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April 21, 2025 |  By: Associated Press

Iowa's race for governor leads to uncertain political futures

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ surprise announcement last week that she would not seek a third term as governor after nearly a decade in the office set the state capital abuzz with who might jump in to a newly wide open primary race, the first for Iowa Republicans since 2010.

It also left some Democrats feeling a glimmer of hope that they could make inroads after years of total Republican control. That likely would require substantial backlash against the Trump administration, but that’s more likely in a midterm election.

State Auditor Rob Sand, the only statewide elected Democrat, has not announced a run for governor but has announced $8 million in campaign contributions, most of which came from his or his extended family’s pockets.

Meanwhile, at least a half dozen Iowa Republicans have suggested they are thinking about their political futures in the week since Reynolds’ announcement. That includes Attorney General Brenna Bird; Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig; House Speaker Pat Grassley, grandson of the state’s senior U.S. senator; and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, son of the state GOP’s chairman.