Photo courtesy of ABCnews
(Des Moines) — Terry Branstad, the longest-serving governor in the nation’s history, officially stepped down from office during a ceremony at the statehouse this morning.
Federal Judge Steven Colloton lead a swearing-in ceremony for Branstad’s new job that will take him and his family to Beijing.
Photo courtesy of Des Moines Register
Colloton serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit and he was among the dozen people CANDIDATE Donald Trump listed last year as potential picks for an opening on the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s Branstad who is now part of PRESIDENT Trump’s Administration.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds then went beneath the capitol’s dome rotunda and was sworn in as Iowa’s 43rd governor. She becomes Iowa’s first FEMALE governor.
Kim Reynolds took the oath of office shortly after 10:30 this
morning.
Reynolds will serve out the remaining 18 months of the sixth term Governor Terry Branstad won from Iowa voters in 2014.
With Branstad’s exit, the statehouse spotlight has shifted to Governor Kim Reynolds. She delivered her first speech as governor to a crowd gathered in the state capitol rotunda.
Reynolds, who is 57 years old, is Iowa’s 43rd governor – and the first woman to
lead the executive branch of state government.
