Dawn Pettengill

Dawn E. Pettengill (born July 2, 1955) has been a member of the Iowa House of Representatives since 2005, where she represents the 75th District (numbered as the 39th District until January 2013). On April 30, 2007, she switched to the Republican Party, having previously served in the House as a Democrat. In a letter to her constituents, Pettengill said she decided to switch parties due to disagreements with fiscal and labor policy, as well as the state Democratic Party's decision to take her off the incumbent protection list for the 2008 elections.
As of October 2011, Pettengill serves on several committees in the Iowa House – the Commerce, Government Oversight, Government Oversight (Joint), State Government, and Ways and Means committees. She also serves as the vice chair of the Administrative Rules Review Committee and as co-chair of the Public Retirement Systems Committee and as a member of the Investment Board of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System.

Pettengill was first elected in 2004, defeating incumbent Republican Dell Hanson. She subsequently won re-election in 2006, defeating Republican opponent Connie Jacobsen. She switched parties in 2008, and proceeded to defeat Democratic opponent Terry Hertle. Pettengill was unopposed in 2010, and defeated Democrat Sandra Cronbaugh in 2012 and Steve Beck in 2014.

*incumbent