Charles Grassley

Charles Grassley is a Republican politician who has served as a U.S. Senator from Iowa since 1981. Born in New Hartford, Iowa, he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Northern Iowa before pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Iowa. His political career began in the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served from 1959 to 1974, followed by three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives starting in 1975. As one of the longest-serving members in the history of the U.S. Congress, Grassley has held significant leadership roles, including Chairman of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees. He served as the President pro tempore of the Senate from 2019 to 2021 and returned to the role in 2025. Grassley is known for his dedication to constituent service, famously visiting each of Iowa's 99 counties every year, and for his work on government oversight and the False Claims Act.

Grassley's policy positions generally align with the Republican Party platform, emphasizing fiscal conservatism and government accountability. On the economy, he has been a consistent advocate for tax reductions, including playing a key role in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and supports a balanced budget amendment to curb federal spending. Regarding healthcare, he has sought to repeal the Affordable Care Act while focusing on bipartisan efforts to increase transparency in prescription drug pricing and expand telehealth services. On immigration, Grassley prioritizes border security and strict enforcement, often opposing broad paths to citizenship without comprehensive security measures. In the realm of energy, he is a prominent supporter of renewable sources vital to Iowa, such as wind power and ethanol, though he remains skeptical of far-reaching federal environmental regulations. As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, he has been instrumental in the confirmation of numerous conservative judges, advocating for a philosophy of judicial originalism.