Overview:
Iowa became the 29th state on 28 December 1846. With a 2004 population of 2,954,451, Iowa is overwhelmingly (93.9%) white. The largest minority (2.1%) is Black, followed by Asian (1.3%). Almost half the population (1,340,955) is classified as rural. The state is much less densely populated than the nation, 52.4 persons per square mile versus 79.6. (Census, USDA)
Presidential Votes:
2004 : Kerry (D) 49%, Bush (R) 50%
2000 : Gore (D) 49%, Bush (R) 48%, Nader (I) 2%
1996 : Clinton (D) 51%, Dole (R) 40%, Perot (I) 9%
Federal Representation:
Iowa has five US Representatives and two US Senators.
- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-2008) - first elected in 1984
- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-2010) - first elected in 1980
- Rep. Jim Nussle (01-R)
- Rep. Jim Leach (02-R)
- Rep. Leonard L Boswell (03-D)
- Rep. Tom Latham (04-R)
- Rep. Steven A King(05-R)
State Government:
Governor Tom Vilsack (D) was elected in 1998, as was Lt. Governor Sally Pederson (D).
The capitol is Des Moines; the state legislature has 50 seats in the Senate and 100 seats in the House. In the House, Republicans hold a one-seat majority; the Senate is evenly split (25-25).