Aime Wichtendahl, of Hiawatha, Iowa, speaks during an Iowa House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Originally published on Jan. 12

When the Iowa legislature reconvenes in Des Moines on January 13, fifteen state House members and six state senators will be sworn in for the first time. But one of them is marking more than a personal milestone.

Aime Wichtendahl will make history as Iowa’s first transgender state lawmaker. She starts her new job as a Democrat outnumbered by the largest GOP majority in the Iowa House since 1970. Not only that: House Republicans have recently approved or considered numerous bills that would discriminate against LGBTQ people broadly and transgender Iowans in particular. Wichtendahl has spoken against those bills in subcommittee meetings and at rallies.

Iowa’s first trans legislator spoke to Bleeding Heartland in November and December about her campaign, takeaways from the 2024 elections, and plans for legislative work.

Read more at Bleeding Heartland