Lt. Gov. Cournoyer campaigning for new role as Iowa State Auditor
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa's Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer announced she is running for Iowa State Auditor Tuesday morning.
Cournoyer, a Republican, was appointed Lt. Governor in December of 2024 by Gov. Kim Reynolds after the previous Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned in September 2024 to head the Iowa Bankers Association.
In Tuesday's campaign announcement, Cournoyer called for the Auditor's Office to be used as a watchdog for taxpayers and not a political weapon.
'It's time for an Auditor who prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and results over headlines and partisanship,' said Cournoyer.
Trone Garriott running for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
Iowa's current State Auditor, Rob Sand, is the only Democrat to hold statewide office and has been critical of the Republican-controlled legislature and Gov. Reynolds for passing SF 478. The law restricts access by the Auditor's office to certain state information it may be seeking during an audit.
Sand has not made a public announcement about his political plans for the future, but it is widely expected that he will run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Gov. Reynolds is backing Cournoyer with her endorsement. 'Chris is a true fiscal conservative with a strong record of improving government efficiencies and accountability. Her background in technology and her unwavering commitment to taxpayers makes her an ideal watchdog every Iowan can trust. Iowans can rest assured Chris Cournoyer will always have their best interests at heart,' stated Reynolds.
Cournoyer was serving in the Iowa Senate when she was tapped for the Lt. Gov. role. She has been in the Iowa Senate since 2019 with her latest term representing District 35 expiring in January of 2025. An advocate for STEM skills, Cournoyer is a member of the Iowa Governor's STEM council. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Texas and is a website developer and designer.
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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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