Latest news with #Cournoyer
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer formally launches campaign for state auditor in 2026
Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Chris Cournoyer formally announced that she will run for state auditor in 2026. 'As Iowa continues to cut taxes and streamline government, the auditor's office must lead by example and serve as a true watchdog for the taxpayer — not a political weapon,' Cournoyer said in a statement shared first with the Des Moines Register. 'It's time for an auditor who prioritizes transparency, efficiency and results over headlines and partisanship.' Cournoyer, a Republican, had previously signaled her intention to seek the office when she filed the necessary paperwork for an auditor campaign with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Iowa's auditor often serves in a "watchdog" role by auditing finances within state government to guard against abuse of taxpayer dollars. The position is currently held by Iowa's only statewide elected Democrat, Rob Sand. But Sand is expected to launch a gubernatorial bid, potentially leaving an open seat in 2026. More: Will they run for Iowa governor in 2026? Our early handicap of 10 potential GOP candidates In a release, Cournoyer said she would focus on bringing nonpartisan transparency, efficiency and technology-driven solutions to the role. She said she would work to help integrate AI into the auditing process and implement recommendations from the governor's DOGE, or Department of Government Efficiency, task force. 'The people of Iowa deserve an Auditor who will protect their dollars, keep politics out of the office, and bring a business-minded, results-oriented approach to every audit,' she said. 'That's exactly what I intend to deliver.' Cournoyer was tapped by Reynolds to become her lieutenant governor in December 2024 after her then-second-in-command, Adam Gregg, left the post. Her appointment made Iowa one of only a few states in the country to have ever had women concurrently serving as governor and lieutenant governor. At the time, Cournoyer was serving a second term in the Iowa Senate, and she resigned her seat to serve alongside the governor. When Reynolds announced her pick for lieutenant governor, she touted Cournoyer's "doer" mentality and competitive instincts, as well as her background in education and technology. She reiterated her support for Cournoyer as she enters the auditor's race. "For the same reasons I selected Chris Cournoyer to serve alongside me as lieutenant governor, I'm proud to endorse her to be Iowa's next state auditor," Reynolds said in a statement. "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.' In the Senate, Cournoyer was the vice chair of the State Government Committee, where she helped lead Reynolds' effort to reorganize and consolidate state government and Iowa's hundreds of state boards and commissions. She took the lead in the Senate on a law Reynolds signed that eliminated dozens of state boards and commissions. And she served as a member of a new board created by that law: The State Government Efficiency Review Committee. More: How a 'computer nerd' and substitute teacher earned her spot as Iowa's lieutenant governor Cournoyer previously told the Des Moines Register she first entered politics after the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012. Her twin boys were first graders at the time — the same age as some of the victims. She wanted to know what their school was doing to enhance safety measures, but she couldn't get an answer from her local school board representative. So she decided to run against him and ultimately won the seat. Cournoyer later was elected school board president and served for two years before she was approached to run for the state Senate. She has also worked as a reserve sheriff deputy and has run a business as an independent website designer and developer. (This story has been updated to include additional information.) Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer announces 2026 auditor campaign
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer launches campaign for state auditor
Sen. Chris Cournoyer, right, took the oath of office to serve as Iowa lieutenant governor Dec. 16, 2024 at the Iowa Capitol, led by Iowa Chief Justice Susan Christensen, left. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer announced Tuesday she will run for state auditor in the 2026 election. 'The people of Iowa deserve an Auditor who will protect their dollars, keep politics out of the office, and bring a business-minded, results-oriented approach to every audit,' Cournoyer said in a news release. 'That's exactly what I intend to deliver.' Cournoyer is currently Iowa's lieutenant governor, serving under Gov. Kim Reynolds. She was appointed to the position in December 2024, months after former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned and became the president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association. Before joining the Reynolds administration, Cournoyer, of LeClaire, served as a state senator representing Iowa Senate District 35, winning reelection in the 2022. After being appointed to replace Gregg in 2024, Cournoyer is set to serve out the remainder of his term, through 2026. But she will not be elected to serve a full term as Reynolds' second-in-command, as the governor announced she will not seek reelection in April. Cournoyer was considered a potential gubernatorial candidate in Republican primary field after serving with Reynolds, among other potential candidates like Attorney General Brenna Bird, House Speaker Pat Grassley and Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, though Cournoyer did not announce any intentions to run for the position. The lieutenant governor's announcement that she will run for state auditor takes her out of this field as she seeks an office currently held by an expected Democratic gubernatorial candidate — Auditor Rob Sand. Sand has not officially entered the gubernatorial race, but is expected to run after accumulating significant campaign funds heading into the 2026 election cycle. This means he will likely not face Cournoyer in a reelection race for state auditor — but Cournoyer criticized Sand's time holding the position in her campaign announcement. 'As Iowa continues to cut taxes and streamline government, the Auditor's Office must lead by example and serve as a true watchdog for the taxpayer — not a political weapon,' Cournoyer said in a statement. 'It's time for an Auditor who prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and results over headlines and partisanship.' Sand is the only Democrat to hold statewide elected office in Iowa. As auditor, a position charged with auditing state agencies and launching investigations into government spending, Republicans have accused Sand of pursuing certain audits, like one into the state's Education Savings Account program providing state funding for private school tuition and associated costs, because of his political opposition to program. Cournoyer said 'an auditor should serve all Iowans — not just one party or one cause.' 