Latham Announces she will not Seek Another Term in Iowa House

SHEFFIELD — Iowa State Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield, announced Monday that she will not seek reelection to the Iowa House of Representatives when her current term ends.

Latham has represented House District 55 since 2021 after first being elected in 2020. She said the decision comes after recently accepting a new role as executive director of the Iowa FFA Foundation.

“It had been a dream of mine to serve in the Iowa Legislature ever since I traveled to Washington, D.C., in high school,” Latham said in a statement. “Being your voice in the Iowa House has been an absolute honor. I’m grateful to the voters who allowed me to represent them and to everyone who shared their ideas and concerns with me for the last six years. After recently accepting the position of executive director for the Iowa FFA Foundation – a position that requires my full attention – I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection.”

During her time in the legislature, Latham held several leadership roles. She previously served as chair of the Local Government Committee and currently leads the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. She has also served as vice chair of the Appropriations Committee.

In addition, Latham serves on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Commerce, and Economic Growth and Technology committees.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, thanked Latham for her service to the state and her district.

“Representative Latham has served her constituents well,” Grassley said. “Her dedication to the state of Iowa shows in all that she does, from advocating for Iowa agriculture and economic development to thoughtfully considering each piece of legislation that comes before her and its impact on our state.”

Latham will continue serving House District 55 through the remainder of her current term, which ends in January 2027.

House District 55 includes Franklin and Hamilton counties, along with portions of Story and Wright counties.

Latham lives in Sheffield with her husband, John. The couple has two adult children.