When will Kim Reynolds appoint next Iowa lieutenant governor? Why she's taking her time

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she will take her time replacing former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg after he resigned one day earlier to take a job leading a banking group.

Reynolds, a Republican, will be leading a trade mission to India next week. She said she won't choose a new lieutenant governor before then.

"That’s too fast," she said. "I want to make sure I take the time and get the right person there. We have a couple people in mind, but we want to make sure that we take a look at who that might be and what we want them to focus on."

Reynolds did not say who is under consideration to be her next lieutenant governor. Asked what qualities she is looking for in her new partner, she said "the list is long."

Gregg resigned Tuesday effective immediately to take a job as president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association.

More: Iowa Lt. Gov Adam Gregg resigns immediately, takes job leading Iowa Bankers Association

Reynolds appointed Gregg, 41, as lieutenant governor after she assumed the governorship in 2017. The two won election as a ticket in 2018 and 2022.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning in Des Moines, Reynolds said she appreciates Gregg's service as lieutenant governor but understands him wanting to take a job that allows him to spend more time with his family. Gregg and his wife, Cari, have two children.

"He’s been a great partner," she said. "He’s been a great team member and I just appreciate that so much. But I also completely, completely understand him and Cari wanting to focus on their family. And maybe stepping into a private sector position will really provide, I think, the balance that he’s looking for to not only continue to give back but to continue to really be there for softball games and for activities and to be home at night and not on the road."

When did Kim Reynolds find out Adam Gregg would resign as lieutenant governor?

Reynolds said Gregg told her Friday that he planned to take the job leading the Iowa Bankers Association.

"He sat down and visited and said that this opportunity had been presented for him," she said. "And I support his decision to focus on family. This is a very demanding job, and it really requires a lot of sacrifices."

More: Read Adam Gregg's full resignation letter as Iowa's lieutenant governor

Will Kim Reynolds seek reelection in 2026?

Reynolds wouldn't say if she plans to seek reelection in 2026. If she does, her new pick for lieutenant governor would presumably appear on the ticket with her as her running mate.

"That’s two years away. I’m not going to make any announcement today," she said, adding that she's focused on reelecting Republicans in this November's presidential and congressional elections.

What salary does Iowa's lieutenant governor earn?

As lieutenant governor, Gregg received a base salary of just over $103,000 last year.

Can Kim Reynolds appoint a new lieutenant governor?

Iowa law gives Reynolds the power to appoint a new lieutenant governor to replace Gregg.

Iowa Code Chapter 69.8 says that the new appointment will serve for the balance of Gregg's term, which runs until January 2027.

Without a lieutenant governor, who is next in line to be Iowa governor?

Until Reynolds appoints a new lieutenant governor, Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, is next in Iowa's line of succession.

Reynolds said she'll stay in touch with Sinclair through her normal communication with Republican leadership in the Iowa Legislature.

"Those communication lines are in place," she said. "And it will be business as usual. We’ll continue to do what we’ve been doing, continue to work on getting ready for the next legislative session, which is going to be here really quickly, too. And, first and foremost, really looking for the right person to serve with me for the next two years. And we’ll see what happens after that."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds talks timeline for picking new Iowa lieutenant governor