Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces she will not seek a third term

After leading the state for nearly a decade, Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds made a surprise announcement that she will not seek a third term in 2026.

“Today, I want to share a personal decision with you; one that was not made lightly, but comes with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude,” Reynolds said in a video message posted to social media Friday morning. “After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in 2026.”

Saying it was not an easy decision and that serving as governor “has been the greatest honor of my life,” Reynolds said it’s time to step back to focus on family.

“Through the years, my parents and my husband Kevin, our daughters, and our grandchildren have stood by my side, supporting me through every challenge and every victory,” the governor said. “Now, it’s time for me to be there for them. To help them through the next stage of life. To watch every track meet and basketball game; to see them grow before they’re all grown.”

Reynolds, 65, became Iowa’s first female governor in 2017, when Gov. Terry Branstad stepped down after being named U.S. ambassador to China by President Donald Trump during his first term. She was elected to her first full term in 2018, and reelected in 2022.

Prior to that, she served four terms as Clarke County treasurer before being elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008. In 2010, she was chosen as Branstad’s running mate and served as Branstad’s lieutenant governor in his return to the governor’s office until 2017, when he was named U.S. ambassador to China.

Reynolds had hinted during a news conference in February of plans to run for re-election, saying she was proud of her conservative record and telling reporters to “stay tuned” in response to a question about whether she would seek re-election.

Friday’s surprise announcement is likely to completely reset the political landscape in the state ahead of next year’s midterm election, and shake up the leadership of a state that has swung heavily to the right in recent years.

Reynolds has used a Republican trifecta in state government since becoming governor to cut income tax rates and enact a flat 3.8 percent rate for all taxpayers; consolidate and restructure state agencies; expand charter schools; and create taxpayer-funded Education Savings Accounts that families can use to pay private school costs like tuition and fees.

Reynolds also signed laws eliminating Iowa’s inheritance tax, making retirement income tax-free and cutting corporate and property taxes. She slashed the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16, eliminated hundreds of open positions, gave the governor more direct control over executive branch employees and eliminated dozens of state boards and commissions.

In 2023 she signed a law banning most abortions in the state as early as six weeks of pregnancy, and this year drew national attention for removing civil rights protections for transgender Iowans.

As governor, Reynolds also enacted a ban on transgender girls playing high school girls sports and signed legislation prohibiting mask and COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools.

Republican leaders praise Reynolds leadership; Democrats say Iowans ready to ‘turn the page’

Republican leaders in the state praised Reynolds’ leadership, while Democrats said Iowans are ready to turn the page.

Last fall, Reynolds’ job approval rating dipped to its lowest level since she first took office in May 2017, to 45 percent, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll from September.

“Gov. Reynolds has been a generational leader for our state and party," Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement. "Under her bold, conservative leadership, Iowa now sits as one of the best states in the entire country. Taxes are low, cash reserves are full, our freedoms defended, and Iowa’s future has never been brighter. I want to thank her for her friendship, service, and for being the leader Iowa needed. I know she is not done yet, and she will never stop being a leader in our party."

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, in a statement, said “it’s time to vote for a Governor who will put Iowans to work, lower costs and support our rural areas,” instead of giving “taxpayer handouts to special interests and vouchers for wealthy families who already send their kids to private schools.

Hart criticized Reynolds and Republican leadership for tax cuts and Education Savings Accounts for private schools that will force the state to dip into its savings to pay for an estimated $400 million budget shortfall. Republicans argue they’ve saved enough — with a roughly $2 billion budget surplus, $3.6 million Taxpayer Relief Fund and reserved funds — to avoid budget cuts. Democrats argue it’s fiscally irresponsible for the state to use one-time money to pay for ongoing costs.

“In 2026, voters will get to hold them accountable for taking our state in the wrong direction,” Hart said.

Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said in a statement that “Iowans are ready to turn the page on Kim Reynolds’ legacy of division and politics."

Konfrst, once discussed as a potential Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, has said she's considering running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Des Moines.

“After a decade of failed leadership, there’s a reason Reynolds is the least popular Governor in America: Iowans are worse off than they were a decade ago,” she said. “It’s time for a governor who will build an economy that works for everyone. It’s time for a governor who knows that public money is for public schools. It’s time for a governor who will bring balance and common sense back to Iowa.

“It’s time for a governor who will put people over politics.”

Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner, of Iowa City, echoed Konfrst.

“Iowans deserve leadership that prioritizes their needs and concerns, will rebuild the damage wrought by this administration, and truly gives working Iowans a better deal,” Weiner said in a statement.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, called Reynolds “a bold leader” who has demonstrated “remarkable courage in tackling challenging issues and always prioritized Iowans’ freedoms.”

“We’ve put parents back in the driver's seat, passed historic tax cut after historic tax cut, and kept our common sense on social issues,” Grassley said in a statement. “As we look to the future, our state needs more of this strong leadership — someone who will keep Iowans' freedoms at the forefront and partner with President Trump to keep Iowa strong.”

Who will run for governor in Reynolds' place?

Jimmy Centers, an Iowa Republican strategist who has worked on presidential, congressional, gubernatorial and legislative campaigns, said Reynolds’ surprise announcement creates an open race that presents opportunities for both Republicans and Democrats.

“A moment like this doesn't come around often, where you'll have a wide-open field. For Republicans, it hasn't happened since 2009,” said Centers, who served as communications director for the Branstad-Reynolds administration.

“The wild card, of course, is what, if anything, President Trump does. Does he decide to endorse and endorse early? If so, I think that will certainly winnow the field of potential candidates,” Centers said.

