Kim Reynolds

Kim Reynolds – Life, Career, and Political Influence

Explore the journey of Kim Reynolds — the first woman governor of Iowa — from her early life and local politics to state leadership, key policies, controversies, and lasting influence.

Introduction

Kimberly Kay Reynolds, born on August 4, 1959, is a prominent American politician who has served as the 43rd Governor of Iowa since 2017.

Her tenure has been marked by bold conservative policy moves, polarizing decisions (especially during the COVID-19 era), and a recent announcement that she will not seek reelection in 2026. In this article, we trace her background, political milestones, challenges, policy priorities, and what her career tells us about governance today.

Early Life and Education

Kim Reynolds was born Kimberly Kay Strawn on August 4, 1959, in St. Charles, Iowa (in Madison County). Interstate 35 Community School District, graduating high school in 1977.

After high school, Reynolds attended Northwest Missouri State University, where she took courses in business, consumer sciences, and clothing sales/design (without completing a degree at that time). Southeastern Community College and Southwestern Community College, taking accounting and other classes.

In 2016, while serving as lieutenant governor, she earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Iowa State University.

Political Career & Rise

Early Local Office: Clarke County Treasurer

Reynolds’s political career began at the local level. In 1994, she was elected Clarke County Treasurer, and she went on to serve four terms in that position.

State Senate

In 2008, Reynolds won election to the Iowa State Senate, representing the 48th District, taking office in January 2009.

Lieutenant Governor (2011–2017)

In 2010, Republican gubernatorial nominee Terry Branstad selected Reynolds as his running mate. The ticket won, and Reynolds became the 46th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa on January 14, 2011. chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association in 2015.

Governor of Iowa (2017–present)

When Governor Branstad resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to China, Reynolds ascended to the governorship on May 24, 2017, becoming the first woman in Iowa to hold the office.

She ran for a full term in 2018 and was elected.

In April 2025, Reynolds announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, bringing her nearly decade-long tenure to a close.

Key Policies, Achievements & Controversies

Kim Reynolds’s governorship has been active and sometimes controversial, shaped by strongly conservative priorities and crisis management. Below are several notable areas of her leadership.

Education, Vouchers, and School Choice

• Under Reynolds, Iowa expanded school voucher programs (allowing public funding for private school tuition).

• Her administration also pursued policies that favor school choice and private education alternatives.

Voting Rights for Felons

During her first term, Reynolds took steps to restore voting rights to felons who had completed their sentences. She restored rights to hundreds of individuals—the number exceeded what her predecessor had done in many years.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Her management of the COVID-19 crisis drew scrutiny and criticism:

• In early 2020, she issued disaster emergency proclamations, closed some businesses, and limited certain procedures, but resisted full stay-at-home orders.

• She initially avoided mask mandates, questioning their effectiveness, and only mandated masks for large gatherings after the November 2020 election.

• Her approval ratings dipped dramatically during this period; at one point she had some of the lowest ratings among U.S. governors.

• A testing program called TestIowa, contracted via a no-bid deal with a Utah startup (Nomi Health), was criticized for errors and lack of transparency.

Social, Gender & Trans Legislation

Reynolds has advanced several socially conservative policies:

• In 2023, she signed a law banning gender-affirming care (puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgery) for minors, and restricted restroom access to align with birth sex.

• She also signed legislation narrowing protections for transgender individuals, including removing gender identity as a protected class in Iowa’s civil rights law in 2025.

• She signed a “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban and has repeatedly called for a constitutional amendment to remove abortion rights protections from Iowa’s state constitution.

Fiscal Policy, Taxes & State Administration

• Reynolds pursued tax cuts and income tax reductions, especially for higher brackets.

• She has been aligned with the agricultural and pork industry in Iowa; her administration’s relationship with large pork producers has drawn ethics questions about proximity and influence.

• Under her leadership, Iowa’s Republican majorities in the legislature expanded, allowing her administration greater capacity to push through policy changes.

Reputation, Challenges & Criticisms

Throughout her leadership, Reynolds has faced both praise and criticism:

• Her low approval ratings during COVID, particularly among educators and medical professionals, challenged her political standing.

• The TestIowa program controversy raised transparency concerns and accusations of favoritism, especially given donor ties.

• Her policies on transgender rights, abortion, and voting access have mobilized opposition and legal challenges.

• Her recent decision to not seek another term suggests awareness of political headwinds, concern for family health (her husband’s lung cancer), and recognition of changing public sentiment.

Personal Life & Traits

• Kim Reynolds married Kevin Reynolds in 1982, and they have three children.

• In her past, she was charged twice with DUI (1999 and 2000). She later entered inpatient treatment for alcoholism, and has been sober for many years; she cites this as a turning point in her life.

• She is affiliated with the Lutheran Church of Hope and regularly attends.

Her personal journey from struggles to leadership often figures into how she frames resilience and accountability in her public messaging.

Lessons from Kim Reynolds’s Career

1. Local roots can build long-term power
   Reynolds’s rise from county treasurer to governor underscores how local service and public finance expertise can be stepping stones to higher office.

2. Crisis leadership defines political legacies
   How a leader handles crises — e.g., a pandemic — can leave long-lasting impressions, for better or worse.

3. Policy ambition needs political alignment
   Reynolds’s ability to push controversial social and fiscal policies depended heavily on strong party majorities in Iowa’s legislature.

4. Personal transparency can mitigate controversies
   By publicly acknowledging past mistakes (like the DUIs) and presenting recovery, Reynolds crafts a narrative of growth and redemption.

5. No office is permanent—exit decisions matter
   Her decision to step down voluntarily shows strategic awareness: choosing timing may preserve legacy more than clinging to power.

Conclusion

Kim Reynolds’s trajectory is emblematic of modern American state-level politics: a mix of grassroots beginnings, ideological ambition, public scrutiny, and bold policy initiatives. As Iowa’s first female governor, she broke barriers, pushed controversial reforms, and weathered crises that tested both her leadership and political capital.

Her forthcoming exit from the governor’s office will close a significant chapter in Iowa’s governance—and set the stage for new battles over policy, identity, and direction in the state.