Jennifer Konfrst Explained

Jennifer Konfrst
Office:	Minority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives
Term Start:	June 14, 2021
Predecessor:	Todd Prichard
State House1:	Iowa
District1:	32nd
Term Start1:	January 14, 2019
Predecessor1:	Chris Hagenow
Constituency1:	District 32 - (2023-Present) District 43 - (2019-2023)
Birth Place:	Macomb, Illinois, U.S.
Party:	Democratic
Spouse:	Lee
Children:	2
Education:	Drake University (BA, MPA)

Jennifer Glover Konfrst (born December 24, 1973) is an American politician in the state of Iowa. A Democrat, she has been a member of the Iowa House of Representatives representing the 32nd district since 2019. She is the House minority leader, a position that she has held since 2021.

Early life

Konfrst was born on December 24, 1973, in Macomb, Illinois.^[1] She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Webster, Florida.^[2] She graduated with a bachelors of arts degree in journalism and mass communications and a masters of public administration from Drake University.^[3] She worked for Iowa PBS for twelve years.^{[4] [5]} She is an associate professor of journalism and strategic political communication at Drake University.^{[6] [7]} She and her husband, Lee, have two children.^[4]

Political career

She first ran to represent the 43rd district in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2016, but lost to Republican incumbent Chris Hagenow.^{[8] [9]} In 2018, Hagenow moved to the 19th district.^[10] Konfrst ran again for the newly-open seat and won. She won re-election in 2020.^[11] Konfrst sits on the administration and rules committee, the judiciary committee, the local government committee, the state government committee and the transportation committee. She was the assistant minority leader in 2019 and 2020 and the minority whip in 2021. When Todd Prichard stepped down as the House minority leader in 2021, Konfrst was elected on June 14, 2021 as the new House minority leader. She is the first woman to hold this position in Iowa.^{[12] [13]}

In 2022 she ran for re-election and won in the 32nd district against Republican Mark Brown.

Electoral record

Notes and References

1. Web site: Representative Jennifer Konfrst . 23 June 2020 . The Iowa Legislature.
2. Web site: What the candidates for Clive's House District 32 seat say about the issues . 2022-10-30 . The Des Moines Register . en-US.
3. Web site: Jennifer Konfrst's Biography . Vote Smart . 23 June 2020.
4. Web site: Iowa House Democrats elect Konfrst as leader . 2022-10-30 . www.thegazette.com . en-US.
5. Web site: JENNIFER KONFRST NAMED PBS COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR . 2022-10-30 . About PBS - Main . en.
6. Web site: Gruber-Miller . Stephen . Iowa House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst running for reelection . 2022-10-30 . The Des Moines Register . en-US.
7. Web site: Jennifer Glover Konfrst Drake University . 2022-10-30 . www.drake.edu . en.
8. Web site: Jennifer Konfrst . 23 June 2020 . Ballotpedia.
9. News: Iowa House District 43: Hagenow defeats challenger Konfrst . 23 June 2020 . Des Moines Register . 8 November 2016.
10. News: Iowa election 2018: Three look to replace Watts in House District 19 . 23 June 2020 . Des Moines Register . 29 October 2018.
11. Web site: Ryan . Mackenzie . Democrat Jennifer Konfrst wins race to represent parts of Windsor Heights, Clive and West Des Moines . 2022-10-30 . The Des Moines Register . en-US.
12. Web site: Akin . Katie . 2021-06-03 . Iowa Rep. Jennifer Konfrst seeking House minority leader position . 2022-10-30 . Iowa Capital Dispatch . en-US.
13. Web site: Akin . Katie . 2021-06-15 . Rep. Jennifer Konfrst elected as Iowa House minority leader . 2022-10-30 . Iowa Capital Dispatch . en-US.