Kim Reynolds

Kim Reynolds
Name	Kim Reynolds
Caption	Official portrait, 2019
Office	43rd Governor of Iowa
Term start	May 24, 2017
Lieutenant	Adam Gregg
Predecessor	Terry Branstad
Party	Republican
Spouse	Kevin Reynolds
Alma mater	Iowa State University (BA)
Birth date	4 August 1959
Birth place	St. Charles, Iowa, U.S.

Kim Reynolds. She is an American politician serving as the 43rd Governor of Iowa, having assumed office in 2017 following the resignation of Terry Branstad. A member of the Republican Party (United States), she was previously the 46th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa and served in the Iowa Senate. Her tenure has been marked by significant tax cuts in the United States, a focus on workforce development, and prominent roles in national organizations like the Republican Governors Association.

Early life and education

Kim Reynolds was born in St. Charles, Iowa, and grew up in the nearby community of Osceola. She graduated from Southeast Warren Junior-Senior High School before attending Iowa State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies. Her early professional experiences included working at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and later in various roles within Clarke County, where she developed an interest in local governance and public service.

Early career

Before entering electoral politics, she worked for over a decade at Hy-Vee, a major Midwestern United States supermarket chain, in human resources and management. She also served as the Clarke County Treasurer, an elected position she held from 1994 to 2006, where she managed the county's financial operations. This experience in county administration provided a foundation for her later work in the Iowa General Assembly and her focus on fiscal policy.

Political career

Her political career began in earnest with her election to the Iowa Senate in 2008, representing Iowa Senate district 48. In the Iowa General Assembly, she served on key committees including the Appropriations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. In 2010, she was selected by then-Governor Terry Branstad as his running mate and was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, taking office in January 2011. She was re-elected alongside Branstad in 2014.

Governor of Iowa

She became governor on May 24, 2017, following Branstad's resignation to become the United States Ambassador to China. She was elected to a full term in the 2018 Iowa gubernatorial election, defeating Democrat Fred Hubbell, and was re-elected in the 2022 Iowa gubernatorial election against Deidre DeJear. Major legislative achievements during her administration include the 2018 state tax reform law, further income tax cuts in 2022, and the 2023 Students First Act, which established a school choice program. She has also led the state's response to events such as the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa and the 2020 Midwest derecho.

Political positions and public image

A staunch conservative, she has advocated for pro-life policies, signing a "fetal heartbeat" law in 2018 that was later blocked by the Iowa Supreme Court. She is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and has signed legislation such as a constitutional carry bill. Her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic drew both praise and criticism, as she resisted prolonged lockdown orders and mandated the early reopening of schools. She has been a prominent figure in the Republican Governors Association, serving as its chair in 2021, and is often discussed as a potential national candidate, having given the Republican response to the State of the Union address in 2022.

Personal life

She is married to Kevin Reynolds, a retired United States Marine Corps officer and former Iowa National Guard member. They have three daughters and are members of the Catholic Church. The family resides at the Iowa Governor's Mansion in Des Moines. She has been open about her past struggles with alcoholism, a topic she has discussed in the context of recovery and resilience.

Category:Governors of Iowa Category:Republican Party governors of Iowa