DGA Statement on Gov. Kim Reynolds Not Running In 2026

DGA Statement on Gov. Kim Reynolds Not Running In 2026

After failing Iowa families with her unpopular and out of touch agenda for the last ten years as governor and lieutenant governor, Kim Reynolds today announced she will not seek reelection for a third term.

DGA Communications Director Sam Newton released the following statement in response:

“Even former RGA Chair Governor Kim Reynolds knows she can’t defend her party’s destruction of the economy and extreme, unpopular agenda for the next two years. In addition to leaving behind a failed record of corruption, gutting public education, and banning abortion, Gov. Reynolds has thrown the wide-open GOP field for governor into complete chaos. We look forward to holding Iowa Republicans accountable as this competitive race ramps up because Iowa families deserve a new governor who will restore balance and actually focus on fixing the biggest problems facing working families.”

As governor, Reynolds made it a top priority to undermine and attack public schools and strip away fundamental freedoms, doing nothing to bring costs down or support hardworking Iowans – even rejecting tens of millions of dollars to help families with the high cost of groceries and to feed kids during the summer.

Reynolds also knew she would be facing a challenge from within her own party, after Republicans have accused her of turning Des Moines into a “swamp.” Her history feuding with Donald Trump after endorsing Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primary didn’t help, either, and caused repeated headaches for the RGA.

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