| Skyler Wheeler | |
| State House: | Iowa |
| District: | 4th |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2017 |
| Predecessor: | John Kooiker |
| Birth Date: | 24 April 1993[1] |
| Birth Place: | Centralia, Washington, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Jess |
| Residence: | Hull, Iowa, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Grays Harbor College Northwestern College |
| Religion: | Christian |
| Website: | legis.iowa.gov/... |
Skyler Wheeler (born April 24, 1993) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 4th district since 2017.
Wheeler finished first in a field of three candidates during a 2016 party primary.[2] He was subsequently elected in a general election later that year to replace retiring Republican representative John Kooiker.[3] [4] He defeated independent candidate Jeff VanDerWerff in the general election, who had lost the Republican primary earlier that year.[5] In his bid for a second term in 2018, Wheeler ran unopposed.[6]
In the 2020 general election, Wheeler defeated Democratic Party candidate Björn Johnson.[7] [8]
In a 2022 primary, Wheeler defeated Dordt University student Kendal Zylstra, winning 52% of the vote. Wheeler was initially based in Orange City and declared a bid in District 3, but instead chose to move to Hull, in District 4.[9] [10]
Wheeler graduated from Grays Harbor College, where he played baseball. Wheeler broke the all-time hits record and received a full athletic scholarship to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. [11] At Northwestern, Wheeler broke the school's single-season RBI and double records, while batting a career .362 with 114 RBI's. Wheeler led the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in RBI (66) in 2014 and hits (76) in 2015. [12] Though Wheeler received interest from several independent professional baseball leagues, he decided instead to pursue a run for the Iowa House of Representatives. [13]
Wheeler currently serves as the Chair of the House Education Committee. Wheeler also serves on the Judiciary Committee, Public Safety Committee, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and School Finance Formula Review Committee. At age 23, Wheeler was the youngest elected member of the Iowa General Assembly in 2016.[14]