Iowa deputy coalitions director. He also was the Iowa Constituency Outreach Director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential bid during the Iowa caucuses, where he focused on bringing first-time voters and voters of color into the process.

Scheetz previously led community organizing efforts for Fred Hubbell, the Democratic nominee for Iowa governor in 2018.

A Cedar Rapids native, Scheetz holds a degree in government and history from Georgetown University.

“Iowa used to be a place where if you worked hard and played by the rules, you could make it in life,” Scheetz said. “We know that’s no longer the case, and that is what we must change. Hardworking Iowans deserve a fair shake.”

Breanna Oxley, 30, a Cedar Rapids Community School District social studies teacher, also is running for the Senate seat Hogg has held since 2007.

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