Iowa could get a new governor next week

Iowa could see a big change in the governor's office next week.

With the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee already having voted unanimously to advance Gov. Terry Branstad as ambassador to China, the full Senate is expected to vote to confirm him soon.

Once that happens and he resigns, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will ascend to the governorship for the rest of his term.

'Iowa Lt Gov Kim Reynolds will can become Gov sometime nxt week bc Gov Branstad will be Ambassador Branstad 530 pm Monday,” predicted Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in a tweet Tuesday.

Branstad appeared Tuesday in Cherokee to make a speech, and then head to another event in Council Bluffs.

The Republican governor told a reporter he was experiencing some 'nostalgic” feelings.

'I've loved it and I've met a lot of wonderful people and I will miss that,” Branstad said.

Earlier in the Cherokee event, Branstad cautioned that full Senate approval of his ambassadorship isn't a done deal. However, he said he felt good about his several hour hearing in April before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

'This may be the last time I will be here before I go to China,” Branstad told the crowd there.

Branstad told reporters his time as governor will end once his ambassadorship passes the Senate, at which point he will resign as governor.

Branstad said he will undergo three weeks of ambassador orientation, so 'I probably won't get to China until June.”

Bret Hayworth of the Sioux City Journal contributed to this report.