Senator Dick Dearden is serving his second term in the Iowa Senate. He represents Senate District 34, which includes the east part of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.

Senator Dearden is chair of the Labor & Business Relations Committee. He also serves on the Ethics, Transportation, Rules & Administration, and Natural Resources & Environment committees.

Senator Dearden is a member of AMVETS, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees retirees, Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. He is a six-year veteran of the National Guard and former chairman of the Polk County Democratic Party.

Dearden is a retired job developer for the Fifth Judicial District. He graduated from Des Moines East High School.

Senator Dearden and his wife, Sharon, are Des Moines natives and have been married for more than 40 years. They have two sons, David and Mark, one daughter, Pamela, and six grandchildren.