Local lawmaker elected new Iowa Speaker

History was made Thursday when Iowa House members chose Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer to serve as its next speaker, becoming the first woman to hold the top leadership role in the Iowa House.

Upmeyer was elected to the position Thursday.

“I’ve never felt like there was a glass ceiling I needed to break”, said Upmeyer.

Upmeyer, 63, a cardiology nurse practitioner in her sixth House term, outpolled Rep. Josh Byrnes, R-Osage, to take the reins as the House’s presiding officer and most-powerful leader effective for the 2016 legislative session. In the interim, she will focus on shaping the policy agenda for House Republicans going into next session.

“The priorities of the caucus haven’t changed”, Upmeyer said.

The opening was prompted when Speaker Kraig Paulson announced earlier this month he will step down from his position, but continue to serve the remainder of his legislative term.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad congratulated Upmeyer, saying in a news release that he looked forward to working with her.

Rep. Chris Hagenow, 43, of Windsor Heights, now the House majority whip, was selected by his fellow House Republicans to serve as majority leader to run the day-to-day operation of the House and schedule what bills will see floor debate.

Lawmakers did not approve funding for the 2016-2017 school year in the spring session, as required by law, and Democrats sought more funding for the upcoming year than Republicans.