Iowa state Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, died Oct. 6, her daughter posted on social media. She was 59.
Celsi was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and reelected in 2022 and 2024. She represented Iowa Senate District 16, which includes parts of West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights.
“When I think of Sen. Celsi, I think of the word tenacious,” said state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. “Sen. Celsi was an absolute force to be reckoned with. She did not back down from a fight. She said what was on her mind and she fought for those who didn’t have a voice. Her commitment to public education especially was something that was really inspiring to me and to a lot of others.”
Celsi’s family announced Sept. 18 that she had entered hospice care.
Earlier this year, Celsi missed multiple months of votes in the Iowa Senate because of an undisclosed medical issue. She returned to the Senate following a surgery in April.
Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said in a statement Celsi will be “dearly missed” and extended prayers to Celsi’s family.
Weiner said she admired Celsi’s perseverance and determination in continuing to serve her constituents at the Capitol despite her health issues.
“I cannot begin to express how deeply saddened I am by the passing of our Senate colleague and my good friend Claire Celsi,” Weiner said. “In her private and public life, Sen. Celsi was a fearless advocate and truthteller for women, the elderly and public education. Improving the quality of life for Iowans in nursing homes became her signature issue.
“Claire was an advocate for the vulnerable and voice for the voiceless, representing thousands of Iowans who felt forgotten by the political process. She often told me it was both her honor and her passion to serve in the Iowa Senate.”
An advocate for public schools
Celsi was often an outspoken opponent of Republican policies, including protesting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signing in 2023 of a law allowing families to use taxpayer-funded education savings accounts to pay private school expenses.
Konfrst said Celsi “stood firm” during that fight and took time to speak to constituents about the law’s impact.
“She did not back down from conversations that were difficult and would go out there to reassure educators or parents who were concerned,” Konfrst said. “I remember that very clearly, seeing her in the rotunda talking to everyday Iowans. Instead of just staying on the floor and being angry about a vote she went out and talked to people about it.”
She served as the ranking member on the Government Oversight Committee, where she led Senate Democrats in calling for an investigation into abuse and neglect of Iowa nursing home residents. She also sat on the Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and Environment, State Government and Transportation committees, as well as the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.
Celsi owned a marketing and communication business. She graduated from Dowling Catholic High School and Drake University.
Konfrst, a professor of public relations and strategic political communication at Drake University, noted that Celsi was a member of the Drake National Advisory Council for the university’s journalism school and enjoyed giving back to her alma mater, including by speaking to Konfrst’s classes.
“If there was work that was being done in the community that she could help with, she was doing that,” she said. “So I could always count on her to come speak to my students. She loved young people.”
Celsi was a key organizer of the West Des Moines Democrats
Celsi was deeply involved with the West Des Moines Democrats and Konfrst credited her with getting the group restarted and ensuring “that it became a force.”
“She really focused West Des Moines Democrats, especially after 2016, to make sure that the group knew that electing local Democrats was really important and to help the group focus on state legislative races, school boards, city councils,” Konfrst said. “She kind of helped hone the purpose of the group in a way that really helped them be more successful and really helped lift the ticket really in 2018.”
Al Womble, a longtime friend of Celsi’s and now chair of the West Des Moines Democrats, called Celsi “a vital part” of organizing the West Des Moines Democrats into the group it is today.
“I think that’s going to be one of her lasting legacies is that we now have an organization that’s grown and is organized,” he said. “And Claire was one of the people who helped start all of that.”
Womble recalled meeting her for the first time at one of the group’s meetings where she immediately asked him to get involved.
After he attended a couple meetings, Celsi invited him out to lunch.
“I’m like man, I just met this person and she wants to know what I’m thinking about what’s going on,” he said. “That impressed me. A lot of other people, they want to wait until you show them some kind of value. I didn’t experience that with Claire.”
‘She just showed up,’ friends say of Celsi
When Womble organized rallies in response to the killing of George Floyd in 2020, Celsi showed up, he said, even though the events weren’t in her district.
“And she didn’t show up to speak,” he said. “She didn’t ask to take the stage or the microphone, she didn’t ask to be on camera, she just showed up for support. Not a lot of other politicians want to do that.”
