Des Moines, Iowa — Arkansas, Massachusetts and now Iowa are the only three states that have two women at the top of state government.
Governor Kim Reynolds says Chris Cournoyer brings a long list of skills and attributes to the role of lieutenant governor and she didn’t limit her search for a lieutenant governor to women. “It wasn’t intentional, I’ll say that. Neither is my strong-willed team that I have at the Capitol or my cabinet that’s led by a lot of strong, capable, intelligent women as well,” Reynolds said. “Chris just checked a lot of boxes and she really complements what we’re trying to do here”
Reynolds has asked Cournoyer to review state-led efforts to encourage students to seek careers in science, technology, engineering and math and update the programs for the next decade. Cournoyer has taught robotics and computer coding. “Kids aren’t afraid of technology and so when they bring these STEM programs into the schools, they just really embrace it,” Counoyer says. The governor says Cournoyer’s background in computer programming and artificial intelligence will be another asset in efforts to modernize state government operations.
Cournoyer is among legislators from around the country who recently served on a task force on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Cournoyer says there has to be a human component to A-I, to monitor the data that’s collected and ensure the outcomes aren’t skewed.
Reynolds says she and Cournoyer are competitive people — both played girls sports in high school, but Reynolds isn’t saying whether she’ll seek reelection and the Reynolds-Cournoyer team will be on Iowa’s 2026 ballot.
Reynolds will deliver the annual “Condition of the State” address to legislators on January 14th and release details of her 2025 policy agenda. For the past 15 weeks, Iowa did not have a lieutenant governor. Reynolds waited until after the November election to begin the search to replace Hawarden native Adam Gregg, who resigned as lieutenant governor on September 2nd. Reynolds says she’s had her eye on Cournoyer for a while and she’s the type of get-it-done person who’s a good fit for her governing team.
Cournoyer has been a state senator for the past six years, but resigned Monday morning just before being sworn in as lieutenant governor. The governor has not yet set the date for a special election in the state senate district that includes Le Claire, where Cournoyer lives, as well as the cities of Clinton, Maquoketa and DeWitt.
Photo caption: Iowa Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer, courtesy of and thanks to Iowa Governor’s Office and photographer Scott Fairbarn