Reynolds endorsed Trump primary opponent and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses, drawing Trump’s ire.

Former one-term Republican state lawmaker Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg, announced plans in February to run for governor. As of now, he is the only declared Republican candidate for governor.

Sherman was an early endorser of President Donald Trump’s campaign ahead of the 2024 Iowa GOP caucuses.

In a statement Friday, Sherman thanked Reynolds for her many years of service to Iowans and advancing conservative policies.

He said he is running to defend Iowans’ private property rights against eminent domain abuse, “strengthening Iowa’s education from the bottom up, and revitalizing rural Iowa, among other top issues.”

“I am running to serve the people of Iowa with courage, clarity, and common sense. With Governor Reynolds stepping aside, I am fully prepared to lead our party into the next chapter,” Sherman said.

On the Democratic side, Paul Dahl, a Webster City man who previously ran unsuccessfully for governor and Congress, announced his candidacy for Iowa governor in November.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a potential Democratic candidate for governor, has not yet announced his intentions for 2026. Sand raised $8.4 million last year, although $7 million of it came from his family, his report shows. He finished the year with $7.5 million in his campaign account.

Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird congratulated Reynolds and hinted in a statement that she would be considering running for governor in 2026.

"In the weeks ahead, Bob and I will pray and consider what this decision means for our future," Bird said in a statement. "I appreciate the calls of encouragement I've already received. I am committed to continuing my work on behalf of Iowans and to support President Trump as he works to Make America Great Again."

Bird endorsed Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses and traveled to New York last year to support the then-former President and presumptive Republican nominee for president, as he stood trial in a criminal hush money case.

Trump, on the night of the 2024 Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, said of Bird: “She’s going to be your governor some day, I predict.”

Centers said Bird would be a “formidable candidate,” given Trump’s support, and said several other Iowa Republican leaders are also “looking at whether they want to seek a job promotion from Iowans.”

Those he expected to be mulling whether to run to replace Reynolds include Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, all four Iowa U.S. House members, Pat Grassley, Republican state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton, Republican state Sen. Mike Bousselot of Ankeny and former Iowa Hawkeye football player Matt Whitaker, who served as acting U.S. Attorney General during Trump’s first term.

“I know he just got confirmed to be the U.S. ambassador to NATO, but someone that's very close to Trump and has run statewide in Iowa twice before — once as a candidate for U.S. Senate and once as a candidate for (state) Treasurer — I wouldn’t be shocked if he takes a look at it too,” Centers said of Whitaker. “Frankly, I'm sure there are others that I'm not naming.”

University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagle questioned whether Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer — who in December succeeded former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, who resigned in September to take a leadership job with the Iowa Bankers Association — would be ready to jump into the role and had built up enough statewide name recognition to replace Reynolds.

“She hasn't been in the position that long to really establish yourself the way that Reynolds was,” Hagle said.

Center said Iowa is set to be a focal point with an open gubernatorial race and a U.S. Senate race in 2026.

“Aspiring politicians from both parties may pay attention to Iowa earlier than usual due to the open presidential primary,” Centers said.

Republicans are likely to keep Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus status, while Democrats recognize the need to better connect with Americans in the Heartland, he said.

Iowa offers a platform for both parties to discuss their visions for America, and Reynolds’ departure from the race gives Iowa Democrats "a mantle to talk about their vision in a serious way,“ Centers said.

“With an open primary, they have an opportunity to offer competing vision within their party, but also then a competing vision for the state of Iowa, and so, you know, it's a big opportunity for everyone,” he said.

Iowa leaders react to Gov. Reynolds not seeking another term

Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, called Reynolds "the best governor in America."

"Iowa has been blessed by her leadership, and I have been blessed by her friendship," she said in a statement. "The impact she leaves will be immeasurable and countless lives have been made better because of her tireless service. I join every Iowan in saying thank you — we are all grateful for your love of Iowa and your dedication to our state."

Iowa U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Ottumwa who also resides in Davenport, called Reynolds a "trailblazer."

"Under her leadership, Iowa became one of the best managed states, cutting taxes, shrinking bureaucracy, and creating a national model for efficient and effective government," Miller-Meeks said in a statement. "And Iowa is now one of the best states to retire in."

Iowa U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, said the governor "exemplified the endless possibilities of bold, conservative leadership."

“Serving with Gov. Reynolds in the state Senate and working with her to pass the largest income tax cut in state history at the time, I saw firsthand her love for Iowa and her devotion to our families and communities," he said in a statement.

Iowa U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, called Reynolds an "inspiration" both for his own daughters and "girls across our state."

"Governor Reynolds led Iowa to prosperity with common sense, solutions from tax cuts to economic growth," he said in a statement. "She helped me fight human trafficking & fentanyl in Iowa, balance our state’s budget and help make Iowa one of the best places to raise a family."

Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley thanked Reynolds for her continued leadership of the state.

Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Reynolds “transformed Iowa with her bold, conservative leadership — putting parents first, cutting taxes, and supporting hardworking farmers and families in every corner of our state.”

“Kim’s story is an inspiration to every Iowan. No matter the challenge, she has faced it head on with grace and grit. Kim is a fighter who always puts Iowa first,” Ernst said in a statement.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig called Reynolds an “unwavering champion for Iowa agriculture, our farmers, and rural communities.”

“From cutting taxes on hardworking Iowans and streamlining state government to expanding access to biofuels and giving parents a choice in their child’s education, her legacy is that of a leader who always kept her focus on enhancing freedom and making Iowa more prosperous for all,” Naig said in a statement.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com