# Henry Rayhons

Henry V. Rayhons (born May 8, 1936) was the Iowa State Representative from the 8th District. A Republican, he served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1997 through 2015, representing the 16th District from 1997 to 2003 and the 11th District from 2003 to 2013. In 2014, Rayhons announced he would not seek reelection to another term.

## Biography

Rayhons was born in Garner, Iowa. His father, Henry, Sr. was a farmer and his mother, Agnes, was a homemaker. He grew up in a large family with four brothers and four sisters. Rayhons attended a one-room country school for eight years and graduated from Garner High School in 1954. He did not attend college. Rayhons was first elected in 1996.
Rayhons is a member of the Lion's Club, Iowa Dairy Association, Farm Bureau, Iowa Beef Producers, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, and the Iowa Taxpayers Association. Prior to his service in the legislature, Rayhons was President of the Hancock County Farm Bureau. Additionally, he was a board member of the Iowa Farm Bureau, 1986–1996, and a Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioner.
On December 15, 2007, Rayhons married Donna Young, blending their families after the death of Henry's first wife, Marvalyn. Rayhons has four children, two sons and two daughters; Donna had three daughters. Donna died of Alzheimer's disease on August 8, 2014. In the same month, Rayhons was charged with felony sexual abuse in relation to a May 2014 incident where he allegedly had sexual contact with his wife at her nursing home; prior to the incident, Donna's daughters had met with nursing home staff, who in turn advised Mr. Rayhons that his wife no longer had the mental capacity to consent to sex. He was found not guilty at his trial in April 2015.

## Electoral history

*incumbent
16th District contests
Election
Political result
Candidate
Party
Votes
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 1996 District 16 Turnout: 2,285Republican Henry RayhonsRepublican1,32557.99%Marvin G. Gudmonson Republican60326.39%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 1996 District 16 Turnout: 11,713Republican hold Henry RayhonsRepublican6,37554.43%Gloria Goll Democratic5,32045.42%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 1998 District 16Republican Henry Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 1998 District 16 Turnout: 9,157Republican hold Henry Rayhons*Republican5,73662.64%Les Granger Democratic3,41837.33%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2000 District 16Republican Henry Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2000 District 16Republican hold Henry Rayhons*Republicanunopposed :
11th District contests
Election
Political result
Candidate
Party
Votes
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2002 District 11Republican Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2002 District 11Republican (newly redistricted) Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2004 District 11Republican Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2004 District 11Republican hold Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006 District 11Republican Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006 District 11 Turnout: 10,768Republican hold Henry V. Rayhons*Republican5,93355.10%Ann Fairchild Democratic4,38840.75%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2008 District 11Republican Henry V. Rayhons*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008 District 11 Turnout: 15,210Republican hold Henry V. Rayhons*Republican8,37955.09%Ann Marie Fairchild Democratic6,24641.07%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010 District 11 Turnout: 2,963Republican Henry Vincent Rayhons*Republican2,03068.51%Dennis M. Olson Republican73424.77%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010 District 11 Turnout: 11,501Republican hold Henry Vincent Rayhons*Republican7,28663.35%Ann Marie Fairchild Democratic3,91634.05% :
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 District 8 Turnout: 2,564 | Republican | Henry V. Rayhons* | Republican | 1,428 | 55.69% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 District 8 Turnout: 2,564 | Republican | Bob Dishman | Republican | 1,021 | 39.82% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 District 8 | Republican (newly redistricted) | Henry V. Rayhons* | Republican | unopposed | unopposed |