| Office | Member of the Linn County Board of Supervisors from District 2 |
|---|---|
| Term start | April 1, 2025 |
| Predecessor | Ben Rogers |
| State house 1 | Iowa |
| District 1 | 78th |
| Term start 1 | January 9, 2023 |
| Term end 1 | April 1, 2025 |
| Predecessor 1 | Jarad Klein (redistricting) |
| Successor 1 | Angel Ramirez |
| Constituency 1 | District 78 - (2023–present) |
| Birth date | April 30, 1996 (age 30) |
| Birth place | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Giovana Scheetz[1] |
| Education | Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Union Organizer |
Sami Scheetz (born 1996) is an American politician and union organizer who represented the 78th district of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2023 to 2025, which consists of parts of southeastern Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is a member of the Democratic Party and is the first Arab American to serve in the Iowa General Assembly.[2][3]
Early life and education
Scheetz was born on April 30, 1996, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was raised. His mother, a teacher, immigrated to the United States from Damascus, Syria,[4] while his father is a lawyer.[5] He graduated from Washington High School and received a bachelor's degree in government and history from Georgetown University.[2] While attending college he worked for the United States Department of State in Dubai.[6]
Political career
Scheetz announced his candidacy for the 39th district of the Iowa Senate in June 2021. He withdrew weeks later upon Liz Bennett's entrance into the race and instead ran for the 78th district of the Iowa House of Representatives.[7] He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 7, 2022, and defeated Republican Anne Fairchild in the general election on November 8 by over 3,700 votes, becoming the first Arab American to serve in the Iowa Legislature.[8]
In 2024, Scheetz filed to run for reelection.[9] He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 4, 2024, and ran unopposed in the general election on November 5, 2024.[8]
Scheetz served on the Commerce, Labor, State Government, and Ways and Means committees.[10]
Scheetz has said that his priorities include education, healthcare, and workers' rights. He supports making community college free and legalizing marijuana. He does not support the use of eminent domain for the construction of CO2 pipelines. He is pro-choice.[3][11]
Scheetz previously worked with the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, Fred Hubbell's 2018 campaign for governor, and Michael Franken's 2022 campaign for US senator.[6][11]
Scheetz resigned from the Iowa House in April 2025 after being appointed to the Linn County Board of Supervisors.[12]
Personal life
Scheetz resides in Cedar Rapids with his wife and daughter.[1] He is a union organizer for Teamsters Local 238.[2]
References
- ^ "Sami Scheetz". Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "State Representative - All Years". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Rep. Sami Scheetz sworn in to Iowa House, first Arab American to serve in Iowa Legislature". KGAN. 10 January 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Iowa set to get its first-ever Arab American state representative". Arab News. 28 March 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ Barton, Tom. "Sami Scheetz is poised to make history". The Gazette. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ Howell, Michael (17 June 2021). "Sami Scheetz becomes second candidate to announce a bid for Senate District 33". KGAN. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ Lynch, James Q. "Liz Bennett enters primary race in C.R. Senate 33, Sami Scheetz pivots to seeking House seat". The Gazette. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Sami Scheetz". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "primarycandidatelist.pdf". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "State Representative". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Q&A with House 78 candidate Sami Scheetz". The Gazette. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Iowa Rep. Sami Scheetz resigns from House District 78 to serve as Linn County supervisor". The Des Moines Register. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.