Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced Friday she will not run for a third term in 2026, ending nearly a decade in office. Reynolds, a Republican, became governor in 2017 following Terry Branstad’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to China, and won full terms in 2018 and 2022.
In a video posted on social media, Reynolds said the decision was difficult but driven by her desire to spend more time with family. Her husband, Kevin Reynolds, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 and is currently in remission.
— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) April 11, 2025
Reynolds, Iowa’s first female governor, began her political career as a county treasurer in rural Clarke County. Republican leaders praised her legacy, citing achievements in tax reform and expanding school choice through publicly funded education savings accounts.
