For nearly 30 years, Brian Meyer and Kevin McCarthy have moved through politics together  — so closely that after years of working beside each other, the two Democrats have effectively swapped jobs in the Iowa legislature. 

What began as a friendship in the late 1990s has grown into an enduring political partnership. 

Meyer, the House minority leader, and McCarthy, who served as House majority leader from 2007 to 2010 and minority leader from 2010 to 2013 when the chamber flipped Republican, have campaigned together, traded advice, and even taken turns serving as each other’s chiefs of staff. 

“I was so impressed with his work ethic,” McCarthy said about Meyer’s early work on his campaigns.

Long before either rose to leadership positions in the Iowa legislature, the pair got their start under the mentorship of Iowa’s former Attorney General Tom Miller, the nation’s longest-serving state attorney general who worked in the position for 40 years.

Miller hired McCarthy out of college and later brought Meyer on after law school, helping to launch both of their political careers.

“I interviewed Kevin and saw how he had great personal qualities of getting things done and integrity and loyalty,” Miller said. “I decided we’d hire him. [His political instincts] kicked in right away, and we made him campaign manager after not too long.” 

McCarthy introduced the attorney general to Meyer and Meyer eventually worked in Miller’s office. 

“Brian is a guy who functions really well in politics,” Miller said. “He has good judgment, good instincts for candidates and for issues, and is moving the Democratic Party in a good direction.” 

McCarthy said he met Meyer through mutual friends. The pair are Drake University Law School alumni. 

When McCarthy ran for his first legislative primary in 2000, Meyer became his volunteer campaign manager. 

Despite losing that election, McCarthy continued to rely on Meyer’s dedication, even when resources were scarce.

“I had $512 left in my account, plus I was in debt,” McCarthy said. “But I paid him the rest of the money in my account, and I worked with that. He did such a good job and I was impressed with his loyalty and his common sense.” 

McCarthy moved to Washington, D.C. for a year but stayed in touch with Meyer. 

Still a Des Moines resident, McCarthy decided to run a second time when redistricting created an open seat in Polk County with no incumbent. 

“Brian ran my campaign again, and we learned a lot from our first race and our first loss,” McCarthy said. “We ran a much tighter ship, much more of a grassroots campaign, and we won comfortably in 2002.” 

During McCarthy’s first two terms in the Iowa House as a ranking member for the Public Safety Committee, Meyer worked on legislative advocacy at the Attorney General’s Office. Democrats gained majority in the House and Senate in 2006, and McCarthy was elected House
majority leader. 

In the summer of 2007, he asked Meyer, who was recently elected to Des Moines City Council,  to serve as his chief of staff, managing the legislative agenda, coordinating between lawmakers and staff, advising on policy decisions, and overseeing the day-to-day operations
of the office. 

“Brian worked as my right hand person and confidant,” McCarthy said. 

Meyer said it was awkward working under McCarthy at first because of their friendship.

“We were friends, but I knew at the end of the day, he could fire me,” Meyer said.

Still, Meyer settled into the role and continued as chief of staff for just under seven years, until McCarthy retired from the legislature in 2013.

Roles reverse a decade later 

Meyer decided to run for McCarthy’s vacant Iowa House seat and won, succeeding his former boss. He has served in the Iowa House ever since.

McCarthy said after Meyer’s election, the two remained close, staying in regular contact as his former chief navigated his political career.

“We would just talk, and I would give him whatever counsel I thought regarding his aspirations,” McCarthy said. 

When Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-West Des Moines, stepped down from her role as Iowa House minority leader in 2025 to run for Congress, Meyer was elected to the role that May. At the same time, he had an opening for a chief of staff role.

Meyer knew exactly what he wanted: someone loyal, honest, and unafraid to push back. He said McCarthy fit the mold. 

Meyer said the shift from longtime colleagues to boss and staffer came with some uncertainty, especially given McCarthy’s past as a legislative leader.

“We were friends, and the roles were reversed,” Meyer said. “I thought the biggest challenge would be how he would handle not being a legislator when conversations happen — being staff and not being an actual legislator.”

McCarthy said adjusting to the new dynamic was a humbling experience. After years of being in the spotlight as a legislator, he had to step back and embrace a new dynamic.

“It didn’t take too long to just remember that you’re staff, you’re not in charge, you’re not elected anymore,” McCarthy said. “You have a job to play that’s a supportive role and also to be quiet until somebody asks you your opinion, too.”

Meyer said McCarthy’s adjustment went smoothly, and those early concerns never materialized. What began as a calculated decision — rooted in McCarthy’s experience and relationships — has turned into a strong working partnership, one Meyer said has been both effective and enjoyable.

“I told him, ‘We did this 10 years ago with the roles reversed, let’s flip it around and see how it goes. Let’s enjoy the time,’” Meyer said. “We have this great thing going, and we work in this great building, and we never really took that all in.”