Paul is serving his fourth term as a State Representative.  He was first elected to the Iowa House in a special election in August 2003.  He serves as Chair of the Ways & Means Committee and also serves on the Commerce Committee and Department of Human Services Budget.

He is the owner of his own accounting practice.  Paul also works as a Tax Manager at ConAgra Foods, Inc.  He is married to Sarah.  Sarah is a nurse, currently teaching nursing at Methodist College of Nursing.  Paul and Sarah have one daughter, named Jensen.

His father, Paul Shomshor Sr., was an AT&T employee and worked in cable manufacturing plant for 33 years as a cable jacketing inspector and an IBEW member.  He is now retired.  His mother, Betty Shomshor, worked as a Postal clerk for 26 years and an APWU member; she is now retired.

Paul was born in Council Bluffs and grew up in Crescent, Iowa.  He graduated from Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln High School in 1985.  He earned a BBA in Accounting in 1989 and a Masters Degree in 1990 both from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Paul was first elected to the Iowa House in a special election in August 2003.  Paul served on the Council Bluffs City Council from 1998 until 2001.

Paul attends Broadway United Methodist Church. He is a member of the Council Bluffs West-end Optimists.