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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Friday she will not run for reelection in 2026 when her current term ends.Reynolds, 65, cited a desire to spend more time with her family. Her husband, Kevin Reynolds, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023. In her condition of the state in January, she said his cancer remained in remission.Here's what Reynolds has accomplished in her time as Iowa's governor.Kim Reynolds' bio43rd governor of Iowa and Iowa’s first female governorAge: 65Previous elected offices: Four terms as Clarke County treasurer, 1994-2011; member of Iowa Senate, 2009-2011; lieutenant governor of Iowa, 2011-2017; and governor of Iowa, 2017-present.Other notable positions: Chair of Republican Governors Association, 2022-2023Personal: Husband, Kevin (married since 1982); three daughters; 11 grandchildren. Her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023.Odd start: Became governor when Terry Branstad was appointed to serve as ambassador to China. Reynolds appointed public defender Adam Gregg as her replacement as acting lieutenant governor. That created legal problems after the attorney general issued an opinion that a lieutenant governor promoted to governor did not have the authority to appoint a new lieutenant governor. Voters approved in November an amendment to the Iowa Constitution to clarify that authority. It must be voted on again before it can be added to the state’s constitution.Major actions and events during her time as governorCovid:Opposed mask mandates but did issue an order to wear masks in public places in November 2020 at large gatherings.Kept students in schools.Signed disaster emergency on March 9, 2020, and ordered some recreational businesses and schools closed, among others.Had to return $21 million in federal pandemic aid to the state’s coronavirus relief fund after it was improperly spent on a human resources software project.Abortions: Led push for fetal heartbeat billsChild care: Worked to improve access to child careDisasters: 2020 derecho, 2021 winter derecho, 2024 tornado in Greenfield and significant flooding in Iowa in 2019, 2023, 2024Education: Signed in March 2023, the Students First Act allowed private school vouchers for the first time, allowing the state’s per-pupil aid to pay for private school tuition, a controversial move. In 2024, she announced changes to area education agencies, drawing criticism from school leaders and Iowans at first.Elections: Voting hours on Election Day and early voting time shortened.Felon voting rights: Restored rights to 543 felons, citing her experience pleading guilty twice to misdemeanor DUI and eventually recovering from alcoholism.Government: In January 2023, she signed Executive Order 10, ordering a comprehensive review of administrative rules. In February, the Iowa Department of Education Efficiency Task Force was launched.Health: Worked on children’s and adult mental health access.Immigration: She has sent Iowa National Guard members to the southern border and, in 2024, signed a law allowing state law enforcement to arrest undocumented migrants for specific reasons.Iowa Supreme Court: Reynolds has appointed five justices since becoming governor.LGBTQIA+ issues: Signed into law a bill that bans transgender girls and women from female-designated sports and, in March 2023, she signed a law prohibiting medical support for gender-affirming minors and a law that prohibits the use of school restrooms that don’t align with a student’s gender at birth. In 2025, she signed into law that removed gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, drawing huge protests at the Iowa Statehouse.National politics: In 2022, she delivered the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union address. She endorsed Ron DeSantis for the 2024 election.Taxes: Significant tax cuts have taken place since 2017, including changes to Iowa’s income tax and property tax.» Subscribe to ����vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ����vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play