Michael L. Fitzgerald (born November 29, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 25th Treasurer of Iowa from 1983 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving

state treasurer In the state and territorial governments of the United States, 54 of the 56 states and territories have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the office of New York State Treasurer in 1926, in which the duties were transfer ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Early life and early career

Fitzgerald was born in

Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, and is the county seat of the county. With a population of 27,591 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the 16th largest city in the state. Marshalltown is home to the Iowa Vetera ...

, in 1951. He graduated from Colo Community High School in 1970 and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

in 1974. Fitzgerald worked as a marketing analyst for

Massey Ferguson Massey Ferguson is an agricultural machinery manufacturer, established in 1953 through the merger of farm equipment makers Massey-Harris of Canada and the Ferguson Company of Ireland. It was based in Coventry then moved to Beauvais in 2003 when ...

Des Moines Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

for eight years before being elected State Treasurer of Iowa in 1982.

State Treasurer (1983–2023)

State Treasurer In the state and territorial governments of the United States, 54 of the 56 states and territories have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the office of New York State Treasurer in 1926, in which the duties were transfer ...

, Fitzgerald acted as Iowa's banker and chief financial officer. He served as the administrator of Iowa's 529 plan, formerly College Savings Iowa, which is a college savings advisory service. Fitzgerald administered the Invest in Iowa program, a series of auctions started in 1983 to invest state funds in Iowa financial institutions. The Linked Investments for Tomorrow (LIFT) program, introduced in 1986, also provided capital to Iowa entrepreneurs to create or expand their businesses. Fitzgerald lost reelection in 2022 to Republican candidate Roby Smith. He held office for 40 years, making him the longest-serving

in the

Electoral history

, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2010 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 53% , - , Republican , , David D. Jamison , , 47% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2006 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 99% , - , , ,

Write-in A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be poss ...

, , 1% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2002 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 55% , - , Republican , ,

Matthew Whitaker Matthew George Whitaker (born October 29, 1969) is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat serving as the 26th List of United States permanent representatives to NATO, United States permanent representative to NATO since 2025 in the Second ...

, , 43% , - , Libertarian , , Tim Hird , , 2% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1998 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 55% , - , Republican , , Joan Fitzpatrick Bolin , , 43% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1994 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 54% , - , Republican , , Jay Irwin , , 44% , - , Natural Law Party , , Elizabeth Koehler , , 2% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1990 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 59% , - , Republican , , Burtwin L. Day , , 39% , - , Grassroots Party , , Derrick P. Grimmer , , 2% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1986 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 58% , - , Republican , , John Nystrom , , 42% , - , + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1982 ! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage , - , Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 51% , - , Republican , , Maurice E. Baringer , , 48% , - Fitzgerald once considered running for

Governor of Iowa A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...

against Republican incumbent

Terry Branstad Terry Edward Branstad (born November 17, 1946) is a retired American politician who served as the 39th and 42nd governor of Iowa (1983–1999; 2011–2017) and the United States ambassador to China (2017–2020). A member of the Repu ...

in 2014.

References

External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Michael 1951 births 21st-century Iowa politicians Iowa Democrats Living people Politicians from Marshalltown, Iowa State treasurers of Iowa University of Iowa alumni