Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement that she will not seek another term in office creates an open seat for the 2026 election. It’s been nearly two decades since Iowa had a gubernatorial election without an incumbent. Here’s who is — and isn’t — running for the office.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is leading an eight-day trade mission to India, returning with a delegation of Iowa officials and business leaders to strengthen relationships she says are already showing results from her initial visit last year.
Iowa will now have open-seat elections for governor and the U.S. Senate for the first time in nearly six decades, and half of the state’s federal delegation likely will feature new representation after the 2026 elections.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has granted 55 pardons since taking office, more than double her predecessor and mentor, former Gov. Terry Branstad; commuted sentences have been exceptionally rare under both governors.
Also in today’s Capitol Notebook, the Iowa Department of Education announced $8 million in a new round of grant funding to recognize and reward teacher excellence.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand and Julie Stauch both say they would propose significant changes to the state program that provides taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 private school tuition.
Former Iowa Department of Administrative Services director and Republican Adam Steen said his goal to live in preparation of higher levels of leadership so that the “lord would be exalted” is what drove him to announce a run for governor.
Also in the notebook, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office is supporting legal coalitions addressing Instagram users’ privacy and safety, and a ‘designer Xanax’
Iowa Democrats’ campaign speeches sound different this year as the party attempts to win back voters they have lost in the state over the past decade.
Cities across Eastern Iowa are contemplating how best to promote transparency and community engagement in policing in light of a new state law outlawing most citizen review boards.
Plus, two more Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, and how Democratic candidates are talking to voters thus far this cycle.
Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley and other statehouse leaders say they have no interest in pursuing changes to the state-run retirement program for public employees despite a proposal from a state government efficiency panel last week.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that 20 members of the Iowa National Guard will provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the state with administrative and logistical support after receiving a request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
With two University of Iowa employees on leave and under state and UI investigation after discussing in an undercover video campus efforts to skirt new DEI regulations, a third video has emerged — this time of an Iowa State University employee admitting to “finding loopholes in the laws.”
Candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and more are participating in the state’s time-honored tradition of greeting Iowans at the State Fair.
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