Branstad era as Iowa governor ending with transition Wednesday

DES MOINES — Republican Terry Branstad came full circle Tuesday by returning to his Winnebago County roots to thank the people who helped him fulfill his dream to be governor of Iowa — a post he has held for over 22 years and four months, but will relinquish Wednesday to accept an even bigger challenge.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, on his 8,169 day as governor, Branstad will resign the office in his sixth term and immediately be sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China by Judge Steven Colloton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.

A short time later, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will take the oath of office in the Iowa State Capitol rotunda and be sworn in by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady as Iowa's 43 and first female governor. She will then deliver her first address to Iowans and their governor.

'I never in my life expected this would happen,' Branstad told reporters during the last weekly news conference he held in a career that began with his first gubernatorial election win in 1982 and blossomed into the longest stint of any state chief executive in U.S. history.

'My goal in life was to be governor of Iowa and I've had the great honor and opportunity to do that now longer than anybody else has ever served in this state or any other state,' Branstad said. But, he added, when he was asked by now President Donald Trump to be America's ambassador to China, 'I just felt that it's a challenge that I ought to take on.'

Branstad will spend some time getting oriented to his new role by U.S. State Department officials before he, his wife, and several family members ship their belongings to China for an assignment that already likely will include a visit by Trump in a strategic and economically important world region. 

MORE: Check out The Gazette's special report on Branstad's political career at thegazette.com/branstad

'You're the right person for the right time serving for the right reasons,' Reynolds told Branstad in promising a smooth transition of power at the Iowa Statehouse.

'I just want to say thank you, governor, for your unselfish and historic service to this great state. You continue to make us proud,' she said. 'We've had fun, we've worked hard and we've made a difference.'

Before ending his time as governor, Branstad made a trek north to Lake Mills and Forest City. where he spent his childhood and early political career growing up on a farm near Leland, operating a law office and representing the area for six years as a member of the Iowa House.

Branstad said he made the trip back to 'where it all began' to visit with friends and family members in the area, view a 'Freedom Rock' bearing a painting of himself in his military uniform, and stop by the museum in Forest City where some of his political memorabilia is kept to bring them more 'stuff' from his years as Iowa's 39 governor from 1983-99 and the 42 governor from 2011 until Wednesday.

'I just want to say, 'Thank you,' to the people that launched my career,' Branstad said. 'They were so generous and supportive of me and I want to let them know how much I appreciate the honor and the opportunity that I've had coming from that small county on (the) Minnesota border. So that's what I want to do on my last day as governor.'

Branstad admitted having mixed emotions about leaving Iowa, but said he looks forward to trying to make a positive difference in a volatile area of the world, when he has a long-standing relationship with the president of China stemming from a sister-state visit in 1985 and several overseas trade missions.

 'I'm realistic,' he said. 'I don't know that I am going to be able to change their system, but I certainly want to be an advocate for human rights, for intellectual property rights and for many of these issues that we, as Americans, care deeply about.'

The Gazette will be providing live streaming coverage of the Branstad and Reynolds ceremonies Wednesday morning at thegazette.com

[naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]TRANSITION OF POWER [naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]WEDNESDAY

10 a.m.: Gov. Terry Branstad will resign as governor of Iowa and immediately be sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China by Judge Steven Colloton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in the governor's formal office at the Iowa Capitol Building

10:30 a.m.: Following the swearing in of Ambassador Branstad, Gov. Kim Reynolds will take the oath of office in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda in Des Moines and be sworn in by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady. Reynolds will then deliver her first address as governor of Iowa.

The events will also be livestreamed online and on video monitors for reporters covering the events.

Iowa Public Television will broadcast both events on IPTV WORLD (. 3)

[naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]THURSDAY

Gov. Reynolds will discuss her decision whether or not to appoint a new lieutenant governor and discuss developments regarding her new administration.

l Comments: (515) 243-7220; rod.boshart@thegazette.com