Janet Petersen

Janet Petersen
Minority Leader of the Iowa Senate
In office October 22, 2017 – January 11, 2021
Preceded by	Rob Hogg
Succeeded by	Zach Wahls
Member of the Iowa Senate from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2013
Preceded by	Liz Mathis
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 64th district
In office January 8, 2001 – January 13, 2013
Preceded by	Jack Holveck
Succeeded by	Bruce Bearinger
Personal details
Born	(1970-08-01) August 1, 1970 (age 54) Beaverdale, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Brian Pattinson
Education	University of Northern Iowa (BA) Drake University (MA)
Website	Campaign website

Janet Petersen (born August 1, 1970) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Iowa Senate representing the 18th District since January 2013. She previously served as the Senate Minority Leader and has previously represented the 64th district in the Iowa House of Representatives between 2001 and 2013. She received her BA from the University of Northern Iowa and her MA from Drake University.

Petersen serves on several committees in the Iowa Senate – the Government Oversight, Judiciary, State Government and Ways & Means committees. She also serves as the ranking member of the Commerce Committee. Petersen served as state Senate minority leader after replacing Rob Hogg in October 2017.^[1] She was the first woman to lead the Senate Democratic caucus.