See an emotional Kim Reynolds on her plans for when her term ends
A day after saying she wouldn’t seek reelection, Gov. Kim Reynolds met with Iowans at the Terrace Hill Easter Egg Hunt and talked about her choice.
Many Iowa Republicans had just a few hours’ notice before Gov. Kim Reynolds announced publicly she would not seek reelection in 2026, giving them little time to weigh the implications for their careers.
Most had been anticipating Reynolds would seek a third full term. But when she said she would step aside, it set off a scramble as Republicans quickly began to reevaluate whether they would try to succeed her.
Now, Republicans across the state are deliberating on whether they have a viable path to the nomination — and if they want to take it.
Republicans expect to take on Democrat Rob Sand, who has not announced whether he will run for governor but has reported raising more than $8 million last year — a clear signal that a campaign is likely.
Former state Rep. Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg, had already announced he would be running for governor as a Republican. He said Reynolds’ announcement doesn’t change anything for him.
Here’s a look at who else might join him in a GOP primary and why they might — or might not — take the leap.
To skip to a specific potential candidate, click on the name below:
Brenna Bird | Mike Bousselot | Chris Cournoyer | Randy Feenstra | Pat Grassley | Ashley Hinson | Bobby Kaufmann | Mike Naig | Zach Nunn | Matt Whitaker |
Bird is in her first term after defeating longtime Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller in 2022. She previously served as the county attorney for Fremont and Guthrie counties and as counsel to former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. She was chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Steve King.
Is she running?
The day of Reynolds’ announcement, Bird suggested she would keep open a possible run for governor. “In the weeks ahead, (my husband) Bob and I will pray and consider what this decision means for our future,” she said in a statement. “I appreciate the calls of encouragement I’ve already received.”
Why she should run
Bird might be first in line to get Trump’s endorsement, should the president choose to wade into Iowa’s race. She was his highest profile endorser ahead of the last Iowa Caucuses, and he’s previously touted her to Iowa crowds, saying once, “She’s going to be your governor someday.” A Trump endorsement might not clear the Republican primary field of other serious contenders, but it could winnow it significantly.
Even without a Trump endorsement, Bird has spent her current term aligning herself with the president’s MAGA policies and focusing on a “law-and-order,” “back the blue” agenda of her own that could play well with Republicans across the state.
Why she might not run
More than perhaps any other Iowa politician, Bird is expected to mount a campaign for governor. But she’ll need to carve out a message distinct from Trump about her vision for Iowa and build a robust fundraising operation that can compete with Democrats.
An Ankeny attorney, Bousselot was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022 after he served one term in the Iowa House. Before running for office, he was a policy adviser and chief of staff for Branstad. He also worked for the Iowa Department of Management under Reynolds and for Summit Agricultural Group.
Is he running?
Bousselot has launched an exploratory committee that he says will be focused on “engaging Iowans across all 99 counties, listening to their concerns, and building a coalition to advance an agenda of economic growth, individual liberty and Iowa First.”
Why he should run
“He has served in the executive branch, as a successful entrepreneur in the private sector and as a legislator in the state House and state Senate,” Branstad said in a statement of support as Bousselot considers a bid. “Mike worked hand-in-hand with President Trump’s team during the president’s first term, and he will be a fighter for President Trump again. Mike has the work ethic, vision and character necessary to lead Iowa to an even brighter future.”
Why he might not run
Although Bousselot’s career is on an upward trajectory, he’s not yet one of Iowa’s political power players. As a lawyer, he might be persuaded to consider running for attorney general if Bird vacates the position to run for governor.
Cournoyer served as president of her local school board, as a reserve sheriff deputy and has run a business as an independent website designer and developer. Cournoyer was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and reelected to a second four-year term in 2022. She was named lieutenant governor in December 2024.
Is she running?
Cournoyer hasn’t said publicly whether she’s considering a run.
Why she should run
Cournoyer was hand-picked by Reynolds to serve as someone who could step in and succeed her as governor if something should happen, shoring up credibility in a possibly crowded field. Reynolds touted Cournoyer’s “doer” mentality and competitive instincts, as well as her background in education and technology.
Why she might not run
Cournoyer is still new to the position and has yet to raise her profile as lieutenant governor and create the kind of fundraising base a gubernatorial bid would require. As a Nikki Haley endorser ahead of the Iowa Caucuses, she might have trouble convincing the MAGA crowd she’s fully on board. Plus, she might consider running for other offices, such as state auditor, as the 2026 landscape settles.
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is in his third term representing Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. He won the seat in 2020 after unseating longtime U.S. Rep. Steve King in a Republican primary that year and handily won reelection in 2022 and 2024 as an incumbent.
Is he running?
Feenstra hasn’t said publicly whether he’s considering a run.
Why he should run
Feenstra is a fundraising powerhouse, and a significant portion of the state’s Republican primary voters live in his district and already are familiar with him. Some Republicans say they view him as the kind of candidate who can appeal to MAGA conservatives as well as the type of centrist Republicans who are necessary to win a general election.
Why he might not run
Unlike Iowa’s other congressional districts, Feenstra’s 4th District is completely safe for Republicans for the foreseeable future. He doesn’t have to face aggressive campaigns every two years, and he’s well-positioned on both the Agriculture and Ways and Means committees to deliver meaningful policy wins for his constituents. “He is becoming established in D.C. and well respected,” said Iowa political consultant Eric Woolson.
