Andrea "Andy" McGuire (born November 26, 1956) is an American politician and doctor. She served as Iowa Democratic Party chair from 2015 to 2017.[1][2][3] Prior to becoming the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, McGuire ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s lieutenant governor.[2][4]

Andy McGuire
Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party
In office
January 17, 2015 – January 21, 2017
Preceded byScott Brennan
Succeeded byDerek Eadon
Personal details
Born (1956-11-26) November 26, 1956 (age 67)
Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDan McGuire
Children7
EducationCreighton University (BS, MD)
Kennesaw State University (MBA)

She was a candidate in the Democratic Party primary for Governor of Iowa in the 2018 election.[5]

Early life

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McGuire was born in Waterloo, Iowa.[6] She was the fifth of six children. She graduated with honors from West High in 1975.

In 1978, McGuire graduated with honors from Creighton University with a degree in Chemistry. Then earned a Doctor of Medicine from the Creighton University School of Medicine, one of 11 women in her graduating class.[7]

After graduation, McGuire relocated to St. Louis for her medical internship and residency. She did a rotation at St John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis for a year and then worked at a walk-in clinic for a year to pay off her student loans. She then entered a Nuclear Medicine residency for the next three years at the Veteran’s Administration and St. Louis University Medical Center.

In 1999, McGuire pursued an MBA from Kennesaw State University.[7] She graduated in 2001 with a Master of Business Administration.

Career

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Medicine

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In 1987, McGuire followed her husband, currently an orthopedic spine surgeon, to his fellowship in Springfield, Illinois. There, she worked part-time with a radiology group.

After several years working in nuclear medicine and publishing in her field, McGuire and her husband moved back to Iowa to raise their children. In short time, McGuire found work at the Des Moines Veterans Administration before becoming Medical Director at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

McGuire left Wellmark to become Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical and Network Management/Risk Selection at American Republic Insurance Company (which later became American Enterprise Group).[7]

In 2012, McGuire was asked to be the President of Meridian of Iowa, a Medicaid-managed care company.[8] Under McGuire’s leadership, Meridian doubled immunizations rates and prenatal care.[9] After three years of leading Meridian, McGuire left the company to become chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.[9]

Politics

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On January 17, 2015, Mcguire was elected by the Iowa Democratic Party's State Central Committee as chair of the party on the third round of balloting.[10] During her term as chair, McGuire raised more than $2 million for the party, traveled to all of Iowa’s 99 counties, and formed the Caucus Committee to recommend changes and improvements to the Iowa caucuses.[11]

McGuire's First Vice Chair, Danny Homan, resigned his seat over her failure to reunite the party's Bernie Sanders-aligned and Hillary Clinton-aligned factions after a statistically tied and contended 2016 caucus.[12][13]

In April 2017 McGuire announced her candidacy for Governor of Iowa.[6] Her announced endorsements include former U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell, former lowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, former Senate leader Michael Gronstal, and former U.S. Attorney Roxanne Conlin.[14]

Personal life

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While attending Creighton University, McGuire met fellow student Dan McGuire, and they later married. They have seven children and one grandchild.[14]

References

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  1. ^ desmoinesdem (January 17, 2015). "Three pros and three cons of Andy McGuire as Iowa Democratic Party chair (updated)". bleedingheartland.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016. Earlier today the Iowa Democratic Party's State Central Committee selected Dr. Andy McGuire to lead the party for the next two years.
  2. ^ a b Bowen, Jenifer (April 14, 2015). "Some Fun Facts About the New Iowa Democratic Party Chair". caffeinatedthoughts.com. Caffeinated Thoughts. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  3. ^ Boshart, Rod (Jan 17, 2015). "Iowa Democrats elect chairwoman". Sioux City Journal. Des Moines Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  4. ^ "Party Leadership & Staff". iowademocrats.org. Iowa Democratic Party. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  5. ^ Former Iowa Democratic Chair Announces Campaign for Governor, 10 April 2017
  6. ^ a b Henderson, O. Kay (April 10, 2017). "Former party chair Andy McGuire launches campaign for governor". radioiowa.com. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Andrea McGuire". uiowa.edu. University of Iowa. 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  8. ^ Gardyasz, Joe (April 13, 2012). "LAUNCH: Meridian Health Plan of Iowa". Business Record. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "McGuire Steps Down as President of Meridian Health Plan" (Press release). Meridian Health Plan. March 3, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Three pros and three cons of Andy McGuire as Iowa Democratic Party chair". Jan 17, 2015. Retrieved Sep 21, 2017.
  11. ^ Borg, Dean (June 24, 2016). "Iowa Party Chairs". Iowa Press. Episode 4340. 29 minutes in. Iowa Public Television. ip_20160624_4340.rtf. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "Top Iowa Democrat Airs Grievances Over Outging Chairwoman". Jan 26, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  13. ^ "'Something smells:' Des Moines Register calls for audit of Iowa Dem caucus". Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Noble, Jason (April 10, 2017). "Andy McGuire is running for Iowa governor". The Des Moines Register. USA Today Network. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Scott Brennan
Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party
2015–2016
Succeeded by
Derek Eadon