Rep. Hora gets party leadership role

WASHINGTON — State Rep. Heather Hora, whose electoral District 92 includes Washington County, and rural parts of southern Johnson County, was named among four “Assistant Majority Leaders” for the Republican Party’s house lawmakers in 2025, according to a press release from party officials.

The title makes Hora an intermediary between other lawmakers in the party and top decision-makers like Speaker Pat Grassley and Majority Leader Matt W. Windschitl.

“Congratulations to these four individuals on their election to serve as Assistant Majority Leaders," Grassley said in a written statement. "With our House Republicans leadership team set, we are ready to get straight to work on Jan. 13 to deliver on the promises we have made to Iowans."

The assistant leadership position was chosen by a popular vote among the party’s 67 lawmakers in the house this term. Hora said her victory, alongside other assistant leaders Jon Dunwell, Craig Johnson and Brent Siegrist was “an honor.”

“Communication is really my thing, I love talking to the different people in our caucus, and I really get along with the whole gamut,” she said. “I felt the leadership was more my role than an actual committee chair would be … and that way I could serve my caucus in a bigger way than just as a voting member.”

Party leaders like Grassley and Windschitl have busy schedules, and can’t usually work directly with every other party member in their chamber of the legislature according to Hora. Instead, they task the assistant majority leaders with getting a feel for sentiments on the ground and meeting with other elected officials, and reporting their findings back to the top of the totem pole.

For voters, Hora said her newfound status would offer a more direct influence on the top players in Des Moines.

“It’s very good for my district, for 92, because I will have the ear of leadership, so when things are happening in my district, I can take that directly to leadership,” she said. “When you have a seat at that table, you kind of are driving what legislation’s getting through, what’s not getting through — which is sometimes more important — it’ll be a big benefit for that.”

Hora’s committee assignments this year include, agriculture — given her farming profession — and state government, which is expected to play a major role in Iowa’s casino moratorium this term.

She’s also on the education, education appropriations, and higher education committees in 2025, the last which is a newly formed committee this session. Hora said she was the only member of the house in all three.

“It’ll be interesting to have a connection to all three of those, and be able to speak to what’s happening on all levels,” she said.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com