Michael Gronstal

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Michael Gronstal
Michael E. Gronstal - Official Portrait - 84th GA.jpg
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 8th district
50th (1985–1993; 2003–2013)
42nd (1993–2003)
In office
January 14, 1985 – January 8, 2017
Preceded byTom Slater
Succeeded byDan Dawson
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
January 10, 1983 – January 13, 1985
Preceded byEmil Pavich
Succeeded byBrent Siegrist
Personal details
Born (1950-01-29) January 29, 1950 (age 71)
Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Connie Meisenbach
ChildrenKate
Sarah
Alma materLoyola University, Chicago
Antioch College
WebsiteGovernment website

Michael E. Gronstal (born January 29, 1950) is a former Iowa State Senator who represented the 8th District in the Iowa Senate. He served from 1985-2017 and was the majority leader and chairman of the Rules and Administration committee. He was also chairman of the DLCC, the national organization to elect Democratic state legislators.

Political career[]

Gronstal supported efforts to increase renewable fuels in Iowa and in 2006, Iowa passed the nation’s strongest ethanol legislation. Gronstal also supported legislation to increase funding for community colleges and school districts. After the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage in the Varnum v. Brien decision in April 2009, Gronstal blocked a Republican attempt to overturn the Court's decision with a constitutional amendment. He released a YouTube video in which he quoted his daughter's statement that opponents of same-sex marriage in Iowa had already lost because her generation does not care about the issue.[1] Mike Gronstal lost his bid for re-election in 2016.

Gronstal was re-elected in 2004 with 12,480 votes (54%), defeating Republican opponent Loren Knauss.[2] He won re-election again in 2008 with 58% of the votes.[3]

Gronstal received his B.A. from Antioch College. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives. He also served as the chair of the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party from 1986 to 1988. Senator Gronstal and his wife, Connie, have two daughters: Kate, who is a transportation engineer at Stantec in Chicago; and Sara, who is currently Director of Forensics at Eastern Illinois University.

References[]

  1. ^ Iowa Senate Debate: Gronstal blocks amendment to reverse Iowa marriage equality Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, Hannah Garden-Monheit, Iowa Senate News, April 6, 2009
  2. ^ 2004 General Election Results Archived 2007-01-04 at the Wayback Machine Iowa Secretary of State
  3. ^ Iowa Secretary of State. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results". Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.

External links[]

Iowa Senate
Preceded by Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 50th district
1985–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 42nd district
1993–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 50th district
2003–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 8th district
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
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