Charley Thomson - Iowa House Representative

Charley Thomson is a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives representing District 58. Born in 1960 in Charles City, Iowa, Thomson is a lawyer and businessman with over 35 years of experience in the private sector. He has lived in Charles City and Chicago throughout his career.

Before entering electoral politics, Thomson was active in his community as a real estate developer. He served as the lead developer of the McQuillen Place apartments in Charles City. Thomson identifies as a political outsider, having held no elected office prior to his entry into politics.

Thomson is a parishioner at St. Philomena Chapel, a Roman Catholic parish in Bremer, Iowa, and maintains membership in the Union League Club of Chicago.

Education

Thomson graduated from Charles City Community High School in 1978. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the College of Literature, Arts and Sciences at the University of Michigan in 1983, and received his Juris Doctor with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1987.

Political Experience

Thomson first ran for elected office in 2020, when he competed in the Republican Party primary for Iowa House District 52 but was unsuccessful, losing to Craig Clark. In 2022, he ran for District 58 and finished ahead of two other candidates in the primary election. He then defeated Democratic candidate Dene Lundberg in the general election.

Thomson assumed office on January 9, 2023, succeeding Steve Bradley. He is currently serving his first term in the Iowa House. In the 2024 general election, Thomson was reelected, defeating challenger Gail Allison. He serves on the House Committee on State Government Efficiency Review.