“Today, I want to share a personal decision with you, one that was not made lightly but comes with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude,” Reynolds said, thanking her family for supporting her “through every challenge and every victory.”

“Now it’s time for me to be there for them,” she said, “to help them through the next stage of life, to watch every track meet and basketball game, to see them grow before they’re all grown. That doesn’t mean I’m slowing down just yet. I’ll be working hard for you every single day until my term ends.”

Reynolds first took the governor’s mansion in 2017 when Gov. Terry Branstad resigned to serve in President Donald Trump’s first administration. She won a full term in 2018 and handily won reelection in 2022.

The governor played a major role in much of the transformation in Iowa over the last eight years involving the state’s tax codes, educational system, and social issues. 

Under her direction, Iowa now has the sixth-lowest income tax rate in the country. Reynolds’s focal point for her educational agenda was the universal school choice law signed in 2023, which provides thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded scholarships for Iowa families to pay for private school expenses. The governor has also succeeded in limiting abortion access in Iowa and, in February, signed a law that removes gender identity protections from the state’s civil code.

Her decision to forgo a shot at another term comes just four months into Trump’s second administration and months away from the 2026 elections, where both she and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) were set to face reelection.

It’s unclear whether Trump would have endorsed Reynolds for another term, given their icy relationship last year.

Reynolds took a gamble in the 2024 election when she broke her tradition of staying neutral in the caucuses and endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Trump. Weeks after her endorsement, a Morning Consult poll found she had a 48% approval rating, the lowest for a U.S. governor.

The president, who was still a candidate at the time, blasted Reynolds for being “the most unpopular governor in the entire United States of America,” referring to the poll. He also took credit for Reynolds’s ascension by nominating Branstad to serve as U.S. ambassador to China, opening the door for her to succeed him.

Who could succeed Reynolds?

The vacancy will likely set off a competitive gubernatorial race. On the Republican side, eyes are turning to the four House Republicans to see whether one of them will run for office. 

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) said in a statement that Reynolds is the “best governor in America.”

“Iowa has been blessed by her leadership, and I have been blessed by her friendship,” Hinson said. “The impact she leaves will be immeasurable and countless lives have been made better because of her tireless service.”

“The next governor no doubt has big shoes to fill — we need a governor who can build on Gov. Reynolds’s tremendous success and partner with President Trump to keep Iowa growing,” Hinson said.

A source familiar with Hinson’s thinking told the Washington Examiner that she’s been receiving support to run and is “grateful.”

“She’s committed to holding the Republican Majority in Congress and helping elect a conservative governor to build on Kim Reynolds’ legacy and work with President Trump to keep Iowa growing. Iowa is blessed with great leadership and we have no doubt that will continue,” the source said.

Another strong gubernatorial contender is Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA). Spokesman Billy Fuerst told the Washington Examiner that the congressman is “focused on delivering on President Trump’s full agenda,” as well as working on the House Ways and Means and Agriculture committees to bring tax relief to farmers and pass the Farm Bill, which expires in September.

“Congressman Feenstra will continue to consider how he can best serve Iowa and deliver results,” Fuerst said.

Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) said in a statement that Reynolds is an “inspiration for my daughters and girls across our state.”

“She helped me prevent human trafficking, fight fentanyl in Iowa, balance our state’s budget, and help make Iowa one of the best places to raise a family,” Nunn said. “I salute her continued service. Our next governor will take the reins of a state well positioned to continue Iowa as a model of success for the nation.”

A source familiar with Nunn’s thinking said the governor’s announcement was a “big surprise — definitely still processing.” 

“Zach is very committed to ensuring we not only hold the House majority but grow it,” the source said.

Both Nunn and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) are among the 29 competitive seats for 2026. Nunn’s seat is considered “lean Republican,” while Miller-Meek’s seat is considered a “toss-up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Miller-Meeks said in a statement that Iowa is “better today” because of Reynolds and “we must continue her legacy of bold conservatism and advocacy for the Hawkeye State.”

Miller-Meeks and Nunn were elected in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Miller-Meeks is known for winning her races with votes to spare, defeating her Democratic opponent in 2020 by just six votes and under 1,000 votes in 2024.

If one or both opted to run for governor and vacated their seat in 2026, the districts would be prime pickup opportunities for Democrats — the party has just narrowly lost in both districts in the previous two cycles.

Democrats need only a net gain of three seats to flip the House, and at least one Republican, Rep. John James (R-MI), is forgoing reelection in a purple district to run for governor. Others on both sides of the aisle may possibly leave the lower chamber to fill vacant seats open in the Senate, as well, so whether the GOP trifecta remains or gets split up will hinge on just a few seats.

Other Republican contenders could be Attorney General Brenna Bird or Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, though Bird may opt to challenge Ernst after issuing a column blasting “D.C. politicians” who “think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years.” Bird wrote the column while Ernst was not yet backing Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Defense Secretary. Ernst eventually did support the nomination, but her hesitation may cost her support in the GOP primary.

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Democrats haven’t held the governor’s mansion since former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver lost to Branstad in 2011. But Iowa Democrats had their eyes set on the 2026 governor’s race before Reynolds’s retirement announcement, as midterm elections have historically favored the party opposite the White House. 

Auditor Rob Sand, Iowa’s lone Democrat elected to statewide office, is expected to run for the governor’s race but has not yet announced. Another possible contender could be Deidre DeJear, the Democrats’ gubernatorial candidate who lost in the 2022 election.