Amanda Ragan (born September 20, 1954) is an Iowan State Senator from the 27th District. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Iowa Senate since 2002. In 2016 Ragan was appointed Iowa Senate Democratic Whip. She has also served as the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and of Community Kitchen of Northern Iowa.

Amanda Ragan
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 27th district
10th (2002 – 2013)
Assumed office
March 18, 2002[1]
Preceded byMerlin Bartz
Personal details
Born (1954-09-20) September 20, 1954 (age 69)
Mason City, Iowa
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceMason City, Iowa
WebsiteAmanda Ragan for Iowa Senate

Ragan served on several committees in the Iowa Senate – the Appropriation committee; the Natural Resources committee; the Rules and Administration committee; the Veterans Affairs committee; and the Human Resources committee, where she is chair. She also serves on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, where she is vice chair.

Iowa State Senate edit

Ragan is currently an assistant majority leader in the Senate. Ragan first joined the Senate when she won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Republican Senator Merlin Bartz's resignation.[1][2]

In 2005 Ragan was targeted by several groups for her opposition to a proposed amendment banning gay marriage in the state of Iowa.[3]

Ragan was re-elected in 2006 with 15,138 votes (70%), defeating Republican opponent Kenneth D. Young.[4]

In 2008 as chair of the Senate Human Resources Committee Ragan was a direct player in the formulation of health care legislation that would cover more Iowan children and fix health care problems in the state of Iowa.[5]

Ragan was again re-election to the Iowa State Senate in 2010. Ragan defeated Republican candidate James Mills by a margin of 12,908 (60.4%) to 8,452 (39.4%).[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Senate Journal: Monday, March 18, 2002". Journal of the Senate. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  2. ^ B. Drummond Ayres Jr. (March 3, 2002). "Political Briefing; Mighty Focus on Race In Mason City, Iowa". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  3. ^ "Family group says Iowa lawmakers trying to quash gay marriage debate, vote | News | wcfcourier.com". wcfcourier.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  4. ^ "Iowa Secretary of State – Paul D. Pate | 2006 Iowa State Senate elections data" (PDF). sos.state.ia.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "Lawmakers prepare for health care debate | Mason City & North Iowa | globegazette.com". globegazette.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  6. ^ State of Iowa Official Results Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, 2010 General Election

External links edit

Iowa Senate
Preceded by 10th District
March 18, 2002 – January 10, 2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by 7th District
January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013
Succeeded by