| Nate Boulton | |
| Office: | Member of the Iowa Senate |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2017 |
| Term End: | January 12, 2025 |
| Predecessor: | Dick Dearden |
| Successor: | Mike Pike |
| Constituency: | District 16 (2017–2023) District 20 (2023–2025) |
| Birth Date: | 23 May 1980 |
| Birth Place: | Columbus Junction, Iowa, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | Simpson College (BA) Drake University (MPA, JD) |
Nate Boulton (born May 23, 1980) is an American politician who served in the Iowa Senate from 2017 to 2025. Boulton, a Democrat, represented the 20th and 16th districts. Boulton was first elected in 2016 to replace retiring Democratic Senator Dick Dearden.[1] [2]
In May 2017, Boulton announced his candidacy for the Iowa gubernatorial election, 2018 with a video on Twitter.[3] He suspended his campaign in May 2018 shortly after The Des Moines Register published the accounts of three women accusing Boulton of sexual misconduct.[4] [5]
Boulton grew up in Columbus Junction.
He earned his J.D. degree from Drake Law School in 2005 and was admitted to the Iowa bar that year. He also holds a Master’s of Public Administration from Drake University and a Bachelor’s in history and political science from Simpson College. He has served on the Simpson College Alumni Board and as an adjunct professor at Simpson.
Outside the legislature, Boulton is a partner with Hedberg & Boulton, where he practices in workers compensation, personal injury and labor law. He has served as vice-president of the Iowa Association for Justice and as president of the Iowa Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee. He also acts as a grader for the Iowa Bar Exam. He has taught courses in labor law at Drake Law School, sports law and business law at Simpson College, and organizational management and moral leadership at William Penn University.
Boulton was elected to his first term in the Iowa Senate in 2016. He represented the people of Senate District 16 on the Northeast side of Des Moines and in Pleasant Hill until 2023. In 2023, he was redistricted to District 20.
He is ranking member on the Labor & Business Relations Committee. He also serves on the appropriations, commerce and judiciary committees.
On May 4, 2017 Boulton announced his candidacy for Governor of Iowa. His platform includes fighting for workers' rights, as he was an outspoken opponent of the collective bargaining bill that was passed by the Republican led Iowa Legislature. He also voiced strong support for public education in Iowa.[6] Former Presidential Candidate Martin O'Malley lauded Boulton's announcement, writing on Twitter, "The future is now. Congratulations @NateBoulton on entering the race for #IAGov #iapolitics".[7]
Boulton suspended his campaign in May 2018 after The Des Moines Register published the accounts of three women accusing Boulton of sexual misconduct. The allegations against Boulton included non-consensual groping and frotteurism.