Paul McKinley
Encyclopedia
Paul McKinley is the Iowa State Senator from the 36th District. He has served in the Iowa Senate
since 2001 and has served as Senate minority leader
since 2009.
McKinley currently serves on the Education committee, the Local Government committee, and the Veterans Affairs committee. He also serves as the ranking member
on the Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee.
and raised on the family farm outside of Russell
. He was involved in 4-H
and scouting
. He showed the grand champion steer at the Lucas County Fair where he was a repeat championship winner and took his prize-winning Hereford
to the Iowa State Fair
. He was active in scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout
during his teen years.
In high school McKinley was active in student government and also devoted time to football, track, baseball. Upon graduating from Russell High School, he attended the University of Iowa
, where he graduated in 1971. In that year, he returned to nearby Wayne County
and became the director of Governor Bob Ray
’s Model County Program.
McKinley became the majority owner of Neely Manufacturing in 1980. After receiving an unsolicited offer from a larger competitor, McKinley sold the business in 1991.
, who was elected to be the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
before assuming her current role as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
. McKinley defeated Jones by over 1500 votes and was re-elected in 2004 with 17,029 votes (60%), defeating Democratic
opponent Dave Sextro. He was again re-elected in 2008 with over 63% of the vote. The Senate Republican Caucus elected him as minority leader in November 2008.
On July 7, 2009, McKinley announced he would explore running for the Republican nomination for the Governor of Iowa
. He withdrew after Terry Branstad formed an exploratory committee
for the position.
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
since 2001 and has served as Senate minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
since 2009.
McKinley currently serves on the Education committee, the Local Government committee, and the Veterans Affairs committee. He also serves as the ranking member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
on the Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee.
Early life, education and career
Paul McKinley was born in Chariton, Iowa in Lucas CountyLucas County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,898 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,238 housing units, of which 3,689 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and raised on the family farm outside of Russell
Russell, Iowa
Russell is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 554 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 559 population in the 2000 census...
. He was involved in 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
. He showed the grand champion steer at the Lucas County Fair where he was a repeat championship winner and took his prize-winning Hereford
Hereford (cattle)
Hereford cattle are a beef cattle breed, widely used both in intemperate areas and temperate areas, mainly for meat production.Originally from Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom, more than five million pedigree Hereford Cattle now exist in over 50 countries...
to the Iowa State Fair
Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa.The 2011 Iowa State Fair was held August 11–21 and marked 100 years of the butter cow sculpture.-History:...
. He was active in scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
during his teen years.
In high school McKinley was active in student government and also devoted time to football, track, baseball. Upon graduating from Russell High School, he attended the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, where he graduated in 1971. In that year, he returned to nearby Wayne County
Wayne County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,403 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,212 housing units, of which 2,652 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and became the director of Governor Bob Ray
Robert D. Ray
Robert Dolph Ray served as the 38th Governor of Iowa from January 16, 1969 to January 14, 1983. He served in the United States Army. He received his B.A. in Business from Drake University in 1952 and his Law Degree in 1954...
’s Model County Program.
McKinley became the majority owner of Neely Manufacturing in 1980. After receiving an unsolicited offer from a larger competitor, McKinley sold the business in 1991.
Campaign history
In 1999, McKinley challenged State Senator John Judge, who less than two years earlier had won the seat in a special election. Previously, the seat had been held by Judge's wife, Patty JudgePatty Judge
Patty Jean Judge was the 46th Lieutenant Governor and previously, the Secretary of Agriculture for the U.S. State of Iowa. She was elected to the office in 2006 with Chet Culver as Governor, and unsuccessfully ran for re-election in 2010.-Early life, education and career:Secretary Judge graduated...
, who was elected to be the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture is an elected position in the United States state of Iowa. The current secretary is Republican Bill Northey.The Secretary of Agriculture heads the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which is responsible for managing land and helping farmers in the...
before assuming her current role as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
This is a List of Lieutenant Governors of the U.S. state of Iowa, 1858 to present. In Iowa, the Lieutenant Governor and the governor run together on the same ticket. Before the 1998 Election, the law was changed from the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor running separately....
. McKinley defeated Jones by over 1500 votes and was re-elected in 2004 with 17,029 votes (60%), defeating Democratic
Iowa Democratic Party
The Iowa Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa.-Current elected officials:Iowa Democrats are in control of the Iowa Senate, one of the state's United States Senate seats, and three out of the state's five United States House of Representatives seats. ...
opponent Dave Sextro. He was again re-elected in 2008 with over 63% of the vote. The Senate Republican Caucus elected him as minority leader in November 2008.
On July 7, 2009, McKinley announced he would explore running for the Republican nomination for the Governor of Iowa
Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010
The Iowa gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, who will serve a four-year term to begin on January 14, 2011...
. He withdrew after Terry Branstad formed an exploratory committee
Exploratory Committee
In the election politics of the United States, an exploratory committee is an organization established to help determine whether a potential candidate should run for an elected office. They are most often cited in reference to United States Presidential hopefuls, prior to the primaries.Exploratory...
for the position.
External links
- Senator Paul McKinley official Iowa Legislature site
- Senator Paul McKinley official Iowa General Assembly site
- Senator Paul McKinley at Iowa Senate Republican Caucus
- Paul McKinley, Senate Republican Leader official campaign site