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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
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Feenstra lays groundwork to run for Iowa governor
Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra has filed paperwork to run for governor of Iowa in the 2026 election. Feenstra, a third-term congressman from Hull, Iowa, won his 2024 reelection with over 67% of the vote; if he proceeds with a gubernatorial campaign, it would create an open seat in the heavily Republican 4th District. Feenstra first came to Congress after defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Steve King in a Republican primary in 2020. Monday's filing of a state of organization form with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board allows Feenstra to raise funds for a gubernatorial campaign ahead of any public announcements. CQ Roll Call reviewed the public filing. Feenstra, who was also a tax writer in the Iowa state Senate, has been particularly active on tax and trade policy since joining the Ways and Means Committee in the 118th Congress. The Ways and Means panel is scheduled on Tuesday to begin marking up its portion of the budget reconciliation bill designed to implement President Donald Trump's tax policy agenda. Iowa's incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, made a surprise announcement last month that she would not seek reelection. Feenstra could be the first of many well-known candidates to enter the race. The widely reported names of potential candidates include state House Speaker Pat Grassley - grandson of Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa - as well as state Attorney General Brenna Bird and state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig. CBS News first reported on Feenstra's intention to enter the contest. Rob Sand, the Democratic state auditor, also entered the race on Monday. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra files paperwork for Iowa gubernatorial run
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, filed paperwork on Monday to run for Iowa governor in the 2026 election. Feenstra, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020, filed the paperwork for "Feenstra for Governor" with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, which is needed to launch a gubernatorial campaign, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. The congressman is seeking to replace Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who said last month she would not run for a third term in 2026. Feenstra has been considering a gubernatorial run since Reynolds' announcement. This Longtime Republican Governor Will Not Seek Re-election In 2026 "I'll tell you right now, I'm focused on fulfilling and making sure that we get Trump's agenda completed," Feenstra told reporters on April 23. "However, I always want to do what's best for our state, and I will continue to look at all aspects of what that looks like." Feenstra has not publicly announced a campaign for governor. Read On The Fox News App The GOP primary in the Hawkeye State could potentially be crowded, although former state Rep. Brad Sherman is the only Republican to have officially joined the race after he launched his campaign in February. Doge Senator Tells Outdoors Group To 'Go Fish' After Discovering Massive Grant Tied To High Salaries But others have taken steps toward a gubernatorial bid, including Iowa state Sen. Mike Bousselot, who launched an exploratory committee last month, as well as Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and House Speaker Pat Grassley — the grandson of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa — who each said they are considering a run for governor. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand filed paperwork on Monday to run in the state's Democratic primary. Feenstra is the only U.S. House member from Iowa considering a run for governor. The other three — U.S. GOP Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn — all said they will not launch a gubernatorial campaign. Before he was elected to the U.S. House in 2020, when he defeated then-incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve King in the Republican primary, Feenstra served as a state senator since 2009. Before that, he was Sioux County treasurer from 2006 until article source: GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra files paperwork for Iowa gubernatorial run
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra files paperwork for 2026 gubernatorial run
Congressman Randy Feenstra speaks at a Republican candidate forum in Cherokee on May 30, 2024. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra filed paperwork Monday to launch a bid for governor, the first high-profile Republican to do so in the open GOP primary field. Feenstra filed the paperwork for 'Feenstra for Governor' with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Monday, a needed step to launch a gubernatorial campaign. It came hours after Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, filed the same report for his campaign for governor, which he announced earlier Monday. The GOP congressman, representing Iowa's 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House, has not officially announced his campaign, and a spokesperson for Feenstra did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the bid. But the filing means he has entered a potentially large field of Republicans vying to become the party's nominee in the wake of Gov. Kim Reynolds' announcement that she will not seek reelection in 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Former state Rep. Brad Sherman is the only Republican to have officially launched his campaign for governor, which he announced in February before Reynolds had exited the race. But alongside Feenstra, others are expected to join the race — state Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, launched an exploratory committee for the governor's race in April. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and House Speaker Pat Grassley have also said they are considering a run for the governor's seat in 2026, but have not officially made any decisions on running. Feenstra is the only member of Iowa's all-Republican House delegation to say he was considering a run — U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn all said they do not plan to run for the position. He had told reporters at an April Marshalltown event that it was a 'fair statement' to say he was keeping his options open on a gubernatorial campaign, according to the Des Moines Register. The 4th District, representing much of northwest Iowa, is considered a conservative stronghold in the state. Feenstra has represented the district in Congress since the 2020 election, when he beat former U.S. Rep. Steve King in the Republican primary. He served as a state senator from 2009 until his election to federal office, and as Sioux County treasurer from 2006 to 2008. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart released a statement Monday criticizing Feenstra following the filing for a gubernatorial campaign. 'Whether in Washington or Des Moines, Congressman Randy Feenstra has been a reliable foot soldier for the misguided partisans and insiders ruining our state,' Hart said. 'Meanwhile, Iowa is now 49th in economic growth and losing manufacturing jobs while Rep. Feenstra has failed to deliver a farm bill, voted to gut Medicaid, and supported Iowa's unaccountable voucher program that's jeopardizing Iowa's fiscal budget. We need a new direction and Randy Feenstra is just more of the same failed leadership.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Congressman Randy Feenstra files paperwork hinting he may run for governor
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — has filed paperwork that may hint that he's planning to run for Iowa governor. On Monday, a DR1 – Statement of Organization form for a committee named 'Feenstra for Governor' was filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Though Feenstra has not made an official announcement of his intention to run, this could indicate that the Hull native may be making an announcement sometime soon. This announcement comes after Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she would not be running for Iowa Governor earlier this year. Story continues below Top Story: Rob Sand announces run for Iowa governor Lights & Sirens: Crash temporarily blocks traffic from I-29 to Virginia Street Sports: Explorers defeat Cougars 4-3 in ten-inning thriller Iowa's current sitting Auditor, Rob Sand, officially announced Monday morning that he would be running for the governorship Monday morning. Feenstra was first elected to Congress when he beat incumbent Steve King in the 2020 election. KCAU 9 has reached out to Congressman Feenstra's team for a statement and has not yet heard back at the time of publishing. Iowa Democratic Chair Rita Hart issued the following statement on the possibility that Feenstra may be running for governor: 'Whether in Washington or Des Moines, Congressman Randy Feenstra has been a reliable foot soldier for the misguided partisans and insiders ruining our state. Meanwhile, Iowa is now 49th in economic growth and losing manufacturing jobs while Rep. Feenstra has failed to deliver a farm bill, voted to gut Medicaid, and supported Iowa's unaccountable voucher program that's jeopardizing Iowa's fiscal budget. We need a new direction and Randy Feenstra is just more of the same failed leadership.' Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
