Senator Mike Gronstal represents District 50, which includes Council Bluffs and Carter Lake in western Iowa. 

Senator Gronstal was elected Senate Majority Leader by his fellow Democratic Senators after spearheading their efforts to capture 30 seats in the Iowa Senate in 2006.  In addition to serving as Majority Leader, Gronstal serves as  chair of the Rules & Administration Committee.

Gronstal has been in the Senate since 1985 and was a member of the House for one term prior to that.  He is a graduate of Council Bluffs' St. Albert High School and Antioch College in Ohio.  He also attended Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.  He is 58 years old.

Senator Gronstal has worked extensively to make Iowa the nation's leader in renewable fuels.  Under his leadership, Iowa passed the nation’s strongest ethanol legislation in 2006.  In addition, he is working to bring more biotechnology jobs and businesses to Iowa.   

Senator Gronstal has been a leader in restoring funding to Iowa’s community colleges and school districts.  Moving Iowa to 25^th in the nation in teacher pay and making community college affordable for all Iowa families will continue as priorities.  Additionally, Gronstal has been recognized by his colleagues for his dedicated work and knowledge of complex issues in the insurance and utilities business.

Senator Gronstal and his wife, Connie, have two daughters: Kate, who is a civil engineer at HNTB Corporation in Council Bluffs; and Sara, who is Director of Forensics for the Department of Communication Studies at Eastern Illinois University.