Red State Governor Announces She Won’t Seek New Term

Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds announced Friday that she would not seek another term in office, saying she would be leaving politics to prioritize her family. 

Reynolds has led Iowa since 2017, after then-Governor Terry Branstad was appointed by President Donald Trump as ambassador to China. During her tenure, Republicans passed the largest income tax cut in state history, election integrity measures, and legislation on abortion and transgenderism as they controlled both the state House and Senate. 

“Serving as your governor has been the greatest honor of my life, an opportunity that not so long ago I never could have imagined,” Reynolds said in a video posted to social media. “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. After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek reelection in 2026. This wasn’t an easy decision because I love this state.”

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— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) April 11, 2025

In the video, she said her move from politics was motivated by her family, saying she wanted to be able to attend more of her grandchildren’s athletic events. Her husband was also diagnosed with cancer in 2023. 

“This public service has been an incredible journey, one that I wouldn’t trade for anything, but as Iowans know, family is everything. And through the years, my parents, my husband Kevin, our daughters, and our grandchildren have stood by my side, supporting me through every challenge and every victory. And now it’s time for me to be there for them, to help them through the next stage of life.”

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufman praised Reynolds after her announcement. 

“Gov. Reynolds has been a generational leader for our state and party,” he said. “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.”

As governor, Reynolds signed laws that allowed law enforcement to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, banned abortion once an unborn baby’s heartbeat could be detected, and passed legislation to remove “gender identity” as a protected category under the state’s civil rights law. 

During the 2024 GOP primary, she received harsh criticism from Donald Trump when she backed the campaign of Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who was challenging Trump for the party’s presidential nomination. 

Since 2010, Iowa has veered sharply to the Right, with Republicans taking supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature. In 2022, Reynolds won the state with 58% of the vote. Republicans who could potentially look to succeed Reynolds include Attorney General Brenna Bird and pastor and former state Representative Brad Sherman, who has already started campaigning.