Reynolds: ‘I'm ready’ to be governor

DES MOINES - For six years, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds has operated under the assumption that some day she'd run for governor.

But the sudden opportunity to ascend to the position when Gov. Terry Branstad becomes U.S. ambassador to China was 'a little bit of a shock.”

Reynolds, 57, was in Mexico on a vacation with her husband, Kevin, and their family when she got word this week that Branstad had accepted President-elect Donald Trump's offer of the ambassadorship - and as a consequence she would be in line to become Iowa's first female governor once Branstad clears the U.S. Senate confirmation process next year.

'Who thought that would happen?” Reynolds asked during an interview Friday in her Statehouse office, her first day of offering expansive remarks since the news broke. 'I looked at Kevin and we just both kind of went, ‘wow.'”

Reynolds, an Osceola Republican, said Branstad's appointment is a well-deserved honor that will be 'a capstone to an amazing, amazing career.”

It also will be an opportunity for her to carry on their joint goals since 2011 of growing Iowa, reforming education and expanding career opportunities.

'I'm ready,” said Reynolds, who has been a team partner Branstad has mentored to be a future governor from the time he persuaded her to leave the Iowa Senate and become his running mate in 2010.

'I've had just an amazing opportunity to serve with Gov. Branstad,” said Reynolds, who has been active in the national lieutenant governor's association. 'Not all lieutenant governors have the opportunity to be as involved in the administration as I have had. That's been very helpful and I've been very blessed to be able to have a front-row seat and be a part - good and bad - of the things that we've dealt with over the last six years.”

An outline for the transition of power is being developed, she said, but there's no date set for Reynolds to take the oath of office and become Iowa's 43rd governor. She said she expects the change will involve a swearing-in ceremony, but not a formal inauguration.

Reynolds also said it's early in the process but she wants the person she appoints as her lieutenant to be a partner who is willing to work hard for Iowa.

'I anticipate really taking time with this. I want to talk to a lot of different individuals,” she said.

The prospects of Reynolds making history by becoming the state's first female governor already is causing leaders of 50-50 in 2020 to cautiously celebrate the prospects of attaining another of their goals.

'Our focus is on electing women to office, but with the selection of Gov. Terry Branstad to serve at ambassador to China, his confirmation will put Lt. Gov. Reynolds into the office, which fulfills that part of our mission just as well,” said Jean Lloyd-Jones, who has severed in both the state House and Senate and is a co-founder of 50-50 in 2020. 'We are thrilled with the possibility of smashing that particular glass ceiling, regardless of the means.”

Reynolds, who has been fundraising for a future political bid, said she expects to continue the goals set by the Branstad-Reynolds administration while expanding efforts to build an 'innovative economy,” continue education reforms and expand economic development 'in rural Iowa and in every single corner so no matter where an Iowan lives they have the same opportunities.”

'I'm just excited,” she said. 'I'm excited to step in but I'm so excited for the governor. I'm just so proud.”

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