Womble remembered Celsi would take time to speak with his mother, a longtime volunteer for West Des Moines Democrats, and sent flowers to her funeral in Davenport. She also frequently checked in with him about his health, he said, never complaining about her own.
Konfrst said when she and Celsi were first running for office together in 2016, Celsi “fired us up” when things were difficult.
“There would be days that we would get tired,” Konfrst said. “There would be days that it felt like we can’t knock another door. And she was always the person who would say, ‘We’ve got to do one more door. We’ve got to do one more thing.’ She could be tough and she could be blunt but she also really believed in the power of talking to voters.”
State law requires Gov. Kim Reynolds to order a special election to fill the Senate vacancy, which will be the sixth legislative special election this year.
Celsi is the third Iowa lawmaker to die in office this year. Rep. Martin Graber, R-Fort Madison, died of a heart attack in January and Sen. Rocky De Witt, R-Lawton, died of pancreatic cancer in June. Three other lawmakers resigned to take a different job.
Celsi is survived by two daughters, one granddaughter and one new grandson.
Konfrst recalled the joy Celsi felt about being a grandma.
“I’ve never seen Claire happier than when I saw her talking about her granddaughter and the joy that she felt by being a grandma and sharing her with us and sharing her stories and telling us stories about her,” she said. “It really lit her up in a way that I had never seen before.”
Iowa political leaders extend prayers to Celsi’s family
West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble interrupted Monday night’s City Council meeting with the news of Celsi’s death and called for a moment of silence. He thanked Celsi for her service and said she “really fought for what she believed in and didn’t back down.”
Trimble said he would always remember her for the “fun and interesting debates” he would get into with her in the community, like “one time, when we were addressing a seventh grade class, and we got into education funding.”
“She will be very sorely missed, but we will look back and remember Claire fondly,” Trimble said.
West Des Moines City Council member Renee Hardman said Celsi spent more than four hours teaching her how to door knock on a hot summer day when she first ran for office. Among Celsi’s advice, Hardman recalled: “You can’t spend 27 minutes at a house” talking about residents’ flowers and pets.
“She was a person of conviction and a person who spoke her mind,” Hardman said.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said she and her husband, Kevin, were saddened by the news.
“Claire was an impassioned voice for Central Iowa constituents and advocated on their behalf for several years in the State House. Even while privately battling illness, Claire made it a point to return to her post during this year’s legislative session and stand for her beliefs,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Our family is praying for Claire’s loved ones at this time.”
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said her thoughts are with Celsi’s family and friends.
“She was a fierce advocate for public education, protecting Iowa workers, cleaning up our water and improving Iowa’s mental health system,” Hart said in a statement. “Claire always went the extra mile to make sure Iowans’ voices were heard by the legislature. Her hard work, dedication to public service and compassion for others will be dearly missed.”
Iowa House Minority Leader Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, shared his sympathies with Celsi’s loved ones.
“Throughout her career she was a tireless public servant who worked tirelessly for the people of her district and the state of Iowa,” Meyer said in a statement. “As we mourn the loss of a dedicated leader, we also resolve to carry forward the causes she held dear.”
Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, said “this year has seen too much loss in the Iowa Senate” after the deaths of Celsi and De Witt.
“Sen. Claire Celsi was a dedicated public servant, a passionate advocate of her beliefs and worked hard to represent the constituents of her district,” Klimesh said in a statement.
Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, extended her prayers to Celsi’s friends and family.
“The passing of Sen. Celsi, while not unexpected, is no less heartbreaking,” Sinclair said in a statement. “I appreciate her willingness to serve our state and her dedication to her constituents.”
Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, wrote in a post on Facebook that he was “praying for her family during this difficult time.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in a post on X wrote: “She served our state with distinction as a passionate public servant for her constituents. Our prayers are with her family, friends and community during this difficult time.”
Des Moines Register reporters Marissa Payne and Phillip Sitter contributed to this article.
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 X at @sgrubermiller.
This story was updated to add more information.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi, remembered as ‘an absolute force,’ dies at 59
Reporting by Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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