Claire Celsi
Claire Celsi | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – October 6, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Matt McCoy |
| Constituency |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1966 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 2025 (aged 59) Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jim Walczyk (m. 2009) |
| Residence(s) | West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Drake University |
| Website | claire4iowa |
Claire A. Celsi (August 17, 1966 – October 6, 2025) was an American politician who was a member of the Iowa Senate, representing Senate District 16 in Central Iowa. A member of the Democratic Party, Celsi served as senator from 2019 until her death in 2025. She was previously a public relations executive.
Life and career
[edit]Born on August 17, 1966, in Des Moines, Iowa,[1] Celsi graduated in 1984 from Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.[2] In 2001, she received her B.A. in sociology, cum laude, from Drake University.[2] Celsi was appointed to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission on May 10, 2010, and served for five years, including one year as chair.[2][3] Celsi previously served on the Iowa Great Places Advisory Board in the Cultural Affairs Department.[2][4][when?]
Celsi was a small business owner,[5] community volunteer and member of several community groups, boards and commissions, including the FADSS Council,[6][7] the Drake University Journalism and Mass Communications National Board of Directors.[8] Celsi was also a member of the Historic Valley Junction Foundation Board of Directors.[9]
In 2002, Celsi left the Des Moines Public Library to work for Flynn Wright as a public relations executive.[10] In 2004, she joined as a public relations executive at a firm called Strategic America.[11] She owned a marketing and public relations firm, The Public Relations Project, incorporated in 2009.[12]
Celsi married James Allen "Jim" Walczyk in May 2009 in Des Moines.[13][14]
In September 2025, Celsi's family reported that she would begin hospice care.[15] She died on October 6, 2025, at the age of 59, from complications of an undisclosed illness.[16]
Iowa Senate Elections
[edit]Celsi defeated Democrat Connie Ryan in the June 5, 2018, primary[17][18] and went on to defeat Republican Brian Bales in the November 5, 2018, General Election.[19][20] Celsi's campaign positions included opposing state funding for homeschooling, state tracking and monitoring of homeschooled students, increasing state spending on public primary schools by four percent per year, and opposing Medicaid privatization.[21]
Senator Celsi ran for reelection in Senate district 16,[22] after the 2021 redistricting process redrew the district. Senator Sarah Trone Garriott was also drawn into the new district 16, but moved to neighboring Dallas County to run in the new Senate district 14.[23]
Celsi's opponent in the 2022 general election was Bradley D. Price of West Des Moines. Price won the Senate District 16 Republican primary by 25 votes. The vote totals were 1576 for Price to 1551 for Shad Clayton.[24]
Senator Celsi won the 2022 general election, 58% to 42% percent, beating Republican candidate Bradley D. Price of West Des Moines, according to unofficial results.[25]
References
[edit]- ^ Rushing, Ty. "Sen. Claire Celsi remembered for her passion and outspokenness". iowastartingline.com. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Claire A. Celsi" (PDF). Iowa Official Register. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ^ "Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission Annual Report" (PDF).
- ^ "2008 Cultural Affairs Performance Report" (PDF).
- ^ "Iowa Secretary of State Business Entities".
- ^ "Iowa FADSS" (PDF).
- ^ "Early Childhood Iowa Board".
- ^ "Drake University National Journalism and Mass Communications Advisory Board".
- ^ "Historic Valley Junction Board of Directors".
- ^ "Job Changes". The Des Moines Register. September 2, 2002. p. 30. Retrieved September 19, 2005.
- ^ "Business". The Des Moines Register. June 7, 2004. p. 22. Retrieved September 19, 2005.
- ^ "Five in Five with Claire Celsi from Public Relations Princess". December 2, 2009.
- ^ "Marriages". The Des Moines Register. May 30, 2009. p. 20. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ^ "House District 42: Claire Celsi". The Des Moines Register. October 15, 2016. p. A6. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (September 18, 2025). "Democratic Iowa state Sen. Claire Celsi is receiving hospice care, her family says". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (October 6, 2025). "'An absolute force': Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, dies at 59". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ "Primary narrows field for Iowa Legislature; LGBTQ activist and patriotic rock painter win".
- ^ "June 5 2018 Primary Election Results".
- ^ "Claire Celsi will replace Matt McCoy in Iowa Senate". The Des Moines Register.
- ^ "November 6 2018 General Election Results Polk County, Iowa".
- ^ Des Moines Register staff (October 25, 2018). "Iowa election 2018: Bales and Celsi face off in Senate District 21 race". Des Moines Register. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Senate district 16 map" (PDF).
- ^ "Celsi running in new Senate district 16". The Des Moines Register.
- ^ "Senate District 16 Republican official primary results".
- ^ "Des Moines Register Unofficial Primary Results". The Des Moines Register.