Attorney General of Iowa
| Iowa Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $123,669 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $103,908,349 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Iowa Constitution, Article 5, Section 12 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Attorney General of Iowa
Brenna Bird | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 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 | |
The Attorney General of Iowa is head of the state department of justice and chief legal officer of the state. The attorney general represents the state of Iowa 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 Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Brenna Bird, a Republican, who was first elected in 2022.
Authority
The Attorney General of Iowa's powers, term of office, etc. are derived from Article V of the Iowa 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 in Article 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. |
2022
- See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Iowa
Brenna Bird defeated incumbent Thomas John Miller 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 | ||
| Total votes: 1,203,123 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa
Incumbent Thomas John Miller 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 | ||
| Total votes: 146,683 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Iowa
Brenna Bird 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 | ||
| Total votes: 163,784 | |||
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2018
- See also: Iowa Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Iowa
Incumbent Thomas John Miller defeated Marco Battaglia 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 | ||
| Total votes: 1,150,899 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa
Incumbent Thomas John Miller advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Iowa on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas John Miller | 100.0 | 157,483 |
| Total votes: 157,483 | |||
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2014
- See also: Iowa attorney general election, 2014
| Attorney General of Iowa, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Tom Miller Incumbent |
56.1% | 616,711 | |
| Republican | Adam Gregg | 43.8% | 481,046 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 1,249 | |
| Total Votes | 1,099,006 | |||
| Election results via Iowa Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2010 for the office of Iowa attorney general, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010
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Term limits
The attorney general is not restricted by term limits.[4]
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, please email 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:
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State budget
- See also: Iowa state budget and finances
The attorney general's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 was $103,908,349.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of elected and appointed executives in Iowa are determined by the Iowa State Legislature.[8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[18]
2012
In 2012, the attorney general was paid an estimated $123,669. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2011
In 2011, the attorney general received a salary of $123,669.[19]
Historical officeholders
There have been 31 distinct Iowa Attorneys General since 1853, including 25 Republicans and six Democrats.[20]
| 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 General Tom Miller (D) appears twice in the above table because he has held the office during nine non-consecutive terms between 1979 - present.
Recent news
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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: [email protected]
See also
- Iowa state executive offices
- Iowa state executive officials
- Tom Miller
- Attorney General
- Iowa state executive offices
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 Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Iowa Legislature, "Iowa State Code, Title 2, Chapter 39 Section 9 State Officers-Term," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 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, "FY2024," accessed December 8, 2023
- ↑ The Iowa Legislature, "Iowa State Code," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 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
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