'Taxpayer dollars should never be used to campaign, and oversight should never be driven by political bias,' Cournoyer said. Sand has repeatedly pushed back against claims that certain audits are used for partisan purposes. He and Democrats in the Legislature have argued Republicans are curtailing the office's ability to perform its duties, because a Democrat holds the office, through recent laws restricting the auditor's office access to certain information and ability to go to court. Cournoyer said if elected, she would take steps to make the auditor's office more efficient by integrating artificial intelligence technology into the auditing process, promoting the state's transparency portal, and making 'the Auditor's Office a home for recommendations emerging from the Governor's DOGE Task Force on modernizing government operations.' Reynolds officially launched the state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force in February, modeled after the federal DOGE headed by Elon Musk, to identify savings and areas for improvement in local and state government. Cournoyer said she has experience working to improve government efficiency during her time in the Legislature as one of the leaders of Reynolds' 2023 government realignment law that consolidated and cut the state's 37 executive-level cabinet agencies to 16. Reynolds praised Cournoyer in a statement Tuesday and endorsed her in her campaign for auditor. 'Chris is a true fiscal conservative with a strong record of improving government efficiencies and accountability,' Reynolds said. '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.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Iowa news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer files paperwork to run for state auditor in 2026
Iowa Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer has filed paperwork organizing a campaign to run for auditor in 2026, appearing to take a pass on running to succeed Kim Reynolds as governor. A representative for Cournoyer declined to comment. Cournoyer, a Republican, became lieutenant governor in December 2024 after being tapped by Reynolds. At the time, she was serving a second term in the Iowa Senate and resigned her seat to serve alongside the governor. When Reynolds announced her pick, she touted Cournoyer's "doer" mentality and competitive instincts, as well as her background in education and technology. But Reynolds' surprise announcement to forgo reelection in 2026 scrambled the electoral landscape. Cournoyer had been among a group of Republicans expected to at least consider a possible run to succeed her. But the paperwork, filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaigns Disclosure Board April 25, indicates she's opting instead to run for auditor. Auditor is a statewide office currently held by Democrat Rob Sand. The auditor often serves in a "watchdog" role by auditing finances within state government to guard against abuse of taxpayer dollars. Sand is expected to run for governor in 2026, although he has not formally announced a campaign. If he does, it would create an open seat for auditor. Before being elected to the Legislature, Cournoyer served as president of her local school board, as a reserve sheriff deputy and has run a business as an independent website designer and developer. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Republican Chris Cournoyer files to run for state auditor in 2026
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zimmer flips seat in Iowa Senate
Democrat Mike Zimmer is the newest Iowa senator, flipping the Senate District 35 seat in a special election last week. Zimmer won with 52% of the vote to Republican Katie Whittington's 48%, according to unofficial results published by the Iowa Secretary of State. The special election was called to replace Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer in the Iowa Senate, who resigned after accepting the lieutenant governor position in December. 'I am honored that the residents of Senate District 35 have put their faith in me to represent them in the Iowa Senate. Our campaign's values of hard work and fairness resonated with a bipartisan coalition of voters in Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties,' Zimmer said in a press release following his victory. 'I'm looking forward to working on behalf of the people of Eastern Iowa to help working Iowans get ahead, support our public schools and teachers, and help lower the cost of living.' The district includes all of Clinton County and parts of Scott and Jackson counties. Jackson County chose Zimmer by a vote of 555 to 446, according to unofficial results. Clinton County chose Zimmer 3,411-3,169, according to unofficial results from the Clinton County Auditor's office. There were 18 write-ins. Scott County voters selected Whittington 858-846. Zimmer, 64 and president of the Central DeWitt School Board, will serve out the remainder of Cournoyer's term through 2026. Due to state rules, he no longer will be able to serve on the school board. Zimmer has more than 40 years of experience in public education and served in various capacities from teacher to coach to administrator. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. He served as assistant principal of Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, and principal of North Scott High School in Eldridge. What this win means Cournoyer, a Republican, won her 2022 re-election with 61% of the vote, and President Donald Trump won the district in the 2024 general election by a 21-point margin against Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans will maintain their trifecta control at the Iowa Capitol — with 34-16 supermajority in the Iowa Senate after Zimmer is sworn into office and 67-33 supermajority in the House — but Democrats said the results show discontent with GOP leadership. Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement that Zimmer's special election victory 'is a clear rejection of the Republican agenda led by Kim Reynolds and the Senate Republicans that have failed Iowans.' 'Mike ran on a platform to help working Iowans get ahead, support public schools and teachers, and help lower the cost of living,' Weiner said. 'This win shows that when Democrats fight for Iowa families, we can win anywhere. This is a victory for Iowans.' Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the statehouse campaign arm of the Democratic Party, on Jan. 28 said the victory in a district where Trump won by a large margin shows Democrats have a strong path forward in the aftermath of major GOP wins in the 2024 election. 'This earthquake victory in Iowa puts Republicans across the country on notice,' Williams said in a statement. '… Tonight's win marks the first flip of the cycle and builds on key majority-making wins in Virginia earlier this month. The DLCC is starting the new cycle strong just a month into 2025 – from battlegrounds to Republican territory. We have dozens more special elections on the horizon – we're only just getting started.' Campaign fundraising In the fight for the District 35 Senate seat, Zimmer's campaign raised about five times that of Whittington's campaign, according to campaign finance reports which were required to be filed with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board by Jan. 23. Whittington's campaign raised $5,795, with $1,000 coming from the Clinton County Republican Central Committee. The largest contribution — $2,000 — came from the Iowa Liberty Network, which according to its website is a 'Christian, grassroots, nonpartisan organization.' Zimmer's campaign raised $37,837.85 as of Jan. 23. Of that total, the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee contributed $2,000. The Scott County Democratic Central Committee donated $1,000. The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 25 gave $5,000. The reports are located on the board's website at © 2025 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.). Visit Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. © 2025 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.). Visit Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. © 2025 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.). Visit Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
