Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will not run for reelection in 2026

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has led the state for a decade, but has now made the surprise decision to not seek a third term in 2026.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced Friday that she will not seek a third term in 2026, bringing an end to what will be nearly a decade as the state’s chief executive.

“After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in 2026,” Reynolds said in a video statement posted to social media Friday morning. “This wasn’t an easy decision, because I love this state and I love serving you.”

Reynolds, 65, became Iowa’s first female governor in 2017 when she succeeded Terry Branstad, who stepped down to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China under the first Trump administration. Before becoming governor, Reynolds served as lieutenant governor, a member of the Iowa Senate, and as Clarke County Treasurer.

In her announcement, Reynolds emphasized her desire to focus on family in her post-gubernatorial life.

“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,” Reynolds 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.”

The governor’s decision comes at a time of political transition in Iowa. Just last month, former Republican state Rep. Brad Sherman announced he would challenge Reynolds in the 2026 Republican primary. Sherman, a Williamsburg pastor, was an early endorser of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 GOP presidential caucuses. Meanwhile, Reynolds broke with tradition of the Iowa governor not endorsing in the Iowa Caucuses to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who went on to lose to Trump.

When asked in February about her plans to seek reelection, Reynolds told reporters at a news conference, “Stay tuned. There might be some news coming, just not today.”

Reynolds has maintained a substantial fundraising advantage, with recent reports showing she’d raised $1.8 million over the past year and had approximately $3 million cash on hand. By comparison, Sherman reported approximately $8,000 cash on hand in his gubernatorial campaign account.

Reynolds won her first full term as governor in 2018, defeating Democrat Fred Hubbell, and was reelected in 2022, defeating Democrat Deidre DeJear.

During her tenure, Reynolds has pursued a right-wing agenda, focusing on cutting funding for services, implementing unlimited funding for private school vouchers, and restricting abortion access in the state. Recently, she created Iowa’s own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force, following the model of President Trump’s federal initiative to cut government spending and hollow out key programs.

Despite her accomplishments, Reynolds has faced criticism from Democrats who point to Iowa’s economic challenges. The Iowa Democratic Party recently highlighted that the state ranked 49th in economic growth and 48th in personal income growth in 2024. According to a recent Morning Consult poll, Gov Kim Reynolds is the only state governor with a net negative approval rating. 

Reynolds indicated she plans to remain active for the remainder of her term, which ends in January 2027.

“I’ll be working hard for you every single day until my term ends,” she said. “We have important work ahead, keeping our economy strong, supporting our families and farmers, defending our freedoms and ensuring that every Iowan has the opportunity to succeed.”

The governor expressed confidence in the future of Republican leadership in Iowa, saying, “I have no doubt that Iowa and our Republican Party will remain in great hands. Together, we have built a foundation of strong conservative leadership that will continue to serve this state well.”

The general election for Iowa governor will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. So far the only candidate likely to run on the Democratic Party’s ticket is state Auditor Rob Sand, who despite massive fundraising, has not formally announced whether he will run. 

Transcript of Reynolds’ announcement

Serving as your governor has been the greatest honor of my life, an opportunity that not so long ago, I never could have imagined when I first entered public service in the Clark county treasurer’s office. I never expected that one day I would have the privilege of leading this great state, and I never would have imagined the things that we would accomplish together. But Iowa is a place where anything is possible, and I am forever grateful for the trust that you have placed in me. 

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 re-election in 2026. This wasn’t an easy decision, because I love the state and I love serving you, but when my term ends, I will have had the privilege of serving as your governor for almost 10 years, and before that, as lieutenant governor and state senator, 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 and 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, to watch every track meet and basketball game, to see them grow before they’re all grown. 

Now that doesn’t mean that I’m slowing down just yet. I’ll be working hard for you every single day until my term ends. We have important work ahead, keeping our economy strong, supporting our families and farmers, defending our freedoms and ensuring that every Iowan has the opportunity to succeed. I’m more energized than ever to finish what we started, and to leave Iowa in the strongest possible position for the future. 

And speaking of the future, I have no doubt that Iowa and our Republican Party will remain in great hands together. We have built a foundation of strong conservative leadership that will continue to serve this state well. I’ve seen firsthand the passion and dedication of so many leaders, and I am confident that the next generation will continue to build on our success. 

Iowa is a special place, and it’s because of our people and values, the hard work, resilience and the sense of community that define us, that is what makes Iowa exceptional to all of you who have supported me, pushed me and worked alongside of me, a heartfelt thank you. I could not have done this without you. Iowans have placed their trust in me, and I have done my best to honor that trust every day the road ahead is bright, and I will always be cheering for this state and its people. 

So thank you, Iowa. God bless you, and God bless the great state of Iowa.

You can watch the announcement here.