Catelin Drey, a northwestern Iowa Democrat who won an August special election and broke the Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate, was sworn in at the Iowa Capitol Monday morning.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver will not seek reelection in 2026 and will conclude seven years of service as the chamber's majority leader.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) - Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, who once was considered a future Republican candidate for governor, confirmed on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election and will step down from his leadership position in the legislature. Whitver, 45, has been battling a brain tumor.

The primary election includes races for Wards 3, 5 and 7, along with Davenport mayor. The two candidates who receive the most votes will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Jack Whitver, the Iowa Senate Majority Leader who has been battling a brain tumor for more than a year, will not seek re-election and will step aside as leader, he announced Tuesday.

Iowa Republican Jack Whitver is stepping down from his role as state Senate majority leader. He also announced he is not running for reelection in 2026. Last year, Whitver was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had been receiving radiation and drug therapy.

Iowa Republican Jack Whitver says he is stepping down as state Senate majority leader and will not seek re-election next year, KCCI reports.

Iowa’s new state legislator, Catelin Drey, was sworn into office Monday, officially ending Republicans’ supermajority hold on the chamber. Drey, a Sioux City Democrat, won the August special election to represent Iowa Senate District 1,