Iowa's fifty-third state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Sharon Steckman.

Iowa state representatives represent an average of 30,464 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 29,293 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Iowa House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Iowa legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.

Qualifications

The Iowa Constitution states, "No person shall be a member of the house of representatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, be a citizen of the United States, and shall have been an inhabitant of this state one year next preceding his election, and at the time of his election shall have had an actual residence of sixty days in the county, or district he may have been chosen to represent."

Salaries

Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs in the house, the Governor must call for a special election within five days of the vacancy. If the vacancy happens in session, the Governor must call for an election as soon as possible with a minimum 18 day notice. All other special elections require a 45 day notice as long the election does not happen on the same day of a school election.

2016 pivot county

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Iowa House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline is March 13, 2020.

2018

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2016

Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.

Incumbent Sharon Steckman defeated Barbara Hovland in the Iowa House of Representatives District 53 general election.

Iowa House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Sharon Steckman ran unopposed in the Iowa House of Representatives District 53 Democratic primary.
Barbara Hovland ran unopposed in the Iowa House of Representatives District 53 Republican primary.

2014

Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Incumbent Sharon Steckman was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the Iowa House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 16, 2012. Incumbent Sharon Steckman (D) was unopposed in both the general election and Democratic primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Iowa House of Representatives District 53 raised a total of $297,758. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $22,904 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Iowa House of Representatives District 53