We may be getting the Bird from Iowa Republicans

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement that she won’t run again was a surprise. It would be just as surprising if Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird doesn’t run for governor.

"In the weeks ahead, Bob and I will pray and consider what this decision means for our future," Bird said in a statement after Reynolds’ announcement.

"I appreciate the calls of encouragement I've already received. I am committed to continuing my work on behalf of Iowans and to support President Trump as he works to Make America Great Again,” Bird said.

Yeah, she’s running. How could she resist?

Bird would be the Republican front-runner out of the gate. Sorry, former state Rep. Brad Sherman, who announced his campaign earlier this year.

Bird is a Trump loyalist who is more loyal than just about any other Iowa Trumper. She endorsed Trump while some of the state’s top Republicans stayed neutral or, like Reynolds, gave their backing to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Pro-Trump groups likely would shower Bird’s campaign with big bucks, and they wouldn’t wait until after a Republican primary.

“She’s going to be your governor someday, I predict,” Trump said of Bird on caucus night.

Most of all, in today’s slash and burn Republican Party, Bird is the sort of candidate GOP leaders and donors can get excited about. Shameless, vindictive and ambitious.

She checks all the boxes.

Bird is one of the leading defenders of Trump’s dubious executive order frenzy. She led 19 red state attorneys general defending DOGE and supporting Elon Musk, who has taken a machete to numerous government agencies. You know, the unpopular stuff like Social Security support personnel, Alzheimer’s research, public libraries and payments owed to farmers who installed conservation measures.

Bird has also led the charge defending Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for kids born in the U.S. but with two undocumented parents. Screw the 14th amendment.

The attorney general has shown a zeal for environmental degradation. She joined the legal drive to toss out federal water rules, leaving scores of wetlands open to development.

She’s joined other legal actions seeking to scrap higher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, coal plant emission rules and tailpipe emissions enforcement.

In a case involving wastewater pollution in Puget Sound, Bird advocated for denying citizens the power to file lawsuits for Clean Water Act violations.

She called efforts to clean up and protect the environment “woke.”

“We must not allow unelected, green activists to weaponize lawsuits to force woke mandates, hurt farmers, or threaten cities that are working hard to keep drinking water clean,” Bird said in November.

Woke water drinkers are ruining America.

She joined the defense of Arkansas’ “indoctrination bill,” prohibiting teaching stuff “that would indoctrinate students with ideologies.” She’s suing the Winneshiek County sheriff for a post on Facebook Bird contends undermines immigration enforcement. Undermining enforcement is against the law in Iowa.

The potentially most damaging legal action backed by Bird is a lawsuit that could declare section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is unconstitutional. That law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in activities and programs paid for by the federal government. Its loss would be devastating for disabled kids, although Bird insists 504 is not in danger because the suit is about removing transgender language from the law.

So, it’s easy to see what our attorney general is all about. Just follow the legal breadcrumbs and you’ll find the real Bird.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com