Year in review: Trump presidency felt in Iowa

*This storyline was voted as one of the top storylines of 2017 by Gazette staff. Other top storylines include the debate over legalized fireworks in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds' first term in office, and developments in Iowa's managed care system.*

Donald Trump's transition from New York businessman and reality TV star to president of the United States had cascading effects for Iowa in 2017.

Iowa Republicans who helped Trump claim his seat also wrested control of the Iowa Senate from Democrats, giving the GOP dominion over both houses of the Iowa Legislature and the governor's office. The Legislature quickly passed major changes to collective bargaining, took state money away from Planned Parenthood and expanded gun laws.

Trump nominated a handful of Iowans to prominent federal government posts - but with mix results.

Then-Gov. Terry Branstad was tapped in December 2016 to be U.S. ambassador to China. He won easy U.S. Senate confirmation in May and, with his family, left for Beijing last summer.

Trump campaign aide Sam Clovis withdrew his nomination to become the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientist in November after being linked with special prosecutor Robert Mueller's Russia probe, while former Iowa Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino III took himself out of the running for administrator of the Federal Highway Administration in mid-December, citing family reasons.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey's nomination to be an undersecretary in the USDA is on hold.