State Senator, Iowa Senate District 35

Mike Zimmer is the Democratic incumbent in Iowa Senate District 35¹, first elected in a January 2025 special election and sworn in February 10, 2025, now seeking a full term against Republican Joe Stutting¹²³. He retired after 43 years in public education, including work as a teacher, high school principal, school board member and area education agency consultant, and he is the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee²³.

Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Minimum wageRaise it to around $15medium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 2045, which sets the Iowa minimum wage at $15 on July 1, 2026 and raises it each year after with Social Security cost-of-living increases. (2026) source
  • His campaign site lists raising the minimum wage as a priority, without naming an amount. source
• Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 2239, which creates a state family and medical leave insurance program with paid, job-protected leave. (2026) source
  • His campaign site lists supporting paid family leave for working families. source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.J.R. 2003, a proposed constitutional amendment making reproductive freedom, including abortion care, a fundamental right that the state may regulate only under limits set in the text. (2026) source
• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says to ensure public dollars go to public schools. source
  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 2244, which adds accountability rules for private schools in the education savings account program rather than ending it. (2026) source
  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 485, which adds requirements for nonpublic schools that receive education savings account tuition payments. (2025) source
• Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said public schools should offer preschool for all 3 and 4 year olds, and proposed a sliding-scale childcare tax credit and raising childcare assistance eligibility to 200 percent of the poverty level. (2026-09-22) source
  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 353, which raises income eligibility for state child care assistance. (2025) source
  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 434, which creates a child care solutions fund. (2025) source
• Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chambermedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.J.R. 10, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting service in the Iowa General Assembly to twelve consecutive years. (2025) source
• Ranked-choice votingLet cities and counties choose it for local racesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 561, which allows ranked choice and instant runoff voting in local government elections. (2025) source
• GunsNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 2123, which requires a state system for unique serial numbers on firearms and unfinished frames and bars removing them. (2026) source
  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 2127, which requires firearm safety training for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers. (2026) source
• Politicians trading stocksNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 557, which bars lawmakers, legislative staff and their families from trading financial instruments based on nonpublic information from their official duties. (2025) source
• Drug pricesNo single answer fitslow

  Official action · low confidence

  • Was listed as a sponsor of S.F. 264, which creates a prescription drug affordability board to review high-cost drugs. (2025) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Healthcare, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.