Chris Hagenow

Biography

Hagenow grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from Price Laboratory School and Magna Cum Laude from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in 1994. Hagenow earned a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1997 and became a member of the Iowa State Bar Association. He is a founding partner of the Des Moines law firm Whitaker, Hagenow & Gustoff, LLP. In 2008 he was first elected to the state house. He sits on the steering committee for the Iowa Federalist Society, serves on the Iowa Prayer Breakfast Committee and is a member of the Windsor Heights Lions Club.

Hagenow and his wife Amanda were married in 2005 and have three children, Owen, Noah and Sophia. They live in Windsor Heights, Iowa and attend Westkirk Presbyterian Church in Urbandale.

Voting Accessibility

During the 2017 legislative session, Hagenow voted to shorten both the amount of time one may cast an absentee ballot and the number of days one can vote at satellite polling sites, and he voted to require all voters to present a state-issued ID. Though he voted for the measure, the bill was opposed by the Iowa State Association of Counties, an advocacy group for Iowa's disabled, and Iowa's Department on Aging opposed the bill.

Convention of States

On March 4, 2015, Hagenow called for a convention of states to propose a constitutional amendment “to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government and limit the federal government’s power and jurisdiction.” Hagenow filed HJR 8, Iowa’s legal application to Congress for a convention of states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The purpose of the convention is to allow the states some power in the creation of the federal budget by proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Hagenow believes that because state governments are "more efficient, more responsible and more transparent" compared to the federal government, the states should propose the amendment.

Veteran Affairs

In the 2017 legislative session, Hagenow voted to cut $638,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Iowa Veterans Home.

Electoral history

Hagenow was first elected to the Iowa House in 2008 and as of 2017 has been serving his fourth term, representing House District 43. Following the 2012 election, Hagenow was elected House Majority Whip for the 85th General Assembly. He previously served as the Chairman as the House Government Oversight Committee. Hagenow is a member of the Ways and Means, Judiciary, State Government and Administration and Rules committees. Following the 2015 legislative session and Speaker Kraig Paulsen's resignation as Speaker of the House, Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer was elected to replace Paulsen with Hagenow being elected as Majority Leader starting in the 2016 legislative session.

2008

Hagenow ran for Iowa House of Representatives in the 2008 elections for District 59. In the Republican primary election, he defeated Susan Murphy.

In the general election he defeated Democratic candidate, and Mayor of Windsor Heights, Jerry Sullivan.

2010

Hagenow ran for Iowa House of Representatives in the 2010 elections representing District 59. He defeated Democratic candidate Andrew McDowell.

2012

Hagenow ran in the 2012 elections for Iowa House of Representatives representing District 43, due to redistricting. He defeated Democratic candidate Susan Judkins.

Initial reports on November 6, 2012 showed Hagenow ahead by 22 votes. On November 15, Judkins formally requested a recount, but she later halted the recount saying "Questions about whether all absentee ballots were counted have been satisfactorily answered and I believe my narrow loss would likely stand even if all ballots were considered."

2014

Hagenow ran for re-election in the 2014 elections for Iowa House of Representatives representing District 43. Hagenow defeated Democratic challenger Kim Robinson.

2016

Hagenow ran for re-election in the 2016 elections for Iowa House of Representatives representing District 43. Hagenow defeated Democratic challenger Jennifer Konfrst.