Career
On April 30, 2007, she switched to the Republican Party, having previously served in the House as a Democrat. In a letter to her constituents, Pettengill said she decided to switch parties due to disagreements with fiscal and labor policy, as well as the state Democratic Party"s decision to take her off the incumbent protection list for the 2008 elections. As of October 2011, Pettengill serves on several committees in the Iowa House – the Commerce, Government Oversight, Government Oversight (Joint), State Government, and Ways and Means committees.
Pettengill was first elected in 2004, defeating incumbent Republican Dell Hanson.
Pettengill was unopposed in 2010, and defeated Democrat Sandra Cronbaugh in 2012 and Steve Beck in 2014. *incumbent.