Grassley is a farmer who was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 at the age of 23. He has served as House speaker since 2019.
Is he running?
“As for my political future, I’m not ruling anything out,” he said. “My focus right now remains on the last few weeks of session with the House Republican caucus and delivering on the promises we’ve made to Iowans.”
Why he should run
Grassley has helped build the state’s largest Republican House caucus in more than 50 years, and he’s demonstrated his ability to keep what could have been an unwieldy majority united through many rounds of polarizing policy fights. Plus, he’d have the backing of one of Iowa’s political institutions, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who said he would support his grandson if he decided to jump into the race.
Why he might not run
Grassley, like everyone else, will be watching to see whether, and who, Trump endorses in the race. Like many Iowa politicians, Grassley stayed neutral ahead of the caucuses and would not likely be in line for Trump’s support.
Hinson is a former TV news anchor and state legislator. She is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. She was easily reelected in 2024 and is favored to again hold her seat in 2026.
Is she running?
Hinson hasn’t made any public indication about her plans. A source familiar with her thinking said she’s committed to holding the Republican majority in Congress and helping elect a conservative governor.
Why she should run
Hinson has been seen as a rising star in Iowa politics with strong fundraising abilities and an easygoing public demeanor.
Why she might not run
Iowa Republican political consultant Jimmy Centers said the congressional seat would likely become more competitive without Hinson as the incumbent, possibly deterring her from seeking the governor’s office. Hinson might also decide to remain at the federal level after burnishing her congressional bona fides and some day seek out a U.S. Senate seat instead.
Kaufmann is a farmer and the son of Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann. He worked for Trump’s campaign in Iowa as a senior adviser ahead of the 2024 Republican caucuses. He has served in the Iowa House since 2013 and is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Is he running?
“Certainly, I was behind Gov. Reynolds 100%,” Kaufmann said in an April 14 interview. “But now that she’s not running again, I’m thinking through what that might look like if I were to run.”
Why he should run
Kaufmann’s loyalty to the president puts him on the list of politicians who might receive an endorsement from Trump — something that would immediately give him a leg up on the competition and help him to raise money.
Why he might not run
“If Speaker Grassley puts his name in the ring, I’m out, and I’m endorsing him,” Kaufmann said.
Naig was first elected to his position in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Before running for his current role, he was deputy agriculture secretary in 2013 and an agriculture industry lobbyist.
Is he running?
Naig said in an April 16 statement that people have encouraged him to consider a gubernatorial bid. “My family and I are thoughtfully discussing that possibility and keeping all options on the table,” he said.
Why he should run
Naig was the top vote-getter in the state in 2022, earning about 730,000 votes — more than the roughly 709,000 Reynolds received. “Farmers complain about anything and everything,” said Polk County Republican activist Gary Leffler. “The one thing they don’t complain about is Mike Naig. And that should tell you everything you need to know about Mike Naig.”
Why he might not run
Naig has a high profile among agricultural circles in Iowa, but he flies somewhat under the radar otherwise. He’s not likely to be in the running for a Trump endorsement, so if the president weighs in, it could obscure Naig’s pathway forward.
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn previously served in the Iowa Legislature. He was first elected to Congress in 2022 and is serving his second term. He has been expected to seek reelection to the 3rd District in 2026.
Is he running?
Nunn has sidestepped questions about whether he will consider running for governor. “Those conversations will continue to percolate as we go forward,” he told reporters April 21. “But right now, the most important thing we can do is make sure we’re deliberate for Iowa.”
Why he should run
Nunn has won in his competitive, swingy district twice, and he performs well for a Republican in key places like Polk and Dallas counties. He’s got a record of bipartisanship in Congress that could translate well to a state level, and he’s largely worked to stay out of the hyper-partisan fray in D.C.
Why he might not run
The 3rd District is key to Republicans’ strategy for holding onto the U.S. House, and Nunn may face pressure to remain where he is. Asked about input from the National Republican Congressional Committee, Nunn said, “I’ve been very clear with Washington, I want to do what’s in the best interest of Iowa.”
Whitaker is a lawyer and an Ankeny native who earned a bachelor’s degree, MBA and law degree from the University of Iowa. He played tight end for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team and made an appearance in the Rose Bowl.
Is he running?
Whitaker hasn’t made any public comments about whether he will run for governor.
Why he should run
Should he decide to run, Whitaker is among those who could lay claim to a Trump endorsement and lean heavily on his MAGA bona fides. Whitaker has now served in each of the Trump administrations, first as the acting U.S. attorney general and now as Trump’s ambassador to NATO, and he endorsed him ahead of Iowa’s 2024 presidential caucuses.
Centers noted that Whitaker has twice run for statewide office in Iowa, “so he has that experience, knows what it takes (and) has fundraised for it.”
Why he might not run
Whitaker was just confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to NATO in early April. It’s a comfortable posting, and it could be bad form to step away so quickly. Staying where he is could help burnish his federal profile if he wanted to wait for a U.S. Senate seat to open up.
Which Republicans won’t run for Iowa governor in 2026?
Just two high-profile would-be contenders have fully taken themselves out of the running.
- First District U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said in a statement that she’s honored to be considered, “but my current job is all encompassing and I will not be exploring a gubernatorial run.”
- A spokesperson for Arizona politician Kari Lake told the Register that Lake is not planning a return to her home state of Iowa to run for Reynolds’ open seat.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
Sabine Martin covers politics for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin.