Politicians from Des Moines

Thomas Richard Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as a United States senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously was the U.S. representative for Iowa's 5th congressional district from 1975 to 1985. He is the longest-serving senator to spend the entire tenure as a state's junior senator.
Born in Cumming, Iowa, Harkin graduated from Iowa State University and The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. He served in the United States Navy as an active-duty jet pilot (1962–1967). After serving as a congressional aide for several years, he made two runs for the U.S. House of Representatives, losing in 1972 but winning in 1974. He went on to serve five terms in the House.
Harkin won a race for U.S. Senate in 1984 by a wide margin. He was an early frontrunner for his party's presidential nomination in 1992, but he dropped out in support of eventual winner Bill Clinton. He served five Senate terms and at the end of his time in the Senate served as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. He authored the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and was its chief sponsor in the Senate. Harkin delivered part of his introduction speech in sign language, saying it was so his deaf brother could understand.On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek reelection in 2014.

Thomas A. Renda (born September 19, 1937) was an American politician in the state of Iowa.
Renda was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Drake University and Loras College and is a lawyer and judge. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1965 to 1971 as a Democrat.

Larry L. Perkins (born January 8, 1937) was an American politician in the state of Iowa.
Perkins was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended the Drake University and was a decorator. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1969 to 1971 as a Republican.

Joseph Clemens Howard Sr. (December 9, 1922 – September 16, 2000) was the first African American to win an election as judge for the Baltimore City Supreme Bench and was later appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, becoming the first African American to serve on that bench as well.

John H. Connors (December 2, 1922 – March 7, 2009) was an American politician in the state of Iowa. Connors was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended high school there, and then the Harvard University Trade Union Program. He served in World War II with the United States Navy Reserve. He was a firefighter in the Des Moines Fire Department. In 1945 he married Marjorie Leonard. He has four children. Connors served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973 to 2005 as a Democrat. He served the 64th district from 1973 to 1981, and the 68th district from 1981 to 2005. He died in Des Moines in 2009, at the age of 86.

Lawrence F. Scalise (April 25, 1933 – June 12, 2015) was an American politician and attorney in the state of Iowa. He served as Attorney General of Iowa from 1965 to 1966, as a Democrat. He attended the University of Iowa. He died in 2015.

Dick Leslie Dearden (June 3, 1938 – November 2, 2019) was an American politician who was the Iowa State Senator from the 34th District. A Democrat, he served in the Iowa Senate from 1995 to 2017 representing the Northeast part of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

William R. Schulz (born April 4, 1931) is an American businessman who was an Independent candidate for Governor of Arizona in the 1986 gubernatorial election, and was the Democratic nominee against Barry Goldwater in the 1980 U.S. Senate election.

Julian B. Garrett (born November 7, 1940) is an American lawyer and politician and is currently the Senator from the 11th district in the Iowa Senate.

Dan L. Johnston (April 6, 1938 – October 21, 2016) was an American lawyer and politician. He was from Des Moines, Iowa. A member of the Iowa Democratic Party, he served in the Iowa House of Representatives and as the Polk County attorney.