John Soorholtz was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on 19 December 1930, to parents Howard and Edna.

[1] Additionally he chaired the Iowa Beginning Farmers’ Program and Purebred Swine Council.

[1] Soorholtz expressed support for George H. W. Bush prior to the 1980 Republican Party presidential primaries.

[4] In 1983, Soorholtz contested a special election for District 36 of the Iowa Senate as a Republican candidate, and defeated incumbent state representative Thomas E. Swartz, the Democratic Party nominee.

[5] Soorholtz took office on 8 November 1983, and was subsequently elected to two full terms, retiring from the state senate on 10 January 1993.