Spillville senator named as next Iowa Senate Majority Leader

DES MOINES — A Spillville man has been selected by Republicans to be the next Senate Majority Leader.

Jack Whitver had been Senate Majority Leader since 2018, but has been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor and announced last week he was going to step down from the leadership position and not seek re-election to his Senate seat in 2026.

Senate Republicans met on Wednesday to select a new leader, with Mike Klimesh being selected to succeed Whitver. Klimesh was the mayor of Spillville for 22 years and has been a state senator since 2011.

In a written statement released last night, the 56-year-old Klimesh said it was an honor and a responsibility to serve as the majority leader and he’ll work to implement the GOP agenda to cut taxes, expand the economy, improve Iowa schools and make it more affordable to live in Iowa.