Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Iowa Republicans will now begin the process of selecting a nominee for governor after Kim Reynolds announced Friday morning she would not run for reelection in 2026.
Reynolds narrowly won reelection in 2018 in the middle of President Trump’s first term, and Democrats won three of Iowa’s four US House seats that year. Reynolds, in the video message announcing her decision not to put her name on the 2026 ballot, talked about her party’s prospects.
Dave Kochel is a political consultant who worked on the governor’s 2018 campaign. He expects several Republicans to consider running for governor in 2026.
Bird, who has been Iowa’s attorney general since 2023, had been scheduled to speak at a news conference Friday morning around the time of the governor’s announcement and reporters were told she was not able to attend the event. Kochel, who got his start in politics in the 1980s when he worked on Terry Branstad’s campaign, says he’s happy for Reynolds.
In February, Republican Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg who is a former state representative — announced he planned to run for governor in 2026.
Reynolds — in a video announcing her decision not to put her name on the 2026 ballot — talked about her party’s prospects.
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann predicts there will be a robust primary with “several” candidates.
Photo: Terrace Hill (Iowa Governor’s Mansion) (KIWA Staff Photo)
