Attorney General of Iowa
| Iowa Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $123,669 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $107,993,601 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Iowa Constitution, Article 5, Section 12 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Attorney General of Iowa Brenna Bird | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | 2026 |
| Last election: | 2022 |
| Other Iowa Executive Offices | |
| Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Secretary of Agriculture •Director of Education •Insurance Commissioner •Natural Resources Director •Labor Commissioner •Utilities Board | |
TheAttorney General of Iowa is head of the state department of justice and chief legal officer of the state. Theattorney general represents the state ofIowa and its agencies in court cases, gives legal advice to state agencies and issues written opinions on questions of law submitted by state officials.[1] In Iowa, the attorney general is elected in federal midterm election years to serve four-year terms and does not face term limits.
Iowa has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Attorney General of Iowa isBrenna Bird (R). Bird assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The Attorney General of Iowa's powers, term of office, etc. are derived fromArticle V of theIowa Constitution.
Article V, Section 12:
| The general assembly shall provide, by law, for the election of an attorney general by the people... |
Qualifications
The attorney general must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Iowa. The number of years one must reside in Iowa to qualify is unspecified.[2]
Elections
- See also: The State Constitution of Iowa
The attorney general is elected according to the terms laid out inArticle 5, Section 12 of the Iowa Constitution:
Article 5, Section 12:
| The general assembly shall provide, by law, for the election of an attorney general by the people, whose term of office shall be four years, and until his successor is elected and qualifies. |
Term limits
The attorney general is not restricted by term limits.[3]
Election results
See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2030
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa
Nate Willems (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Nate Willems | |
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Attorney General of Iowa
IncumbentBrenna Bird (R) is running in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Brenna Bird | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. | |||
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See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Iowa
Brenna Bird (R) defeated incumbentThomas John Miller (D) in the general election for Attorney General of Iowa on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brenna Bird (R) | 50.8 | 611,432 |
 | Thomas John Miller (D) | 49.1 | 590,890 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1% | 801 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,203,123 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa
IncumbentThomas John Miller (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas John Miller | 99.7 | 146,284 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3% | 399 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 146,683 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Attorney General of Iowa
Brenna Bird (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brenna Bird | 99.6 | 163,114 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4% | 670 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 163,784 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Iowa
IncumbentThomas John Miller (D) defeatedMarco Battaglia (L) in the general election for Attorney General of Iowa on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas John Miller (D) | 76.5 | 880,531 |
 | Marco Battaglia (L) | 22.8 | 262,131 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7% | 8,237 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,150,899 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa
IncumbentThomas John Miller (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas John Miller | 100.0 | 157,483 |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 157,483 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Vacancies
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Attorney General of Iowa has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
Duties
The Attorney General of Iowa heads the Iowa Department of Justice. The Department of Justice is in charge of the representation of the state of Iowa and its officers. The attorney general, "provides legal counsel and direction to the state by participation in cases before the courts where the state has an interest and by formulating written opinions to state officers and county attorneys on questions of state law of public importance." It also represents the state in all criminal and juvenile court appeals, provides training for criminal justice professionals, provides victims' service and represents consumers in utility rate cases.[5]
Divisions
As of January 8, 2021, the office of the attorney general is divided into the following divisions:
|
State budget
- See also:Iowa state budget and finances
The attorney general's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $107,993,601.[7]
Compensation
The salaries of elected and appointed executives in Iowa are determined by theIowa State Legislature.[8]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general receiveda salary of $123,669. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.[19]
2012
In 2012, the attorney general was paid an estimated$123,669. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.
2011
In 2011, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669.[20]
Historical officeholders
There have been 31 distinct Iowa Attorneys General since 1853, including 25 Republicans and six Democrats.[21]
| List of Former Officeholders from 1853-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | David C. Cloud | 1853-1856 |  Democratic | ||
| 2 | Samuel A. Rice | 1856-1861 |  Republican | ||
| 3 | Charles C. Nourse | 1861-1865 | Republican | ||
| 4 | Isaac L. Allen | 1865-1866 | Republican | ||
| 5 | Frederick E. Bissell | 1866-1867 | Republican | ||
| 6 | Henry O’Conner | 1867-1872 | Republican | ||
| 7 | Marsena E. Cutts | 1872-1877 | Republican | ||
| 8 | John F. McJunkin | 1877-1881 | Republican | ||
| 9 | Smith McPherson | 1881-1885 | Republican | ||
| 10 | A. J. Baker | 1885-1889 | Republican | ||
| 11 | John Y. Stone | 1889-1895 | Republican | ||
| 12 | Milton Remley | 1895-1901 | Republican | ||
| 13 | Charles W. Mullan | 1901-1907 | Republican | ||
| 14 | Howard W. Byers | 1907-1911 | Republican | ||
| 15 | George Cosson | 1911-1917 | Republican | ||
| 16 | Horace M. Havner | 1917-1921 | Republican | ||
| 17 | Ben J. Gibson | 1921-1927 | Republican | ||
| 18 | John Fletcher | 1927-1932 | Republican | ||
| 19 | Edward L. O’Conner | 1932-1937 | Democratic | ||
| 20 | John H. Mitchell | 1937-1939 | Democratic | ||
| 21 | Fred D. Everett | 1939-1940 | Republican | ||
| 22 | John M. Rankin | 1940-1947 | Republican | ||
| 23 | Robert L. Larson | 1947-1953 | Republican | ||
| 24 | Leo A. Hoegh | 1953-1954 | Republican | ||
| 25 | Dayton Countrymen | 1954-1957 | Republican | ||
| 26 | Norman A. Erbe | 1957-1961 | Republican | ||
| 27 | Evan l. Hultman | 1961-1965 | Republican | ||
| 28 | Lawrence F. Scalise | 1965-1966 | Democratic | ||
| 29 | Richard Turner | 1967-1978 | Republican | ||
| 30* | Tom Miller | 1979-1991 | Democratic | ||
| 31 | Bonnie J. Campbell | 1991-1994 | Democratic | ||
| 30* | Tom Miller | 1995-2023 | Democratic | ||
*30th Attorney GeneralTom Miller (D) appears twice in the above table because he has held the office during nine non-consecutive terms between 1979 - present.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsIowa Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Capitol Address:
Iowa Attorney General
1305 East Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-5164
Fax: (515) 281-4209
E-mail:webteam@ag.state.ia.us
See also
External links
- Office of Iowa Attorney General
- State of Iowa, "The Three Branches of Government:How they Work in Iowa"
Footnotes
- ↑Office of the Iowa Attorney General, "About the Office of Attorney General," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑The Council of State Governments, "Book of States 2011- Table 4.20," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Iowa Legislature, "Iowa State Code, Title 2, Chapter 39 Section 9 State Officers-Term," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Iowa Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑Office of the Iowa Attorney General, "About the Office of Attorney General," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Iowa Department of Justice, "Divisions," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Iowa Budget Report, "FY2025," accessed January 17, 2025
- ↑The Iowa Legislature, "Iowa State Code," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑The Council of State Governments, "Book of States 2011- Table 4.11," accessed February 17, 2012
- ↑Iowa Official Register 1999-2000, "Attorneys General," 260, accessed August 16, 2013
