New Mayor of Iowa Town Could Be Youngest in the US

A college student in a small Iowa town is making history in a two-fold manor. Not only is she possibly the youngest mayor in the United States at present, she's also very likely the youngest female mayor in this country's long history.

That student is 20-year-old Eva Fipps, who was sworn in as Mayor of Henderson, IA on January 1st, 2026. Henderson is located in Mills County in southwest Iowa, and is home to 144 residents. Two other elected officials in the county, including County Supervisor Jack Sayers and Silver City Mayor Joseph Jaworski, are both 19 and 21-years-old, respectively, per KCCI.

READ MORE: One Person Runs This Tiny Iowa Town and It's Causing a Big Controversy

How Did a College Student Decide to Run for Mayor?:

I think back to my college years and remember how balancing as many as four classes in a single trimester, and continue my passion of reviewing movies, felt like a gauntlet of a workload. I can't imagine holding mayoral responsibilities on top of that, regardless of the size of the town.

Yet Mayor Eva Fipps got the idea to run from Henderson City Clerk Candance Knop, who encouraged her to run due to the town's need for "fresh blood" in the leadership department. Fipps admitted to WQAD 8 News that while it was a last minute decision to throw her hat in the ring, she does have significant public service experience for someone her age.

Eva Fipps' Background:

Fipps served as a page in the Iowa House of Representatives, and participated in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program, per KCCI. The newly minted County Supervisor Jack Sayers is also her next-door neighbor, and influenced her pursuit of politics as a career.

Fipps has aspirations of going to law school, but her top priority at the moment is revitalizing the town of Henderson. She remarked she wants to see the town "flourish again."

Henderson's Political History:

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Henderson, IA has been a sneaky enclave for politicians in American history, including Bill Harbor, who served as Speaker of the Iowa House, as well as Congressman Bill Scherle. Find out more about Eva Fipps on KCCI's website.