Senator Sandy Salmon

Sandy Salmon is a Republican State Senator representing Iowa Senate District 29, which covers Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, and most of Floyd counties. She has lived in northeast Iowa for over 30 years with her husband Matt on an acreage near Janesville.

Born in Oklahoma at Fort Sill Army base, Salmon grew up on her family's farm near Kingsley, Iowa, where her parents raised corn, soybeans, and hogs. She and her husband have three sons, all married with families and careers—one is an attorney in private practice, one is a pilot for UPS, and one is the lead pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Cedar Falls. The couple has 13 grandchildren. Currently, Salmon partners with her sister and a tenant farmer to manage the family farm in northwest Iowa.

Education

Salmon graduated from Kingsley-Pierson High School in 1973 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Northern Iowa in 1977.

Political Experience

Military Service: Upon college graduation, Salmon was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 1977 to 1980. She met her husband during her military service.

Legislative Career: Before her election to the state senate, Salmon served as a Legislative Clerk in the Iowa State Senate during the 2011 session. She was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives representing District 63 in 2012 and served through 2022, completing five terms.

In 2022, she was elected to the Iowa State Senate for District 29, where she currently serves. Her committee assignments include Vice Chair of Veterans Affairs, and membership on the Appropriations, Education, Health and Human Services, and State Government committees.

Community Involvement: Salmon was a home educator for 18 years, homeschooling all three of her sons through high school and helping run an area homeschool cooperative. She also served as a 4-H leader for 14 years in Black Hawk County. She is active in numerous organizations including the Black Hawk County Farm Bureau, Marine Corps League, and Cornerstone Fellowship Church.