History of Kim Reynolds in Timeline

Kim Reynolds is the 43rd and current governor of Iowa, serving since 2017. As a Republican, she made history as the first female governor of Iowa. Before becoming governor, she served as the 46th lieutenant governor of Iowa from 2011 to 2017. Her political career and rise to the governorship mark a significant milestone in Iowa's political landscape.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1959: Kimberly Kay Strawn Born

In 1959, Kimberly Kay Strawn, who later became Kim Reynolds, was born in St. Charles, Iowa.

1994: Elected Clarke County Treasurer

In 1994, Kim Reynolds was elected as the Clarke County treasurer in Iowa.

August 2000: Second DUI Charge

In August 2000, Reynolds was charged with Second Offense DUI, but was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor.

November 4, 2008: Elected to Iowa Senate

On November 4, 2008, Kim Reynolds was elected to represent the 48th district in the Iowa Senate, defeating Ruth Smith and Rodney Schmidt.

June 25, 2010: Selected as Lieutenant Governor Candidate

On June 25, 2010, Terry Branstad selected Kim Reynolds as his running mate for lieutenant governor.

November 2, 2010: Branstad/Reynolds Ticket Wins Election

On November 2, 2010, the Branstad/Reynolds ticket won the general election in Iowa.

January 14, 2011: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor

On January 14, 2011, Kim Reynolds was sworn in as the lieutenant governor of Iowa.

May 24, 2017: Became Governor of Iowa

On May 24, 2017, Kim Reynolds became the governor of Iowa after Terry Branstad resigned to become the United States Ambassador to China.

May 25, 2017: Named Acting Lieutenant Governor

On May 25, 2017, Kim Reynolds announced that Adam Gregg would serve as acting lieutenant governor to avoid litigation due to the circumstances of her taking office.

May 2018: Signed Fetal Heartbeat Bill

In May 2018, Kim Reynolds signed a "fetal heartbeat bill", which was one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bans. She also signed a bill to revamp Iowa's energy efficiency policies in May 2018.

January 18, 2019: Began First Full Term as Governor

On January 18, 2019, Kim Reynolds began her first full term as governor of Iowa.

March 2019: Signed Bill Protecting Campus Speech

In March 2019, Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill requiring public universities to protect all speech on campus.

March 9, 2020: Proclamation of Disaster Emergency Signed

On March 9, 2020, Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2020: COVID-19 Restrictions and Recommendations

In April 2020, Iowa health officials advised Reynolds to enforce face coverings and not ease restrictions related to COVID-19. Reynolds took the stance that it was better to reopen the economy and encourage people to be responsible and wear masks.

April 2020: TestIowa Contract Signed

In April 2020, Reynolds signed a $26 million, no-bid contract with Nomi Health, a Utah startup, to develop a COVID-19 testing program called TestIowa.

July 2020: Reynolds Invalidated School Districts' Plans

In July 2020, Reynolds said she would invalidate some school districts' plans to limit in-person classes to one day a week for most students, with online learning on other days, overriding local school districts and requiring students to spend at least half of their schooling in classrooms.

July 2020: Opposition to Local Mask Mandates

In July 2020, Reynolds said that Iowa localities' mask mandates were "not appropriate" and unlawful, seeking to block them, making Iowa one of the only U.S. states lacking any enforceable local or state mask mandates.

September 2020: Revoked CDC Quarantine Guidelines

In September 2020, the Reynolds administration broke with the CDC's quarantine guidelines, revoking guidelines recommending that people exposed to the virus quarantine for 14 days, "if the infected person and close contacts were wearing masks properly".

October 2020: Appearance at Indoor Republican Fundraiser and Trump Rally

In October 2020, Reynolds appeared at an indoor fundraiser for the Republican Party and a large rally in a hangar for President Trump. Attendees did not wear masks or socially distance at the events.

November 2020: Mandatory Mask Order Issued

After the November 2020 election, Reynolds ordered the mandatory wearing of masks at large gatherings in Iowa.

November 2020: COVID-19 Peak in Iowa

COVID-19 in Iowa peaked in November 2020, but remained high into the next year.

November 2020: Statewide Mask Mandate Issued

In November 2020, Reynolds issued a statewide mask mandate, ordering anyone over age 2 to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, reversing her previous claim that face masks are ineffective.

January 2021: Criticized for Pork Industry Connections

In January 2021, Kim Reynolds faced criticism after testing for COVID-19 was arranged at Iowa Select Farms, raising questions about potential preferential treatment for political donors.

January 2021: Iowa's COVID-19 Positivity and Vaccination Rates

In late January 2021, Iowa had the nation's third-highest COVID-19 positivity rate and third-lowest per capita vaccination rate.

January 2021: Bill Signed Requiring Full-Time In-Person Classes

In late January 2021, Reynolds signed a bill requiring school districts to provide full-time in-person classes upon parents' request.

February 2021: Rollback of Mask Requirements and Restrictions

In February 2021, Reynolds rolled back mask requirements in indoor public places and restrictions on indoor dining, without consulting with experts at the Iowa Department of Public Health.

March 2021: Opposition to American Rescue Plan Act

In March 2021, Reynolds voiced her opposition to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, saying it would "provide bigger checks to states who chose aggressive shutdowns and mismanaged their state budgets."

April 2, 2021: Signed Constitutional Carry Bill

On April 2, 2021, Kim Reynolds signed a bill allowing individuals to purchase and carry handguns without a permit in Iowa.

May 2021: Bill Signed Prohibiting Proof of Vaccination Requirements

In May 2021, Reynolds signed into law a bill that prohibited businesses and local governments from requiring customers to have proof of vaccination. She also signed into law a bill that prohibited school districts from requiring masks.

September 2021: Touted Funding for Iowa's Water Infrastructure

In September 2021, Reynolds touted $100 million in funding for Iowa's water infrastructure that was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

March 1, 2022: Republican Response to State of the Union

On March 1, 2022, Reynolds was selected to deliver the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address.

March 3, 2022: Bill Banning Transgender Athletes Signed

On March 3, 2022, she signed into law a bill that bans transgender girls and women from participating on designated female sports teams.

January 2023: Students First Act Signed

In January 2023, Reynolds signed the Students First Act, which made private school vouchers available in Iowa for the first time.

March 22, 2023: Law Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Signed

On March 22, 2023, Reynolds signed a law banning the prescription of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-affirming surgery to minors, as well as a law prohibiting people from using school restrooms that do not align with their sex at birth.

September 2023: Kevin Reynolds' Lung Cancer Diagnosis

In September 2023, Kevin Reynolds, Kim Reynolds' husband, was diagnosed with lung cancer.

November 2023: Endorsement of Ron DeSantis

In November 2023, Reynolds endorsed Ron DeSantis for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, stating she did not believe Trump could win the general election.

February 1, 2024: Bill Defining Man and Woman Introduced

On February 1, 2024, Reynolds introduced a bill defining "man" and "woman" based on reproductive anatomy and requiring that official identification documents list sex at birth.

March 2024: Endorsement of Donald Trump and Low Approval Rating

In March 2024, Reynolds endorsed Donald Trump and a survey found that Reynolds had the lowest approval rating of any U.S. governor.

February 28, 2025: Elimination of Gender Identity as a Protected Class

On February 28, 2025, Reynolds signed Senate File 418, which eliminated gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, making Iowa the first U.S. state to do so.