In a surprising announcement on Friday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) declared she will not pursue a third term in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Reynolds, who has served as governor since 2017, cited a desire to focus on her family as a primary reason for her decision.
“This wasn’t an easy decision, because I love this state and I love serving you,” Reynolds said in a video posted on social media.
Reynolds’ tenure has been marked by significant conservative reforms, including tax cuts, education policy changes and restrictions on abortion. She made history as Iowa’s first female governor and has been a prominent figure in Republican politics.
Her decision not to seek reelection opens the field for new candidates in the upcoming election. Potential Republican contenders include former state representative Brad Sherman, who has already declared his candidacy. On the Democratic side, State Auditor Rob Sand is considered a potential candidate.
The New York Times has more on the political earthquake shaking the Hawkeye State:
Ms. Reynolds, 65, has served as governor since 2017 and was lieutenant governor before that. She has overseen the transformation of a state that was once a battleground carried by former President Barack Obama into a Republican stronghold.
Ms. Reynolds is the first woman to serve as governor of Iowa. She succeeded Terry Branstad, a Republican who led the state over two long stretches in the 1980s, 1990s and 2010s before resigning in 2017 to become President Trump’s ambassador to China.
Ms. Reynolds governed as a fiscal conservative, cutting income tax rates in the state to a flat 3.8 percent as of this year.
The decision for Ms. Reynolds to retire will shake up the leadership of a state that has been remarkably stable. Senator Charles E. Grassley, 91, has served in the Senate since 1981, and his Republican counterpart, Senator Joni Ernst, is up for re-election in 2026. Iowa’s delegation in the House is now made up of four Republicans, three of whom represent districts seen as potential battlegrounds.
For her part, Reynolds expressed confidence in the GOP’s grip on Iowa—a state that shifted from perennial battleground to conservative stronghold during the Trump era.
“I’m more energized than ever to finish what we started and to leave Iowa in the strongest possible position for the future,” she added.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
READ NEXT: Airplane Carrying Members Of Congress Involved In Collision
Need to get MAGA Blood for IA