Sen. Zach Wahls says he was ousted from Democratic leadership role for restructuring staff

Former Senate Democratic leader Zach Wahls says he was ousted by his colleagues because of his decision to fire two longtime staffers who have since been rehired.

"I am no longer Leader because I made the difficult decision to fire two longtime senate staffers who did not share my vision for change while restructuring our staff," Wahls said Monday in a Facebook post. "My Senate Democratic colleagues disagreed with my decision. There is always a resistance to change and new ideas, and I stand by the decision because Iowa Democrats desperately need a new direction and leaders who will chart that course."

Wahls, of Coralville, was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, and in 2020 his Senate Democratic colleagues chose him as Senate minority leader, the party's top-ranking position in the Senate.

Last Wednesday, Senate Democrats unanimously elected Sen. Pam Jochum as the Senate minority leader, ousting Wahls following a closed-door caucus meeting.

The vote by Senate Democrats came after Wahls ended the employment of longtime staffers Eric Bakker and Debbie Kattenhorn on June 2.

Bakker and Kattenhorn have been rehired in the Senate Democratic leader's office and had resumed work as of June 12, according to Jason Noble, communications director for the Senate Democrats. Both Bakker and Kattenhorn have the same title as they held before their termination: "assistant to the Democratic leader."

Meanwhile, an employee that Wahls had hired, Kaity Patchett, was fired. She started work on June 5, and her last day of work was June 8, one day after the leadership change, Wahls confirmed to the Des Moines Register.

Jochum, of Dubuque, is serving her fourth term in the Iowa Senate. She was first elected to the Iowa House in 1993, then served eight consecutive terms. Jochum was elected to the Senate in 2008, and became Senate president in 2013, when Democrats held the majority in the chamber.

Wahls said in his Facebook post that the Senate Democratic leadership job is "critically important," and he plans to continue serving his Senate constituents and help Jochum. He was reelected to the Senate in 2022 for a four-year term.

"Her success is vital to the well-being and betterment of our state, and I will continue working hard everyday to serve my constituents, help Leader Jochum and the Iowa Senate Democrats, and elect more Democrats in Iowa," he said.

Democrats hold just 16 out of 50 seats in the Iowa Senate, the party's smallest total since the 1970s.

Wahls, 31, has been seen as a rising star in the Iowa Democratic Party.

He was asked in a June 2 episode of "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS whether he had any interest in running for Congress.

"I'm really enjoying my work in the Senate, and I'm going to stay focused there," Wahls said on the show, which was filmed before his ouster from leadership.

Former Senate Democratic leader loses lobbying client over his involvement in shakeup

The fallout over the abrupt Senate Democratic leadership change has gone beyond the party's legislative staff.

Former Senate Democratic leader Mike Gronstal, who led the party when Democrats held a majority in the Iowa Senate, has lost his sole client as a lobbyist due to his involvement in the shakeup.

Until last week, Gronstal was a lobbyist for the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, which is made up of building trades unions around the state.

The group said in a statement that it "made the decision last week to end the Council's relationship with former Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal over concerns related to his involvement in recent internal Senate Democratic caucus matters."

"On Thursday, June 8th, Council leadership asked for and accepted Mr. Gronstal's resignation as the building trades' lobbyist," the group said in the statement. "The Council appreciates the work he did advocating on behalf of the building trades in the state legislature and wishes him the best in his future endeavors."

The statement was not specific about what involvement Gronstal had in the leadership change.

Gronstal did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Senate Democrats rehire employees at center of leadership shakeup